Driving Differences: Germany vs. Ireland Safety Guide
When venturing through the roads of Germany and Ireland, understanding their unique traffic regulations is essential for a secure journey. Key distinctions include driving on opposite sides, varying speed limits, and specific lane markings. Familiarizing yourself with these variations will enhance your road safety and navigation experience in these two distinct nations.
Lanes
| Germany | Ireland | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Not commonly used; white lines are standard. | Marks areas where passing is not allowed. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Marks temporary lanes or roadworks. | Used as centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | No, overtake on the right. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Generally prohibited, except in traffic jams or on multi-lane roads when the left lane is moving slower. | Yes, standard overtaking side. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. Bicycles may be allowed. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS'; often with signs. | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored lane. | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
| 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
germany:
Right
ireland:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
germany:
Not commonly used; white lines are standard.
ireland:
Marks areas where passing is not allowed.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
germany:
Marks temporary lanes or roadworks.
ireland:
Used as centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
germany:
Yes
ireland:
No, overtake on the right.
Overtaking: On Right
germany:
Generally prohibited, except in traffic jams or on multi-lane roads when the left lane is moving slower.
ireland:
Yes, standard overtaking side.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
germany:
Use rightmost lane.
ireland:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
germany:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. Bicycles may be allowed.
ireland:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
germany:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with signs.
ireland:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
germany:
Bicycle symbols and colored lane.
ireland:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
germany:
N/A
ireland:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
germany:
Yes
ireland:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
germany:
Electronic signs display current limits.
ireland:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Germany | Ireland | |
|---|---|---|
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | Recommended 130 km/h, no fixed maximum | 120 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Common | More common; fines can be issued on the spot. |
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
germany:
100 km/h
ireland:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
germany:
80 km/h
ireland:
80-90 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
germany:
Recommended 130 km/h, no fixed maximum
ireland:
120 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
germany:
80-100 km/h
ireland:
90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
germany:
Yes
ireland:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
germany:
Electronic signs display current limits
ireland:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
germany:
Common
ireland:
More common; fines can be issued on the spot.
Signals
| Germany | 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 | Indicates the light is about to change to green | Indicates the light is about to turn green. |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when exiting | Signal when entering and exiting |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Use between 11:30pm and 7:00am is generally prohibited in residential areas. |
| Traffic Signs: Language | German; symbols are standard | English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with red border | Triangles with red borders |
Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber
germany:
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
germany:
Indicates the light is about to change to green
ireland:
Indicates the light is about to turn green.
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
germany:
Signal when exiting
ireland:
Signal when entering and exiting
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
germany:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
ireland:
Use between 11:30pm and 7:00am is generally prohibited in residential areas.
Traffic Signs: Language
germany:
German; symbols are standard
ireland:
English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
germany:
Triangle-shaped with red border
ireland:
Triangles with red borders
Turns
| Germany | Ireland | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed unless a green arrow sign is present | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Prohibited in many areas; check for signs | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
germany:
Not allowed unless a green arrow sign is present
ireland:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
germany:
Prohibited in many areas; check for signs
ireland:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Germany | Ireland | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; no International Driving Permit needed | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for up to 6 months; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory, every 2 years | Compulsory for vehicles older than four years; NCT certificate required. |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on rear license plate | Displayed on the windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Required |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
germany:
Accepted; no International Driving Permit needed
ireland:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
germany:
Accepted for up to 6 months; International Driving Permit recommended
ireland:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
germany:
Mandatory, every 2 years
ireland:
Compulsory for vehicles older than four years; NCT certificate required.
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
germany:
Displayed on rear license plate
ireland:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
germany:
Mandatory
ireland:
Required
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
germany:
Mandatory
ireland:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Road Etiquette
| Germany | Ireland | |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Move to the side and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
germany:
Move to the side and stop if necessary
ireland:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Germany | Ireland | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common | Random breath testing is common. |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial, varies by offense | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: Professional Drivers
germany:
0.00%
ireland:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
germany:
0.00%
ireland:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
germany:
Common
ireland:
Random breath testing is common.
Enforcement: Fines
germany:
Can be substantial, varies by offense
ireland:
Varies; can be substantial
Emergency Services
| Germany | Ireland | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 112 or 999 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 110 | 112 or 999 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or ADAC | 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
germany:
112
ireland:
112 or 999
Contact: Traffic Police
germany:
110
ireland:
112 or 999
Contact: Roadside Assistance
germany:
Check with your insurance provider or ADAC
ireland:
Check with your insurance provider or AA Ireland
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
germany:
Mandatory
ireland:
Required
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
germany:
Mandatory
ireland:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Germany | Ireland | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; €10 to over €600, points on license | Varies; €80 to €120, and points on license |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | €30 to €60 | €60 fine and two penalty points |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | €100, points on license | €60 fine and three penalty points |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | €90 to €200, points on license | €80 and three penalty points |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common | Possible; fines can be issued on the spot |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 1 to 4 weeks to pay | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
germany:
Varies; €10 to over €600, points on license
ireland:
Varies; €80 to €120, and points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts
germany:
€30 to €60
ireland:
€60 fine and two penalty points
Common Fines: Phone Use
germany:
€100, points on license
ireland:
€60 fine and three penalty points
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
germany:
€90 to €200, points on license
ireland:
€80 and three penalty points
Payment: On The Spot
germany:
Common
ireland:
Possible; fines can be issued on the spot
Payment: Deadline
germany:
Varies; typically 1 to 4 weeks to pay
ireland:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay