TEMPERS may be fraying as rush-hour drivers try to negotiate the congested centre of Greenock during roadworks starting on Monday.

More flood prevention work will mean the closure of the westbound section of Inverkip Road past the cemetery for six weeks, as happened last summer.

Battling across the centre of the town in the morning and evening is slow and frustrating enough at the best of times. Adding on diversions is the icing on the cake.

Just try to be patient when your blood is threatening to boil, and remember the old ‘no pain, no gain’ attitude: a few weeks of misery will be worthwhile if it helps to prevent Greenock’s West Station area from being inundated again.

Wherever you drive these days, you sometimes wonder how the person in front or behind ever managed to pass their test, as you observe their careless or downright dangerous manoeuvres.

The shocking answer could be that they might not have even taken the driving test, even ‘though they are not displaying ‘L’ plates!

Worrying new figures show that more than 40 learners are convicted each year of using someone else to do the test on their behalf.

One character was given a two-year prison sentence after passing car, motorcycle and lorry theory tests for other people.

Those who hire impersonators should also be put in the slammer for a considerable time for inciting such potentially dangerous law-breaking.

Hopefully you won’t encounter any unqualified drivers as you struggle through the traffic!