Driving Differences: Ireland vs Israel Uncovered
When navigating the roads of Ireland and Israel, drivers encounter notable variations in regulations and practices. From the contrasting sides of the road to distinct speed limits and signaling methods, understanding these nuances is vital for ensuring a safe journey. Explore how these two nations differ to enhance your driving experience abroad.
Lanes
| Ireland | Israel | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks areas where passing is not allowed. | Marks the left edge on divided roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Used as centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Left | No, overtake on the right. | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes, standard overtaking side. | Prohibited except for special circumstances like overtaking a vehicle that is turning left. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Use rightmost lane. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Driving Side
ireland:
Left
israel:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
ireland:
Marks areas where passing is not allowed.
israel:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
ireland:
Used as centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
israel:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
ireland:
No, overtake on the right.
israel:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
ireland:
Yes, standard overtaking side.
israel:
Prohibited except for special circumstances like overtaking a vehicle that is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
ireland:
Use leftmost lane.
israel:
Use rightmost lane.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
ireland:
N/A
israel:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
ireland:
No
israel:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
ireland:
N/A
israel:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Ireland | Israel | |
|---|---|---|
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80-90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 120 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | More common; fines can be issued on the spot. | Yes |
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
ireland:
80-100 km/h
israel:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
ireland:
80-100 km/h
israel:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
ireland:
80-90 km/h
israel:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
ireland:
120 km/h
israel:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
ireland:
90 km/h
israel:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
ireland:
No
israel:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
ireland:
N/A
israel:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
ireland:
More common; fines can be issued on the spot.
israel:
Yes
Signals
| Ireland | Israel | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 turn green. | Used before green light. |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Use between 11:30pm and 7:00am is generally prohibited in residential areas. | Unnecessary use prohibited; local ordinances apply |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | Hebrew, Arabic, English; symbols are international |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangles with red borders | Triangular-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber
ireland:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles.
israel:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
ireland:
Indicates the light is about to turn green.
israel:
Used before green light.
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
ireland:
Signal when entering and exiting
israel:
Signal when exiting
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
ireland:
Use between 11:30pm and 7:00am is generally prohibited in residential areas.
israel:
Unnecessary use prohibited; local ordinances apply
Traffic Signs: Language
ireland:
English; symbols are standard
israel:
Hebrew, Arabic, English; symbols are international
Traffic Signs: Warning
ireland:
Triangles with red borders
israel:
Triangular-shaped with red border
Turns
| Ireland | Israel | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Prohibited unless a sign permits |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Varies; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
ireland:
Not allowed
israel:
Prohibited unless a sign permits
U- Turns Allowed
ireland:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
israel:
Varies; check for signs
Documentation
| Ireland | Israel | |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Compulsory for vehicles older than four years; NCT certificate required. | Annual inspection required; proof may be required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Required | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Not mandatory but recommended |
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
ireland:
Compulsory for vehicles older than four years; NCT certificate required.
israel:
Annual inspection required; proof may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
ireland:
Displayed on the windshield
israel:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
ireland:
Required
israel:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
ireland:
Not mandatory, but recommended
israel:
Not mandatory but recommended
Road Etiquette
| Ireland | Israel | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Moderate use compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
ireland:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
israel:
Moderate use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
ireland:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
israel:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Ireland | Israel | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.01% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.01% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Random breath testing is common. | Common; checkpoints used regularly |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Substantial fines, varies depending on offense |
Limits: Professional Drivers
ireland:
0.02%
israel:
0.01%
Limits: Underage Drivers
ireland:
0.00%; zero tolerance
israel:
0.01%
Enforcement: Random Checks
ireland:
Random breath testing is common.
israel:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
Enforcement: Fines
ireland:
Varies; can be substantial
israel:
Substantial fines, varies depending on offense
Emergency Services
| Ireland | Israel | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 or 999 | 100 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 112 or 999 | Check local numbers |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or AA Ireland | Check with your insurance provider or local services |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Required | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
ireland:
112 or 999
israel:
100
Contact: Traffic Police
ireland:
112 or 999
israel:
Check local numbers
Contact: Roadside Assistance
ireland:
Check with your insurance provider or AA Ireland
israel:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
ireland:
Required
israel:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
ireland:
Not mandatory, but recommended
israel:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Ireland | Israel | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; €80 to €120, and points on license | Varies; can be substantial, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | €60 fine and two penalty points | Fines issued, points possible |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | €60 fine and three penalty points | Fines issued, usually high, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | €80 and three penalty points | Fines issued, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines can be issued on the spot | Possible in some cases; usually paid online or by mail |
Common Fines: Speeding
ireland:
Varies; €80 to €120, and points on license
israel:
Varies; can be substantial, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
ireland:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
israel:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
ireland:
€60 fine and two penalty points
israel:
Fines issued, points possible
Common Fines: Phone Use
ireland:
€60 fine and three penalty points
israel:
Fines issued, usually high, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
ireland:
€80 and three penalty points
israel:
Fines issued, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
ireland:
Possible; fines can be issued on the spot
israel:
Possible in some cases; usually paid online or by mail