Before you rent a car in Ireland please ensure to check out our Rules of the Road guide. Obviously, safety on the road is of paramount importance when you are travelling in a country that you are not a native of, and even more so in a rented vehicle that you are not altogether comfortable with. Bear this in mind and check out our quick guide to the most important Rules of the Road in Ireland…
· The first thing to remember is that you will be driving on the left hand side of the road. If you are travelling from the UK this is no problem! However if you are coming from the USA and many other countries you will have to adapt to driving on the left.
· When driving on Irish roads, and when it is safe to do so, overtake on the right hand side only.
· Please note that all distances and speed limits are measured in metric (kilometers per hour) in the Republic of Ireland compared to the UK and the USA. Bear this in mind if you are going across the border into Northern Ireland. Road distances on signs are measured in kilometers in the Irish Republic too.
· When coming to a roundabout, you must at all times yield to traffic that is coming from the right.
· Speed limit on Irish motorways is 120 km/h. Speed limits on National roads is either 80km/h or 100 km/h but pay heed when you pass through a village, town or urban areas the speed limit is usually reduced to 50 or 60 km/h.
· Remember to adapt your road speed to the driving conditions, such as falling rain, the presence of fog, frost or snow.
· You are required by Irish law to carry your drivers’ licence with you at all times when driving.
· Always wear your seatbelt when driving or if you are a passenger in the vehicle. The ruling applies to front and rear passengers. Child safety restraints and seats are also required by Irish law.
· The minimum driving age in Ireland is 17 years of age.
· It is a criminal offence to drive or be in charge of a vehicle if you have more than 80 milligrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood.
· Regulatory signs show the course a driver must follow and an action they are required to take or not permitted to take. In general they are circular and typically have a red border and black symbols or letters on a background that is white.
· Warning signs are yellow with a black border and identify the hazards ahead that drivers may face on the road, such as a level crossing ahead, sharp ascent ahead or a series of sharp bends ahead.
Hope you found our guide to the Rules of the Road in Ireland useful! Heading to Alicante on holidays? Visit Novacarhire.com's
Car rental Ireland page and get an instant quote which will offer you the best deals from top car rental providers.
