Driving in Greece vs. Ireland: Key Safety Differences
When exploring the roads of Greece and Ireland, understanding their unique driving regulations is essential for safe travels. From differing sides of the road to varied speed limits, drivers face distinct rules. Familiarizing yourself with these contrasts can significantly enhance your driving experience and ensure greater road safety while abroad.
Lanes
| Greece | Ireland | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Marks areas where passing is not allowed. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Centerline on two-way roads; 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 on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Yes, standard overtaking side. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Not applicable | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Not applicable | N/A |
Driving Side
greece:
Right
ireland:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
greece:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
ireland:
Marks areas where passing is not allowed.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
greece:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
ireland:
Used as centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
greece:
Yes
ireland:
No, overtake on the right.
Overtaking: On Right
greece:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
ireland:
Yes, standard overtaking side.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
greece:
Use rightmost lane.
ireland:
Use leftmost lane.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
greece:
Not applicable
ireland:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
greece:
Not applicable
ireland:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Greece | Ireland | |
|---|---|---|
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 90 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 |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Not applicable | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, fines can be issued on the spot | More common; fines can be issued on the spot. |
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
greece:
90 km/h
ireland:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
greece:
80 km/h
ireland:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
greece:
80 km/h
ireland:
80-90 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
greece:
130 km/h
ireland:
120 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
greece:
80 km/h
ireland:
90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
greece:
Not applicable
ireland:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
greece:
Yes, fines can be issued on the spot
ireland:
More common; fines can be issued on the spot.
Signals
| Greece | 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 Greece | Indicates the light is about to turn green. |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when exiting | Signal when entering and exiting |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Discouraged in urban areas unless necessary | Use between 11:30pm and 7:00am is generally prohibited in residential areas. |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Greek and English; symbols are standard | English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with yellow background | Triangles with red borders |
Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber
greece:
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
greece:
Not used in Greece
ireland:
Indicates the light is about to turn green.
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
greece:
Signal when exiting
ireland:
Signal when entering and exiting
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
greece:
Discouraged in urban areas unless necessary
ireland:
Use between 11:30pm and 7:00am is generally prohibited in residential areas.
Traffic Signs: Language
greece:
Greek and English; symbols are standard
ireland:
English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
greece:
Triangle-shaped with yellow background
ireland:
Triangles with red borders
Turns
| Greece | Ireland | |
|---|---|---|
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by locality; check for signs | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
U- Turns Allowed
greece:
Varies by locality; check for signs
ireland:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Greece | Ireland | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; International Driving Permit not required | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit required | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes, periodic vehicle inspections required | Compulsory for vehicles older than four years; NCT certificate required. |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield | 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
greece:
Accepted; International Driving Permit not required
ireland:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
greece:
International Driving Permit required
ireland:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
greece:
Yes, periodic vehicle inspections required
ireland:
Compulsory for vehicles older than four years; NCT certificate required.
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
greece:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
ireland:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
greece:
Mandatory
ireland:
Required
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
greece:
Mandatory
ireland:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Road Etiquette
| Greece | Ireland | |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
greece:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
ireland:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Greece | Ireland | |
|---|---|---|
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; police may set up roadblocks | Random breath testing is common. |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension and potential penalties | Can result in license suspension |
Enforcement: Random Checks
greece:
Common; police may set up roadblocks
ireland:
Random breath testing is common.
Test Refusal
greece:
Can result in license suspension and potential penalties
ireland:
Can result in license suspension
Emergency Services
| Greece | Ireland | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 112 or 999 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 100 | 112 or 999 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | 10400 for ELPA assistance | 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
greece:
112
ireland:
112 or 999
Contact: Traffic Police
greece:
100
ireland:
112 or 999
Contact: Roadside Assistance
greece:
10400 for ELPA assistance
ireland:
Check with your insurance provider or AA Ireland
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
greece:
Mandatory
ireland:
Required
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
greece:
Mandatory
ireland:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Greece | Ireland | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; €40 to €700, points on license | Varies; €80 to €120, and points on license |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | €350, points on license | €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 | €350, points on license | €80 and three penalty points |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; usually paid immediately or within a few days | Possible; fines can be issued on the spot |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 10 days to pay | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
greece:
Varies; €40 to €700, points on license
ireland:
Varies; €80 to €120, and points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts
greece:
€350, points on license
ireland:
€60 fine and two penalty points
Common Fines: Phone Use
greece:
€100, points on license
ireland:
€60 fine and three penalty points
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
greece:
€350, points on license
ireland:
€80 and three penalty points
Payment: On The Spot
greece:
Yes; usually paid immediately or within a few days
ireland:
Possible; fines can be issued on the spot
Payment: Deadline
greece:
Varies; typically 10 days to pay
ireland:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay