The annual pre-Christmas strategy to help traffic flow in Dublin is under way.
Operation Freeflow, which is in its tenth year, has been drawn up by the gardaí and the Dublin Transportation Office in co-operation with local authorities and transport service providers.
140 extra gardaí have been deployed to take up traffic management duties around the capital from today.
They will complement existing resources and target 169 traffic black spots throughout the city. All but essential roadworks have been suspended for the run-up to Christmas.
There will also be extra public transport services in the run-up to Christmas and over the holiday period.
DARTS will resume running a full service at weekends and will operate special late night trains at 12.30am.
LUAS trams will operate a nightly half hour service from 12.30am until 3am on Fridays and Saturdays beginning next Friday.
Dublin Bus Nitelink services will operate every night until 7 January. There will also be five park and ride facilities spread throughout the city.
While the emphasis will be on preventing gridlock, the Garda authorities will also be putting a heavy emphasis on safety, focusing in particular on drink-driving.
