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following is a list of Traffic Laws that one must abide
to when driving in Ireland:
- Freeways/Motorways 70 mph or 112 kph (80kph towing)
- Regular non-urban roads 60 mph or 100 kph (80kph
towing)
- Urban areas 30 mph or 48/50 kph
A strict alcohol limit of 80 milligrams
or 0.08% is enforced.
Wearing of seat belts is compulsory in
front and rear seats.
Children
under 12 years of age are not permitted in front seats.
It is recommended to carry breakdown warning
triangle, first aid kit, fire extinguisher and spare
bulb kit in vehicle. If you wear glasses, bring a spare
pair in the car with you.
Minimum driving age is 17 years.
- Valid driver's license
- Vehicle title document/registration certificate
or vehicle rental agreement
- Insurance green card (not obligatory for vehicles
registered in IRL or another EU state)
- National vehicle oval country of registration
plate (not required for vehicles fitted with EU
standard format license plates)
Drive on the left and vehicle headlights
should be focused accordingly.
Traffic coming from the right-hand side
has precedence on roundabouts (traffic rotaries)
Freeways/Motorways = Blue
National Primary & Secondary routes = Green
Regional and local routes = White
Tolls are payable at two points in the
Dublin area - M50 Ring Road between the N4 and N3 interchanges
only and on the R131 East Link Bridge. In each case
the toll is under €1.30 for cars, with higher tolls
for vans and trucks. There are no tolls on other motorways
or national routes.
Driving styles and regulations differ
in every country. It usually takes between a few hours
and a day to get used to a new driving environment,
particularly if you have not driven in the country before.
- Try and avoid the narrower roads for the first
day or so until you are familiar with the driving
environment
- Take your time - drive slowly at first until you
gain confidence. Watch the signs carefully!
- If you cross the road to park or to visit a petrol/gas
station, be sure to return to a driving position
on the left-hand side after you exit the parking
space!
Parking regulations are strictly enforced,
particularly in Dublin City. Tow trucks and vehicle
disabling programs are in operation. Parking meters
operate in the city center area Monday to Saturday (07-19.00)
typical cost €2 = 60 minutes. Many meters are of
the "Pay and Display" variety, with a single solar powered
meter serving about 20 spaces. As coins are inserted,
the parking expiry time for the amount inserted is displayed.
When sufficient coins have been deposited, pressing
the green button causes a two-part ticket to be printed.
The larger part should be stuck to the windshield, and
the counterfoil can be retained as a reminder of when
the parking expires. Disk parking operates outside the
central zone and in some suburbs and many cities outside
Dublin. Multi-story car parks (typical cost €1.50
to €2.50 per hour - some offering discounts for
overnight use) are signposted along the parking routes
with advance space availability indicators showing how
many spaces are left in each park. These parking space
availability displays are updated every minute.
The traffic information of the motoring
organisations is broadcast in English by RTE Radio 1
and 2 and most commercial radio stations. Call 1-850
542 542 to notify the traffic centre of any problems
on the roads. Calls charged at €0.15 each irrespective
of duration or whether you are calling from a mobile
or ordinary fixed line.
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