Driving in France vs. Ireland: Key Safety Differences
Explore the distinct driving regulations and road practices of France and Ireland to ensure your journey abroad is safe and enjoyable. From the contrasting sides of the road to unique speed limits and signaling rules, understanding these variations is crucial for a smooth driving experience. Prepare yourself for the road ahead with this insightful comparison!
Lanes
| France | Ireland | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Not commonly used; used for temporary markings during roadworks. | Marks areas where passing is not allowed. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Used for temporary markings during roadworks; passing permitted when safe. | Used as centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | No, overtake on the right. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed only in specific conditions, such as heavy traffic; not generally recommended. | Yes, standard overtaking side. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses, taxis, and sometimes cyclists. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | N/A |
Driving Side
france:
Right
ireland:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
france:
Not commonly used; used for temporary markings during roadworks.
ireland:
Marks areas where passing is not allowed.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
france:
Used for temporary markings during roadworks; passing permitted when safe.
ireland:
Used as centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
france:
Yes
ireland:
No, overtake on the right.
Overtaking: On Right
france:
Allowed only in specific conditions, such as heavy traffic; not generally recommended.
ireland:
Yes, standard overtaking side.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
france:
Use rightmost lane.
ireland:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
france:
Reserved for buses, taxis, and sometimes cyclists.
ireland:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
france:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
ireland:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
france:
N/A
ireland:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
france:
Yes
ireland:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
france:
Electronic signs display current limits.
ireland:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| France | Ireland | |
|---|---|---|
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 130 km/h | 120 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Not common; fines are usually mailed after citation | More common; fines can be issued on the spot. |
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
france:
80 km/h
ireland:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
france:
80 km/h
ireland:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
france:
80 km/h
ireland:
80-90 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
france:
130 km/h
ireland:
120 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
france:
Yes
ireland:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
france:
Electronic signs display current limits
ireland:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
france:
Not common; fines are usually mailed after citation
ireland:
More common; fines can be issued on the spot.
Signals
| France | Ireland | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber | Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles | Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles. |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in France | Indicates the light is about to turn green. |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged especially at night; local ordinances may apply | Use between 11:30pm and 7:00am is generally prohibited in residential areas. |
| Traffic Signs: Language | French; symbols are standard | English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with red border | Triangles with red borders |
Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber
france:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles
ireland:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles.
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
france:
Not used in France
ireland:
Indicates the light is about to turn green.
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
france:
Unnecessary use discouraged especially at night; local ordinances may apply
ireland:
Use between 11:30pm and 7:00am is generally prohibited in residential areas.
Traffic Signs: Language
france:
French; symbols are standard
ireland:
English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
france:
Triangular with red border
ireland:
Triangles with red borders
Turns
| France | Ireland | |
|---|---|---|
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed if not specifically prohibited by signs | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
U- Turns Allowed
france:
Allowed if not specifically prohibited by signs
ireland:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| France | Ireland | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes, an MOT style test is required periodically | Compulsory for vehicles older than four years; NCT certificate required. |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on the windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory in vehicle | Required |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory in vehicle | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
france:
Accepted for short visits
ireland:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
france:
International Driving Permit recommended
ireland:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
france:
Yes, an MOT style test is required periodically
ireland:
Compulsory for vehicles older than four years; NCT certificate required.
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
france:
Displayed on windshield
ireland:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
france:
Mandatory in vehicle
ireland:
Required
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
france:
Mandatory in vehicle
ireland:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Road Etiquette
| France | Ireland | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Reserved mainly for use in emergencies | Less frequent use compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
france:
Reserved mainly for use in emergencies
ireland:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
france:
Pull over and stop if necessary
ireland:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| France | Ireland | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used regularly | Random breath testing is common. |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: Underage Drivers
france:
0.00%
ireland:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
france:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
ireland:
Random breath testing is common.
Enforcement: Fines
france:
Can be substantial
ireland:
Varies; can be substantial
Roundabouts
| France | Ireland | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal when entering if turning right | Signal if turning immediately upon entry |
Signaling: Entering
france:
Signal when entering if turning right
ireland:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Emergency Services
| France | Ireland | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 112 or 999 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 17 or through local police | 112 or 999 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or assistance service | Check with your insurance provider or AA Ireland |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Required |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
france:
112
ireland:
112 or 999
Contact: Traffic Police
france:
17 or through local police
ireland:
112 or 999
Contact: Roadside Assistance
france:
Check with your insurance provider or assistance service
ireland:
Check with your insurance provider or AA Ireland
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
france:
Mandatory
ireland:
Required
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
france:
Mandatory
ireland:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| France | Ireland | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; typically €68 to €3750, license points | Varies; €80 to €120, and points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time, and license confiscation | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | €135 | €60 fine and two penalty points |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | €135 | €60 fine and three penalty points |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | €135 | €80 and three penalty points |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines can be paid directly to police for minor offenses | Possible; fines can be issued on the spot |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 45 days to pay | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
france:
Varies; typically €68 to €3750, license points
ireland:
Varies; €80 to €120, and points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
france:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time, and license confiscation
ireland:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
france:
€135
ireland:
€60 fine and two penalty points
Common Fines: Phone Use
france:
€135
ireland:
€60 fine and three penalty points
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
france:
€135
ireland:
€80 and three penalty points
Payment: On The Spot
france:
Possible; fines can be paid directly to police for minor offenses
ireland:
Possible; fines can be issued on the spot
Payment: Deadline
france:
Varies; typically 45 days to pay
ireland:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay