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Rules of the
Road
ROAD
SIGNS
Drivers should understand the
meaning of traffic signs before they attempt to drive on public
roads.
Traffic signs and roadway markings
are divided into a number of broad categories:
| 1. Regulatory |
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| 2. Warning |
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| 3. Information |
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Different types of signs are
used on motorways and a special series of warning signs are used
for road works. Most Road signs in the Republic are in both Gaelic
and English. Ireland is striving towards metrication so the all
new-style green and white signs are in kilometres. However, nothing
is quite that simple in Ireland so expect to come across some
black-on- white signs showing distances in miles. As in Britain,
road signs in the North are always in miles. One road sign that
is unique to the Republic is the "Yield" sign - in the
UK this is worded "Give Way". Throughout both the Republic
and Northern Ireland, brown signs with white lettering indicate
places of historical, cultural or leisure interest.
ROADWAY
MARKINGS
| 1.
Single or double continuous white lines along the center
of the road
All traffic must keep to
the left of the line (except in an emergency or for access).
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| 2.
Broken white lines along the centre of the road
These must not be crossed
unless it is safe to do so.
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| 3.
Double broken white lines along the centre of the road
Alert drivers to continuous
white lines a short distance ahead and must not be crossed
unless it is safe to do so.
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| 4.
Broken white lines together with single white lines
The line nearest the driver
must be obeyed.
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| 5.
A single broken yellow line along the edge of the roadway
This indicates the edge
of a carriageway where a hard shoulder is normally provided. |
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TRAFFIC
LIGHTS
| 1.
RED LIGHT
A driver approaching a
traffic light showing red must not proceed beyond the stop
line at that light or, if there is no stop line, beyond
that light.
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| 2.
AMBER LIGHT
A driver approaching a
traffic light showing amber while no other traffic light
(immediately above or below) shows any light, must not proceed
beyond the stop line at that light or, if there is no stop
line, beyond that light) save when the vehicle is so close
to the stop line when the amber light is first engaged that
the vehicle cannot safely be halted before the stop line.
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| 3.
GREEN LIGHT
A driver approaching a
traffic light showing green may proceed past the light provided
the way is clear.
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| 4.
GREEN ARROW
A driver approaching a
traffic light showing a lighted green arrow may proceed
in the direction indicated by the arrow (provided the way
is clear and it is safe to do so) not withstanding that
another light facing the driver is showing red.
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SPEED
LIMITS
In the Republic and Northern
Ireland the maximum speed limit, which is shown in miles, are
more or less the same as those in Britain.
- 30mph (50km/h) in built up
areas
- 60mph (95km/h) outside built
up areas
- 70mph (110km/h) on motorways
On certain roads, which are clearly
marked the speed limits are either 40mph (65km/h) or 50mph (80km/h).
Where there is no indication the speed limit is 60mph (95km/h).
In the Republic, vehicles towing caravans must not exceed 55mph
(90km/h) on any road. Speed limits are more strictly enforced
in the North than in the Republic.
PARKING
RESTRICTIONS
| 1.
Parking Prohibited at all times. |
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| 2.
Parking Prohibited during times shown on information plate. |
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| 3.
Clearway
Stopping or parking prohibited
by any vehicle (other than buses or taxis) at the times
shown on the information plate.During "Clearway Hours"
a vehicle may not park at a meter or disk parking place
provided in the clearway.
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| 4.Parking
prohibited during business hours.
It is permissible to stop
for the purposes of picking up or setting down passengers
or to load/unload goods when these prohibitions are in force.
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| 5.No
Parking at any time.
It is permissible to stop
for the purposes of picking up or setting down passengers
or to load/unload goods when these prohibitions are in force. |
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Business hours may vary from
town to town but in most major towns "business hours"
means Monday to Friday 8.00 a.m. to 6.30 p.m.
ACCIDENTS
Any driver involved in an accident
must stop his/her vehicle and remain at the scene of the accident
for a reasonable time. However, if the vehicle or vehicles are
obstructing the road or pose a danger to other road users, the
position of the vehicles should be marked and the vehicles moved
off the actual carriageway as quickly as possible.
•A driver involved in an
accident must, if requested by a garda, give his/her name and
address, the address at which the vehicle is being kept, the name
and address of the vehicle owner, the vehicle registration number
and evidence of insurance.
•If no Garda is present
, this information must be given to anyone involved in the accident,
or upon request, to an independent witness.
•Where a person or persons
are injured and no Garda is present at the scene, the accident
MUST be reported to the nearest convenient Garda Station.
•Where property damage only
is involved, it is not necessary to report the accident to the
Gardai but the relevant information referred to above must be
given to the person whose property has been damaged.
If you are
driving a Hire Car you must inform the Hire Car Company!
Accidents involving uninsured
or visiting motorists should be reported to the Motor Insurers
Bureau of Ireland, 3/4 South Frederick Street, Dublin 2.
Always drive on the left and
give way to traffic from the right.
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