09 Jul 2010
Posted by Miriam O'Neill The Oxegen 2010 music festival takes place this weekend Friday 9th to Sunday 11th at Punchestown Racecourse in Kildare. The car parks and other facilities will be open from Thursday and will close late Monday. With close to 85,000 expected to attend, concert-goers are urged to use public transport as the traffic management plan will prioritise coaches, busses and shuttles.
AA Roadwatch Controller Nicola Hudson has this advice “The drive to Oxegen is always exciting, so make sure you don’t get stressed by traffic delays. Set out early and allow at least 2 hours more than the usual journey time. Don’t forget that there are a lot of day ticket holders so there will be a constant stream of people every day and not just at the start and end of the event”.
On Thursday, up to 40,000, four-day camping ticket holders are due to arrive and the traffic is likely to filter in all day from midday to late. On Friday, up to 35,000 three-day ticket holders are expected. Traffic is usually more concentrated on Fridays with the majority of people arriving between 2-7pm, so try and get their early to avoid delays.
Getting information on the move!
i-phone app: AA Roadwatch is supplying all the live traffic and transport updates to the official Oxegen i-phone app which went straight to the top of the i-tunes charts this week. The app is free and AA Roadwatch will supply all the latest updates on the Blue and Red routes, car park capacity, bus journeys and any delays.
Web on your Mobile phone: You can access the AA Roadwatch website from your WAP enabled mobile or smart phone and check the latest traffic updates around the country, as well as News and Advice and public transport updates.
Live AA Roadwatch phoneline:
AA Roadwatch have recently launched a new phone line 1550 22 22 11 where you can listen to the latest traffic and travel updates. There are enhanced features for leaving ‘eye witness’ traffic reports and listening to ‘eye witness’ updates left by fellow road and transport users. We look forward to receiving your updates!
For those headed to Oxegen there is a new section dedicated to Major Events which you can call to hear details on Oxegen traffic, parking and transport, as you make your way to the festival.
Safety on the roads is a massive concern at a time when people are in a jovial and festival mood. Nicola has the following advice “Designate a driver in advance of your journey, especially if you have day tickets only. Also, we would urge campers driving home on Monday, to abstain from drinking late on Sunday night as the alcohol is unlikely to have left your system. A hangover is a sure sign that you shouldn’t drive!” Sleep is also a factor. “If you don’t have enough sleep before driving home, make sure that you pull in regularly at safe locations and take a rest”
Full details on transport services, parking and routes along with live traffic updates all weekend, are available at www.aaroadwatch.ie and the AA Roadwatch team will be broadcasting live from Oxegen throughout the festival.
Top tips from AA Roadwatch:
How to make your drive to and from the festival as safe and comfortable as possible! …
GETTING THERE
• Fill with fuel before you go and again when around half-full rather than wait for the light.
• Check tyre condition and pressures – increasing them for heavy loads if necessary. The correct pressures will be given in the car’s handbook.
• Use the new and improved AA Routeplanner complete with AA Roadwatch traffic updates, for traffic delays or roadworks that could affect your journey.
ONCE YOU’RE THERE
• Make sure lights and everything else are turned off when you leave the car – the last thing you want when you get back to the car is a flat battery. Bring your AA Membership Card in case you do have a breakdown, 1800 66 77 88. Remember to bring your phone and make sure it’s charged! (Turn it off when you don’t need it if you don’t have access to a charger while you are at the festival). The AA can’t get to you if you can’t call us!
• Remove all valuables and lock the car. (Sat navs are particularly attractive to thieves – take it with you and clean away any marks left on the windscreen by the mount.)
• Make a careful note of where you’ve parked – look up and down the row for landmarks that will help you find the car.
• Keep your keys safe, secure and dry – key replacement on newer cars is costly and can take several days if reprogramming is necessary.
LEAVING
• Don’t rush to leave as soon as the last act is finished – thousands will do the same so you will only end-up sitting in endless queues in the car park.
• Check traffic before you go – you can get live traffic reports on your mobile from AA Roadwatch by calling 1550 22 22 11.
TIREDNESS
You’re unlikely to have slept much during the weekend so special care is required on the way home
• Don’t drive for more than two and a half hours without a break.
• Share the driving with others if you can – check insurance details first!.
• Frequent short stops (of at least 20 minutes) are better than one long stop.
• Avoid heavy meals and alcohol before driving.
• Remember that it’s illegal to stop on the motorway hard shoulder, except in an emergency.
