In Ireland, driving permits in languages that do not use Roman letters and numbers are not recognized. So, foreign visitors may legally drive in Ireland if they have valid driving permits from their domestic countries supported International driver licenses. Holders of licenses for automatic cars vehicles with automatic transmission may only drive vehicles with automatic transmission in Ireland.

Genegal Ireland traffic rules:

• The minimum age for driving is 17 years.
• The minimum age to rent a car is 23 years; driver must also have held a full foreign driving permit for at least a one year.
• Drivers must drive on the left side of the road.
• Drivers must normally overtake on the right side of the road.
• The legal blood alcohol limit is .05.
• The distance and speed limit signs are in kilometres.
• Irish speed limits are: in town and cities – 50 km/h (31 mph); on regional and local roads – 80 km/h (50 mph); on National roads – 100 km/h (62 mph); on motorways – 120 km/h (75 mph).
• At the intersections of equal roads, a driver must yield to traffic on the right.
• If a driver is going to turn right, he must yield to traffic coming straight from the opposite direction.
• If two drives are turning into the same road, the driver turning right should give a way to the driver turning left.
• Drivers on the roads marked as "more important" have priority.
• At a pedestrian crossing, the orange traffic light means that drivers may drive if there are no pedestrians crossing.
• Ireland has many roundabouts; cars in the roundabout have the right of way.
• In a built-up area, drivers must not use a horn between 23.30 hrs (11.30 p.m.) and 07.00 hrs (7 a.m.) unless there is a traffic emergency.
• A driver and all passengers from front and rear seats must wear set-belts.
• Children less than 12 years are not permitted in front seats.Children under 3 years may be ridden in the front seat if they are in a rear facing restraint system and the airbag is deactivated. Children over 3 years who are under 1.50 m and less than 36 kg must use an appropriate child restraint.
• While driving, only cell phones with hand-free systems are allowed.
• Parking restrictions are shown on roadside signs. A double yellow line at side of road means “no parking”; a single yellow line at side of road means “no stopping”.

It is recommended to have in a car:

• breakdown warning triangle,
• first aid kit,
• fire extinguisher,
• visibility vests,
• spare bulb kit.
• If a driver wears glasses, he should have a spare pair in the car.
  

While driving, any foreign driver must have with him documents:

• passport,
• valid driving permit from his domestic country,
• international driver license,
• motor insurance (third-party insurance),
• vehicle registration certificate or rental agreement. If the car is not registered in the driver’s name, he must have a letter from the owner giving him permission to drive.
•  vehicle oval country of registration plate from domestic country (not required for cars with European Union license plates).

In Ireland, many motorways are toll roads.

Ireland Road Traffic Signs

• Irish Driving Vocabulary

 Driving Overseas - Short Information