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RULES OF THE ROAD
Driving the Car
Before you move off you should check that your rear view mirrors are clean and properly adjusted, that all doors are properly secured and that your safety belt and that of your passenger are fastened. Check the traffic situation in your mirrors and by looking over shoulder, signal your intention to move out and move out when the way is clear. Remember that when moving off you must yield right of way to other traffic and pedestrians.
A driver must generally drive as near to the left hand side of the road as is necessary to allow approaching traffic to pass and following traffic to overtake on the right (without danger or inconvenience). When it is necessary to move from this normal left hand side of the road, as for example when overtaking, turning right or when passing pedestrians, cyclists or parked vehicles, make sure it is safe to do so. When it is necessary, check in your mirror to ensure another vehicle is not approaching from behind, give a clear signal to warn traffic in good time of your intentions and proceed with your manoeuvre.
When driving at night you must use your full headlamps except:
1. For a short period just after the beginning or before the end of lighting up hours (the period commencing half an hour after sunset on any day and ending half an hour before sunrise on the following day) provided visibility is adequate.
2. When stopped in the course of traffic.
3. In a built-up or special speed limit area where there is good street lighting.
You must dip your headlamps:
1. When meeting other traffic.
2. When driving in a built-up or special speed limit area except where the roads are unlit.
3. On continuously lit roads outside built-up or special speed limit areas.
4. When following close behind another vehicle.
5. At the beginning and end of lighting up hours.
6. Where there is dense fog or falling snow.
7. Generally to avoid inconveniencing other traffic.
When making a U-turn ensure that:
• The road is not one way.
• You give way to all traffic.
• You do not cross a continuous centre white line.
• The draw-bar, rope or other towing device must be strong enough to withstand breakage and so secured that it will not become detached while in use.
• The distance between the vehicles (or between vehicle and trailer) must not exceed 5 metres.
• Where the distance between the vehicles exceeds 1.5 metres, a warning device, such as a white flag at least 12 inches square, must be attached to the towing device.
• If the trailer has its own steering gear, an attendant must be present to take charge of the steering, and, if the vehicle being towed is itself a mechanically propelled vehicle, the attendant must be the holder of a licence to drive that class of vehicle.
• If the trailer exceeds 15 cwt in laden weight or half the laden weight of the drawing vehicle (whichever is the less) it must be fitted with brakes.
• A combination of vehicles or an articulated vehicle exceeding 13 metres in length must display a Long Vehicle sign or signs on the back of the rearmost trailer.
• Loads projecting more than 1 metre to the rear must be marked in daytime by a red flag or marked board and at night time by a red reflector and red lamp. A load projecting to the side must be marked at night by a lamp or lamps showing a white light to the front and a red lamp to the rear.
This regulatory traffic sign demands that vehicles approaching the junction at which the sign is provided MUST STOP at the sign or at the stop line if this is provided even if there is no traffic on the major road. Traffic travelling in either direction along the major road has right of way at all times.
This regulatory sign imposes the same obligation to concede right of way as the stop sign. In general, this will be provided at junctions at which the right of way can be yielded simply by slowing down and stopping only if necessary.
Motorways
Motorways are roads which are designed to provide for faster journey times with greater safety through the separation of traffic and elimination of road junctions.
Motorways may not be used by
• Persons not holding full driving licences for the category of vehicle being driven.
• Vehicles with the engine capacity of 50cc or less.
• Vehicles incapable of speed of at least 50km/h (vehicles capable of a speed of 50 km/h may use a motorway whether or not propelled by internal combustion engine).
• Vehicles which do not use pneumatic tyres.
• Invalid carriages.
• Pedal cyclists.
• Animals.
The Road Traffic General Bye-Laws (Amendment) Regulations 1983 to 1992 deal with driving on motorways. Briefly these Regulations require motorists to drive only in the direction of traffic flow; prohibit the driving on or across any part of the motorway which is not a carriageway; prohibit stopping or parking on any part of the motorway; prohibit driving of any vehicle for which an ordinary maximum speed limit of 80kph or lower is prescribed (buses, coaches, goods vehicles with a design gross vehicle weight in excess of 3,500 kilograms or a vehicle drawing another vehicle) from driving in the traffic lane nearest the right hand edge of the carriageway except in exceptional circumstances e.g. lane closed or obstructed. These Regulations also deal with the procedures that must be followed in the event of an accident or breakdown.
Attention is also drawn to the prohibition on picking up or setting down anybody on a motorway.
When you join the motorway by way of a slip road you must give way to traffic already on the motorway. Watch for a safe gap in the traffic in the left-hand lane and adjust your speed as you join the motorway in order to match, as nearly as possible, the general speed of traffic in that lane. Stay in the left-hand lane long enough to adjust to the speed of traffic before attempting to overtake.
You must only drive ahead. No other movement such as turning/reversing is permitted. You must progress at a speed and in such a manner as to avoid undue interference with other motorway traffic.
The normal "keep left" rule applies. This means that you stay in the left hand lane unless you are overtaking. In a three lane carriageway you may stay in the centre lane while there is slower moving traffic on the inner lane. A vehicle drawing a trailer should not use the right-hand lane of a carriageway with three or more lanes except in exceptional circumstances.
• Overtaking on the right only, unless traffic is moving in queues and the traffic queue on your right is moving slowly than you are.• Before you start to overtake, check that the way is clear, (behind and ahead) and signal well in advance.• Remember that traffic may be travelling significantly faster than on ordinary roads.• Be particularly careful at dusk, during darkness, and in foggy or misty conditions when it is more difficult to judge speed and distance.• Return to your original lane as soon as possible.
If your vehicle breaks down, move it off the carriageway on to the hard shoulder. If you have hazard warning lights, switch them on. Goods vehicles should display their warning triangles. Do not attempt to cross or walk on the carriageway. Use the roadside telephone to inform the Gardai. Do not delay in obtaining assistance and do not leave your vehicle unattended for longer than necessary. If you cannot move your vehicle off the carriageway, take whatever steps you can to warn other drivers of its presence. When rejoining the carriageway, build up your speed first on the hard shoulder. Watch for a safe gap in the traffic before rejoining it.
If you become aware of an obstruction on the carriageway, use the roadside telephone to inform the Gardai. Do not attempt to remove it yourself.
• If the car breaks down.
• When you are signalled to do so by a Garda.
• In emergency situations (accidents etc).
Dual Carriageways
On dual carriageways the general rule of driving on the left applies. The outer lane of a two-lane dual carriageway should be used only by:
• Faster moving traffic.
• For overtaking.
• When intending to turn right a short distance ahead.
The outer lane of a three-lane dual carriageway should only be used for overtaking or when it is intended to make a right turn a short distance ahead.
When turning right on a dual carriageway follow the normal procedure and move into the right hand lane. (If there is a deceleration lane move into this lane). At the junction turn into the "median" space (the central dividing strip) and wait for a safe gap in traffic before crossing or turning into the other carriageway. Aim to get into the left hand lane as you complete your turn.
When you wish to cross a dual carriageway or join it by turning right, treat each half as a separate one-way road. Cross the first half when it is clear and wait in the median space until there is a safe gap in traffic in the second half before you complete your crossing or turn. If the median is already blocked by another vehicle, WAIT until there is sufficient space available to enable you to clear the first half of the dual carriageway without stopping. If the median is too narrow to accommodate your vehicle, wait on the side road until you can clear both carriageways at once.
Junctions
Check your mirror well in advance for traffic following behind. If the way is clear, give a right turn signal and, as soon as you can do so safely, take up a position just left of the middle of the road, or in the space provided for right turning traffic. Where possible, leave room for other vehicles to pass on the left. When a safe gap occurs in oncoming traffic, complete your turn so as to enter the left hand side of the road into which you are turning. Do not cut the corner. When necessary, as for example at a junction controlled by a STOP SIGN (at which you must stop) or YIELD RIGHT OF WAY sign, wait at the entrance to the junction until the road is clear.
Check for following traffic well in advance. Give a left turn signal and slow down. Watch particularly for cyclists or motorcyclists coming up on your left. Keep as close as possible to the left edge of the roadway. Make the turn, again keeping close to the left hand edge. If at a T-Junction, it is important to give way to both sides of traffic.
• Treat the roundabout as a normal junction which means you yield right of way to traffic approaching on the roundabout.
• IF LEAVING BY THE FIRST EXIT approach and enter the roundabout in the left-hand lane signalling a left turn and proceed to leave the roundabout at that exit.
• IF LEAVING BY THE SECOND EXIT approach and enter the roundabout in the left-hand lane but do not signal until you have passed the first exit then signal a left turn and leave at the next exit.
• IF LEAVING BY ANY SUBSEQUENT EXIT approach and enter the roundabout in the right hand lane signalling a right turn. Keep in the right hand lane (i.e. the lane next to the centre). As you pass the exit before the one you intend to leave by, signal a left turn and, when your way is clear, move to the other lane and leave at the desired exit.
• Traffic already turning at a junction.
• A pedestrian already crossing at a junction.
• A pedestrian on a zebra crossing.
• A pedestrian on a pelican crossing when the amber light is flashing.
• Pedestrians and traffic when you are moving off from a stationary position.
• Traffic in another lane when you wish to change lanes.
• Traffic on a public road when you are coming out of a private entrance.
Traffic Lights
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.
Always approach traffic lights at such a speed which will enable you to stop if the amber light shows on your approach. Remember that a flashing amber light at a pedestrian crossing means you must yield to pedestrians.
A driver approaching a traffic light showing green may proceed past the light provided the way is clear.
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.
Special Conditions
One way streets will be indicated by the traffic signs illustrated below - No Entry, or Proceed This Way. The No Entry sign may be accompanied by the roadway markings illustrated right. Lane discipline must be observed in one-way streets.
Take note of arrow markings on the road. You may drive on either side of a traffic refuge in a one-way street. Remember that at the end of a one-way street the road ahead, either to the right or left, may be two-way. This will be indicated by the TWO-WAY TRAFFIC SIGN.
Such streets will be indicated by the traffic sign opposite and are closed to all vehicular traffic at particular times. The times will be shown on the information plate accompanying the sign as illustrated.
There are two types of bus lane:
BUS-ONLY STREETS: "Bus only streets" are streets which are reserved for the use of buses only. They may be entered by other traffic for the purpose of access only.
At a gated but unattended level crossing, signposted by the sign shown opposite, stop short of the crossing:
• Get out of the vehicle.
At a few unattended level crossings, there are neither gates nor barriers and the crossing is protected only by twin red flashing lights which are activated by an approaching train.
If a second train is coming its approach will be indicated by an illuminated sign SECOND TRAIN COMING, placed below the light board.
As soon as the train(s) has passed, the barrier will rise.
Other types of level crossings include attended gated crossings and unattended crossings equipped with barriers extended over the full width of the road.
Because of the risk of road vehicles hitting level crossing gates, barriers or trains, drivers must approach level crossings with due caution and always be in a position to come to a halt in front of the gates or barriers.
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Rules of the Road – FAQs
What is the difference between a stop sign and a yield sign?
Stop signs and yield signs are seen at all kinds of junctions. At a stop sign, your car must come to a complete stop. At a yield sign, you must slow down and give way to traffic coming from the right or traffic already on the junction. If there are no other cars then you can continue through the junction without fully stopping the car.
Can I ever drive in a bus lane?
Bus lanes are reserved for buses and taxis during peak traffic hours. These hours will be indicated on the bus lane signs. All cars, vehicles, and traffic can use these lanes outside of the advertised hours.
Can learner drivers use motorways?
No. Learner drivers are not allowed to drive on the motorway. Motorways are very dangerous places with high speed traffic. Motorways can only be used if you hold a full driving licence.