Traffic rules

Traffic Rules Ireland

General:

All over Ireland, road conditions are usually not as good as mainland Europe due to the much lower population density. However, the main roads are all perfectly fine. Roads are divided into four categories. There is left-hand traffic just like in England. Place names can only be found in Irish in many towns.

Driving licence:

An international driving licence is not required. According to the Brussels ruling, even the old pink one is valid.

Promille limit:

All over Ireland, the 0.8 blood alcohol limit applies.

Fine:

Red light: from 80 Euro
Overtaking despite prohibition: from 80 Euro
Parking despite prohibition: from 80 Euro
Telephoning without hands-free device: from 60 Euro
Driving too fast: from 80 Euro

Alcohol at the wheel can be expensive. from 1270 euros.

Other:

Other than that, similar traffic rules apply as everywhere else in Europe, except for driving on the left. Speed limits are 50 km/h in cities, 80 km/h on rural roads and 120 km/h on motorways. In Ireland, a roundabout is driven clockwise, you have to signal on the left before exiting and within the roundabout it is always right-before-left. Children under the age of 12 may only ride in the back seat and parking is prohibited on continuous double yellow lines at the edge of the carriageway. Stopping is prohibited on single lines at the edge of the roadway. No overnight parking is allowed on streets or in parking lots.