First time driving in Ireland? You need to be well prepared, with a minimum of knowledge of the Irish Highway Code. In Ireland, limits change, and so do the signs. Here’s a quick guide to driving in Ireland…
In Ireland, we drive on the left. The steering wheel is therefore on the right, and you’ll need to familiarize yourself with driving in reverse, with the gearbox on your left.
At first, it’s a little daunting (especially with traffic circles to be taken in the opposite direction), but you soon get the hang of it and you should soon be comfortable with your driving.
Take care at the start, however: beginners unfamiliar with left-hand drive tend to bite the center line…
A Connemara road – Francesca Guadagnini – CC BY-NC-SA 2.0
As far as the law is concerned, the Irish Highway Code has expressed speed limits in kilometers since 2005.
To make sure you don’t make a mistake, here’s an overview of the basic rules for a normal pace:
Beware of overtaking: the Irish authorities are trying to crack down on speeding as much as possible!
In Ireland, there are 2 types of parking: paid and free.
Paid parking requires the purchase of a ” disc“, sold throughout Ireland (tobacconists, tourist offices, supermarkets, etc.). This disc is then placed inside your vehicle for each parking operation, and indicates the time of arrival and the estimated time of departure.
Free parking, on the other hand, is usually limited to one hour… So don’t hesitate to find out about parking conditions before you park your car for more than an hour…
Another important detail: the road signs include 2 words: the first in English, the second in Irish Gaelic. Don’t panic: there are plenty of clear directions, whether you’re on the freeway, in town or on a country lane.
Distances are expressed in kilometers for green signs, and in miles for white-backed signs.
