The first day of Operation Freeflow, the annual Garda initiative to reduce traffic congestion in Dublin city, was marked by particularly heavy traffic yesterday.
Congestion was at its worst in the Clondalkin, Tallaght and Firhouse areas and on the M7 and M4 routes into the city, according to AA Roadwatch.
"It's almost traditional for the first day of freeflow to be marked by dreadful traffic," AA Roadwatch spokesman Conor Faughnan said.
Traffic was worse than usual he said, mainly due to the wet weather and a number of minor accidents. However, he remained convinced that the initiative was worthwhile.
"There are 160 additional gardaí on traffic duty - the graduate class from Templemore is manning junctions - and that results in a huge reduction in yellow box violations and traffic violations, and allows the main arteries to move better."
Operation Freeflow will run until January 4th with gardaí at more than 100 junctions from 7am until 9pm weekdays and between 10am and 8pm at weekends.
Mr Faughnan however said motorists could still expect to encounter severe congestion on some days during the period.
"It makes a modest improvement, but it still doesn't enable you to get a quart into a pint mug. Dublin is still a city that is deficient in infrastructure and only moves a quarter of its commuters by public transport, compared with three-quarters in other cities."
Until public transport was improved many commuters will have to use cars for their daily journeys, Mr Faughnan said.
Gardaí were also taking a realistic view of the potential impact of Operation Freeflow.
Insp Eddie Murphy of the Garda Traffic Control Centre said: "We're not promising a major solution to Dublin's traffic problems but we in the Garda Síochána, in co-operation with other stakeholders, will do our damnedest to make sure that the traffic flows freely."
Gardaí would be concentrating on ensuring the free movement of public transport during the operation, he added. However, if commuters must use their cars he appealed to them to drive responsibly.
"Do not clog up yellow-box junctions; do not drive in bus lanes and do not park illegally because you will be clamped."
Insp Murphy made a special appeal to lorry drivers to watch out for vulnerable road users such as cyclists and elderly pedestrians. Moreover, he warned drivers that there would be an increase in mandatory alcohol checkpoints.
In addition to an enlarged Garda presence, non-essential roadworks will be suspended during the period.
The Sandyford Road is reverting to a two-way route for the next six weeks and roadworks around John's Road near Heuston Station have stopped, although the M50 upgrade and Docklands Luas works will continue.
There will be additional late-night Luas and Nitelink services during the operation and additional Dart services at weekends.
