How To Drive in Ireland (for an American)
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- čas přidán 16. 07. 2024
- What to look for and expect when driving on the other side of the road!
I drove in Ireland on the left side of the road for the first time and made this video to help calm your nerves. It was easy to get the hang of. Good luck!
For more great info, see Rick Steves' article at www.ricksteves.com/watch-read-listen/read/articles/driving-in-great-britain-and-ireland
Also see:
www.tripadvisor.com/Travel-g186591-c105435/Ireland:Driving.Information.html
M= Motorway
N= National Road
R= Regional Road
Thanks Sam!
We have a song about the N17:
czcams.com/video/32-WdYOeJLk/video.html&ab_channel=sawdoctorsofficial
also 05:54, you passed the Millennium Park in the village I grew up, Freshford!
OceanBlue Nope! The U.K have a very different road system to Ireland, the road layouts in Ireland are decided by the Irish Government
You haven't a clue OceanBlue. Check the traffic light order and see if they're the same.
You should be travelling on the inside lane on the motorway ie the left lane, the outside lane is for overtaking. On a roundabout left lane for turning left and straight, right lane for turning right and always yield to the right.
Not always, you need to read the road markings and signs
Very good video - I'm a former driving instructor and live on the West cost of Ireland....!
A few tips for you that will also help....!
Approaching roundabout - check the signs on approach for your exit - treat it as a clock face - if your exit is on the left or straight ahead you should approach in the left lane - if your exit is on the right of 12 o'clock approach on the right - check road for lane arrows to correspond with your exit - Signal right if your exit is on the right - left if it is on the left - no signal for straight ahead - but always signal left when you pass the last exit before yours - always give way to traffic from the right on approach - unless roundabout is controlled by lights....!
White lines - Double white do not cross or overtake - Single solid white mine also means it's not safe to overtake and found often on rural roads...! - Broken white lines - overtaking allowed - if it is safe to do so - longer gaps means less hazardous stretch for overtaking - shorter gaps mean more hazardous for overtaking....!
General driving - drive on the left unless you are overtaking or turning right - on roads with more than one lane - the right is for overtaking - once you have completed overtake return to the left lane....!
This was so helpful. I am going at the end of April and not going to lie, I am pretty nervous about driving there. You give great tips!
Get out of fast lane when not overtaking
No such thing as a fast lane. Outside lanes are for overtaking. First rule of the road - drive on the left. That means move back to left-hand side of road as soon as possible after overtaking. If that's not practical -- because traffic in the inside lane is bunched up, for example, as it often is, illegally so -- then continue overtaking inside-lane traffic. Do not just drift in the outside lane.
The 'Fast Lane' - what is that???
On a 4 lane motorway, there are two lanes in any one direction - the traffic lane is on the left and the overtaking lane is on the right. On a 6 lane motorway, there are three lanes in any one direction - they are named from left to right, Lane 1, Lane 2 and Lane 3. Lane 1 is the traffic lane, Lane 2 is the first overtaking lane & Lane 3 is the second overtaking lane. If there's continuous slow traffic in Lane 1, you may remain in Lane 2 until Lane 1 becomes clear again thus allowing you to move back in while maintaining your speed. Lane 3 is for overtaking any slower vehicles in Lane 2 which happen to be overtaking even slower vehicles.
Please. It is also illegal to overtake on the left side (unless the car is turning right)
@@gezley100 everybody knows it as the fast lane and that it is for overtaking only, stop looking for petty shit you sad little man
@@RedKnight-fn6jr another fool looking for an argument everyone knows it as the fast lane and they also know its for overtaking
As an Irish person, I can say that this is all solid advice, and fair. Only thing is, traffic enforcement is often done by unmarked cars (looks like a civilian vehicle but has concealed blue lights). So you won't ever notice them unless they are pulling someone over. Also speeding is policed by automated camera systems in vans (usually concealed from view until it's too late) or mounted on bridges etc. If you are in a rental, the speeding ticket will be waiting for you when you drop off and you will still never have seen a police car (Police are called Gardaí). Parking varies from town to town. Many towns have wardens who are very quick to hunt down and ticket illegally parked cars. In more rural villages, you may get away with bad parking but in the larger cities, you have an extremely high chance of being clamped or towed away. Irish people generally drive carefully, always wear seatbelts and never under the influence because the penalties are severe (both monetary and via penalty points), and due to the effect of having penalty points on insurance costs. I think that you've made assumptions about policing because you didn't see marked cars anywhere, but if you are a visitor, don't ruin your stay by being fined because you thought there was a casual attitude.
Very well said!
Some friendly advice!
Like many American tourists, I see that you are driving in the overtaking lane on the motorway (what you call Highway) even when you are not overtaking. To avoid being the victim of some serious road rage, pull into the inside lane when not overtaking!! Also, it's illegal and you can be fined for this.
I think he must have got the message by now, I've lost count of the number of similar comments (see above)
1:52 Keep to the left, unless you are passing another vehicle on their right. On motorways, with 3 lanes in each direction, there are no 'fast' or 'slow' lanes- keep to the left as much as possible.
God Bless Ireland and its people for ever
God bless you Jorge!🍻
Awe. ❤️❤️
I'm from Northern Ireland and I drove through Dublin a long time ago and it scared the living daylights out of me. You are a brave man doing it as an American and having to drive on the left and change to a different side to drive the car. Bravo.
Yes agree 100 %
Its absolutely terrifying
And going down the country to all the other cities
Omg you have to have your senses about you
I have a brother who drives like a lunatic
This is the reason so many people are killed on the roads in Ireland
I don't if it has changed now
I am going back about 20 years
Great info. I'm heading to ireland and this is exactly what I needed to help bolster my confidence on the roadway.
About to head over and your video has really put me at ease. Thanks!
Thank You. Very helpful, practical info and tips. I'm traveling to Ireland next month and will my first time to drive on the left, so nervous!
Great video. The mirror tip is good. I do that regardless of where I'm driving.
Always good to know your proximity to surroundings.
I just spent 2 weeks in nw Ireland. There are also L roads. These were usually more narrow and winding. Driving around Ireland for 2 weeks was one of the best adventure’s I’ve ever been on.
this has eased me so much! Thank you! wish me luck
Great video and great tips. I'm definitely going to this with our guests. Thanks!
loved your video! Thanks for all the useful tips. I'm heading to Ireland soon and I'm nervous about driving. You helped calm some fears!
Thank you for the informative video. Good job. I always wondered how to do it. I wish I can do it soon and visit Dublin.
Thank you! This was very informative especially for safety. I have driven in Ireland before but it's been about 25 years - so this was a nice 'refresher' before I leave! ☘☘☘
Glad that I found this video... it was very helpful. Thanks for sharing your experience!
What a lady and gentleman ! Well done you two
Very well explained ! Infact perfectly 👌
I'm irish, but live in uk
But seen how you've took the time to help the next tourist is what its all bout ! Ireland 🇮🇪 is such a butiful and wonderful place
I bet you all loved it !
Makes me proud to call it my home
Probably one of the best videos to prepare for driving in Ireland. The tip at 3:21 was the most helpful one of all.
Oh My Gosh!! Thank you!! Going in May and it's the one thing that has been STRESSING me! I do feel better after watching this! :)
Thank you for posting this! Wife n I heading to Ireland next month, renting a car and setting of to see what we can see! A bit nervous in driving on opposite sides and your video took alot of the mystery out of it all-especially roundabouts.
Thanks again!
You're welcome! You'll be just fine. Some good comments below regarding not driving in the right lane unless to overtake will prove useful for you as well.
Great video , calmed me down about driving there! Thanks!
Thank. you so much! Headed to Ireland on Sunday and did not realize it was the opposite side! This was very, very, very helpful!
WE ARE THE REVOLUTION with Genevieve Peters believe u me u haven't seen anything yet, best of luck your going to need it,I'm living here all my life and still battle through our roads, wait until you get to the country roads😁
Thank you for taking the time to make and post this video!
Good job with the video, I drove in New Zealand and Australia but that was 6 years ago, thanks for making this video to set my mind at ease. I'll be in Ireland on July 22nd, I'm looking forward to it.
SO helpful. I'll be leaving for Ireland for a few days - and I'll be driving for part of my trip, so THANK YOU for this!
How did the trip go LisaMarie?
@@dgoggin2k10 Oh, David. It was an EPIC trip that I'll carry with me for a long, long time! Thanks for asking! Can't wait to go back!
What a great video well explained I’m ready for my trip to Ireland thx you
Excellent video,, thank you sooooo much. I am planning to go to Ireland this summer. so, I have the same "worries & fears" that you had when you started your tip!
Diego Montana you'll be grand Diego stop worrying, come on over and welcome enjoy the craic when you get here that's what its all about.
Summer does not exist in Ireland
I'm planning a trip for me and my mom and I got way nervous about driving in Ireland. Thia helped so much, thank you!
Red lights mean stop,always. If you're turning left or right and your way is clear doesnt matter red is stop. Phone in your hand when your moving or stoped in traffic means a fine and ticket,just holding it and your done,but passengers are ok.seatbelts front and rear have it on or you're done again.under 18 no seatbelt and the driver gets done again for allowing it. Speed limits used to be a little relaxed but not now,over is over. And stay on the left or a head on is on the cards, n they hurt.
and the traffic lights are in front of the road crossing, not behind it, car and pedestrian light switch at diffrent times too..
This really helped to alleviate my driving fears. Leaving tomorrow, thank you!
Sandra Walker I’m heading over too, still a bit paranoid about driving
My daughter and I went to Scotland last year and after the first day of driving it was very easy to drive around ! Going through my first round about was interesting but fine. Thanks for posting.
monta w.Not necessarily the same .I know that they have passing points on narrow roads up there that we don't.Thats partly due to the planning laws because houses are built throughout the countryside in ireland and are set off the roads so you can pull in every few bungalows in scotland you can only build in villages or towns.The populations and areas are the same,but scotlands countryside is much emptier and quieter than ours. in ireland your much more likely to meet a car.I believe the single lane roadsa are wider up there aswell
Super helpful! I'll be there in a few weeks and I'm doing all the driving for my family, and I've been super nervous. Thanks for the tip about what kind of gas to use!
excellent documentation! so helpful. Thank you!
Other countries besides Ireland and the UK also drive on the left. Like Japan, Australia, India, Indonesia, Malaysia and even some parts of the Caribbean.
Driving in Ireland + Jet Lag = Adventure. I actually enjoyed driving in Ireland, except for the super skinny, one-card roads we found. But even then, what an adventure. Great vid. We just subscribed!
Great Job! We visited twice and I drove with my best friend over 2000 miles total. We are returning this June for more exploring!
You really gave the people good advice!
Joesbabe Smith wow 2000 miles... U did a lot if driving considering how small our country is 300 miles wide 600 miles long..... Hope u have fun on your next visit
Stay to the LEFT on motorways. Typical complaint from Irish drivers about American drivers? They hang in the right lane, driving slowly.
Irish drivers are just as guilty plus most Irish people are more understanding when it comes to tourists
That would apply to any driver from around the world except for drivers from former British colonies.
@@aheat3036 Well, yeah. Also except Japan.
Motorway driving skills in Ireland are generally bad
thank you so much! we are heading to Ireland soon and have watched this a few times as our guide to driving! I am soooo scared to crash!!! Thanks for the tips!!!
You'll be fine! Have a great time!
Also, read some of the comments below, such as not to drive in the right lane if you're not passing. Some helpful stuff from the Irish here!
Thanks for this video cause I’m freaking out nervous 😂 wish me luck !!!
You don't have to be nervous I drove around half Japan and there is much much more traffic there than in Ireland
Yea but by God you have to be a mind reader to drive in Ireland, and just because you may have the right of way sometimes, it does not mean some drivers will give you the right of way,if people want u to get out of the way they will drive right up your arse to try and bully you even though you are doing the speed limit not all people but a lot.
Great video, we'll be there next month and will definitely use the mirror tips!
thank you!!! very helpful. I'm italian leaving tomorrow for scotland!!! 7 days. wish me luck!!! :)
Thanks for this video! I’m headed to Ireland in two weeks and was anxious about driving on the opposite side of the road, and driving A RHD car in manual. I haven’t driven a manual exclusively for about 10 years, so that part I am looking forward to, as I missing driving a manual.
Great information!
How did your driving a manual in Ireland go?
How did it go? Should I do it?
Really great and informative video! Thank you!
Having been there, and GB many times - very helpful tip about the Right Mirror...
great tips. add drive around airport fro half hour at beginning, controlled traffic, signs and mixed vehicles makes it easy area to practice!
Thanks for sharing - I will be relocating to Dublin this month ...
Thanks much! Really appreciate your video!
Thank you for the tips on better use of the side view mirrors. I have driven in Ireland before, and in fact destroyed two tires because I got too close to the ditch. Going back in August, and will definitely use your advice. Thanks and God bless.
Headed there in 2 days.. good information, thanks!!
Really appreciate your suggestions. I've driven in England several times, but will drive out of Dublin and out of Belfast in a few weeks (NOT in the city). The mirror suggestions were very helpful!
Ireland is beautiful! Best tip for getting around in your rental car: rent THE TINIEST car you can! The jaw dropping beauty of the scenic routes is best enjoyed when you don't have to worry about squeezing your car between oncoming trucks & buses on one side and the ever present rock walls on the other. We were so happy when we rented a Camry sized auto-- until our side mirror broke away & soon after had a flat tire from trying to keep from being hit by an oncoming lorry -- then we wished we could have rented something MUCH much smaller. It would have been so much more fun in a tiny car!!
Psst, hogging the outside lane is frowned upon. You should aim to stay left most unless you're overtaking or the road is busy.
It's also illegal!
This was a helpful video for us, but the best advice we got on driving was from two cab drivers.
When turning always think "Short Left, Wide Right." As for keeping left always think "Passenger in the Ditch." Though they used another word for passenger. Other funny note. Many cars had a big "N" or a big "L" in the window. N for "new" driver, just got their license. Or "L" for Learner. Thanks for this video it really helped.
'N' for novice, newly passed driving test and under probation for two years. 'L' is leaner, for those on a provisional licence - such drivers are supposed to have fully qualified driver alongside. A rule that seems to be ignored by all! Beware of Nissan Micra and Toyota Yaris drivers with 'L' plates (which is to say - all of them!) who are entirely unsuited to driving...
It is possible that the custom of driving on the left dates back to pre-history and may later have been used as an early road safety measure. At a time when the main danger on the roads was mugging, careful travellers would pass on-coming strangers on the left with their sword arm towards the passer-by. The keep left rule did not become law in Britain until the increase in horse traffic made some sort of enforcement essential. Before this, the drivers of coaches leaving London for the country simply chose the firmest part of the road.
The main dates for the introduction of the legal requirement to keep left are: 1756 - London Bridge 1772 - Towns in Scotland 1835 - All roads in Great Britain and Ireland. In Europe, Pope Boniface VIII instructed pilgrims to keep to the left in the year 1300. Later, class distinction in France meant that aristocrats drove their carriages on the left side of the road forcing everybody else over to the centre or to the right-hand side. Keeping left had really only ever applied to riding or driving.
With the onset of the French Revolution in 1789 and the subsequent declaration of the rights of man in 1791 many aristocrats decided to keep to the ‘poor side’ of the road so as not to draw attention to themselves. Keeping to the right of the road was also seen as a way of defying the earlier Papal decree. The subsequent Revolutionary wars and Napoleon’s European conquests led to the spread of driving on the right to Switzerland, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, Belgium and the Netherlands. Napoleon ordered his armies to use the right-hand side of the road in order to avoid congestion during military manoeuvres. The nations that resisted invasion - Britain, the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Russia and Portugal - generally kept to the left. The Netherlands changed to driving on the right in 1795, but Dutch colonies in the Far East ( Indonesia ) continued the old practices. Denmark had not been invaded by the French but changed in 1793. Russia did not switch until 1916. Czechoslovakia and Hungary were the last countries in mainland Europe to keep left, only changing to the right following invasion by Germany in the late 1930s. Portugal made the change from left to right in the 1920s; countries with border crossings found there was great confusion if drivers were required to change sides of the road when passing from country to country. Sweden remained on the left until 1967 and changed to the right following a lengthy road safety campaign. In Austria from 1805 to 1939 half the country drove on the left whilst the other half, the area that had been invaded by Napoleon, drove on the right! Most of the British Empire adopted the British custom of driving on the left although Egypt, which had been conquered by Napoleon, kept using the right after it became a British dependency. Pakistan considered changing from left to right in the 1960s,The main argument against was that camel trains often drove through the night while their drivers dozed,The difficulty in teaching old camels new tricks was a decisive factor in Pakistan rejecting the change.
Canada stayed on the left until the 1920s. During the American War of Independence, French liberal reformer General Lafayette gave advice to the revolutionary forces and spread the idea of driving on the right. The keep right rule was applied to the Pennsylvania turnpike in 1792, New York in 1804 and New Jersey in 1813. Bucking the normal trend, the Pacific island of Samoa made the switch from driving on the right to driving on the left side of the road on 7 September 2009. The official reason given was so as to fall in line with near neighbours Australia and New Zealand which, like Britain, still drive on the left.
This was really helpful. I've been on multiple trips to the UK and Ireland but I'm driving myself for the first time.
Amy Francko how was the driving in Ireland ?
Immensely helpful, thank you!
Thank you for posting this video. I will be heading to Dublin this week and renting a car from the airport. I do feel some anxiety driving on the opposite side of the road but looks like I'll get the hang of it.
Great! Thanks! I've been dealing with some undue stress about an upcoming to trip which I'm quite excited about otherwise!
Also don’t drive in the right lane on the motorway and block it
Australian here. I visited the UK back in 2018, never got to Ireland but I'm sure it's very similar. Had a car for three weeks and became very good at squeezing it through very tight spaces. Have also driven all over the US three times and on the last trip in 2015, almost had a head-on crash, for obvious reasons. Amazed that could happen after so much time on the RHS of the road. The lesson - NEVER let your guard down.
They are similar, I’m in the UK but have driven in Ireland many times, main difference is the mph vs kph thing.
You mean km/h or kmph(Indian subcontinent)?
Thank you so so so much for this. It put me so much more at ease :)
Very helpful video. Our next European trip will be Ireland. Thanks
I am leaving soon for three weeks in Ireland by myself, driving and mainly car camping around the country. I am happy I've planned my Dublin days up front, without the car. It'll give me a chance to adjust. Then I'll go back to airport, pick up the vehicle and drive southwest, not returning to Dublin city at all, but returning the car and flying home same day. This video was excellent.
Titus O'Brien how was the driving there renting a car only driver and nervous?
I just got back few days ago, I wish I watched this before I left but I got to say that it was really fun to drive on the left side and I found it to be really easy 🇨🇮 I also did the same with the mirror, it helped a lot! The roads were so tight at time and on the roads that marked as R there are no side walks for pedestrians, so sometimes you will see people walking on the road. Also people don’t follow the speed limits, no matter speed I drove there were people tailgating me.
Murat D that’s the Ivory Coast flag (🇨🇮) the Irish one is backwards to that (🇮🇪)
Very good explanations, went to Connemara two times, it was easy. Be safe and keep your left... the roads in Connemara are narrows ☘️🤘☘️
Thank you for the introduction. Hope it's going to help.
Hey thanks for this! I'm going to Ireland in a few days and this is one of my biggest worries.
Simplest hint - The steering wheel is in the middle of the road. In me younger days I would go back and forth between Ireland, US, UK, France and that was the simplest way to get oriented.
I’d assume this video was for people renting a car in Ireland, not for people bringing their own car from the continent.
Thank you for your very informative video about driving in Ireland. We are also Americans planning a trip to Ireland and will also be renting a car with manual transmission. I am freaked out about the rotaries/roundabouts so your explanation of them helped make them seem managable. I like the tip about positioning the mirrors also. Thanks for sharing part of your vacation with others to help calm the driving jitters!
kilgore trout you can rent automatics, so I don't see why you have to use a manual?!?! Some good tips in this video, Drive safe and enjoy your holiday, Fàilte go hÈireann.
The cost of renting a car with automatic transmission is cost-prohibitive, crazy expensive. I can drive manual transmission but it will take a bit of time getting used to the shifting with the left hand versus the right! I guess I am mostly concerned about those numerous rotaries and how to manuver around them from the left side of the road! Hopefully, they will be OK too with a bit of practice. Thank you for your message! We are so excited to be visiting your country!
kilgore trout ..don't worry about it you'll be grand , there's no j walking over here so if there's a gap in traffic we go for it...gets us into trouble when we go abroad😀
Great video. The mirror tip was two thumbs up.
Pro tip: On a motorway you should always be in the left hand lane unless overtaking. It's not cool to cruise in the right hand lane even if you're driving the speed limit
Good luck getting people to that.It's the same here in NZ.
It’s the opposite sides in America or at least Washington state so I can get behind that. I’ll be in Dublin in 3 weeks
Thanks so much for doing this video!
Thanks a lot for an informative video, thumbs up
Thank you very much for this video.
great tip on the mirrors! no one else has mentioned that.
Very informative. what i did, when my Irish family let me drive there. When I drove into the double roundabouts. I indicated a turn ahead. idk if youre use to this but driving there, England and aus that's what I always did. Even in the roundabouts in the states. Hope that helps on making it easier to make sense of!
Your video is helpful. When I was your age I lived in Australia for 3+ years. It took me a whole year to be able to drive without constant concentration, 'keep left, keep left, keep left.' The quadruple roundabouts in England are a nightmare, looks like Ireland is easier.
Thank you! You answered a lot of concerns:)
Thank you for downloaded this video. My family and I would be flying to Irland next summer and renting a car there. Believe me, I'm pretty nervous since I have never had driven on the right side of the car and on the left side of the road.
Keep between the ditches as we say in Ireland, when it comes to Gardai, they do enforce strict driving regulations so don't be fooled by saying they're no Gardai, they'll be there when u least expect it
Thank you! great video!
great video....i enjoyed it and made a few comments below to maybe add to your video tips...im not a driving instructor but I drive a lot and have done advanced driving courses, passed my test first time and at 51yo have never had a single endorsement on my licence.
If only Irish drivers took advice from this! I see them on my commute to school, parking on sidewalks, double parking, arse end of the car sticking out on the road haha
Thanks for the tips going to IRELAND soon
Speeding is generally enforced by cameras and camera vans. The right lanes on the motorway are for overtaking, do not cruise on the right lanes.
Thanks for the video, man!!
Great video.
What a beautiful country Ireland is. I can't wait to visit it again.
@Cabrones cabron I visited Ireland 2 years ago during the first 2 weeks of September. It was warm enough to wear shorts most of the time. Plan to go in the summer next year and you'll be fine. If you're there in the summer, wear shorts but keep a sweatshirt handy. They give you strange looks when you wear a raincoat. No one wears a raincoat in Ireland except tourists! The real rainy season is coming after October. The rain comes and goes very quickly. You think your going to have a rainy day then it all blows away and it's sunny. For us, driving was the way to go. We circled Ireland and Northern Ireland over 2 weeks and stayed in B&Bs. We saw so many beautiful places. If you are an experienced driver, it is not that difficult. You just need to really pay attention to what you're doing and be very careful on the traffic circles. They are everywhere. What I did not like was the very narrow roads out in the countryside. Some of them are barely big enough for 1 car, but passing another car on these roads was a real challenge. You can avoid these by staying on the highways though. I can't recommend visiting this Country enough. It was so beautiful and the people were incredibly friendly.
@Cabrones cabron Hi from Ireland, we are a damp country but no too cold at all , frost and ice maybe 10 times a year , rain a lot even in summer and snow maybe every other year.
Driving is safe except major cities. 🇮🇪💚
Great video! Thanks
Petrol and diesel. Most modern cars and pumps for these have slightly different size nozzles so i helps to cut down the error. For example I was driving a Nissan Micra and tried to put diesel into it but the pump nozzle wouldnt fit into the car...so thats one way to help reduce the error...wont stop them all but is handy in some cases.
Thanks for doing this!
Good to know about the fuel pumps. Cheers!
That was brilliant. The griswalds needed that
Thanks for that, makes me feel a lot less scared
Thanks for the reassurance. I'm really worried about driving on the 'wrong' side of the road on my trip next summer!
You'll be totally fine! Good luck!
Use the rule when u are driving, you as the driver should be in the middle of the road . also continuous white lines you can't over take . broken white lines you can overtake when safe to do so . Another one to remember you can't turn on a pedestrian light when lights are red as you would in states in the US ...
you won't see that many cops but they are around . a private company does random speed checks anywhere where there's a camera sign . You won't be stopped but will just get nice fines in the post.
Thank you!