Traffic gridlock - No relief for congestion headache

AS motorists will testify, the daily grind of commuting between home and the workplace is one of the most stressful aspects of life in Ireland today.

But in addition to the grim reality of endless traffic jams, taxpayers are also paying a high cost for the impact of road congestion on the economy.

As witnessed over the bank holiday weekend, the customary gridlock kicked in across the country when thousands of motorists, returning from sunny seaside resorts, converged on cities and towns.