Driving Differences: Ireland vs. Italy Explained
Discover the intriguing contrasts between driving in Ireland and Italy, where distinct rules and regulations shape the road experience. From lane usage and speed limits to traffic signals and penalties, understanding these unique aspects is essential for ensuring your safety while navigating foreign streets. Explore these key variations to drive confidently abroad!
Lanes
| Ireland | Italy | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks areas where passing is not allowed. | Not commonly used; occasionally as edge line. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Used as centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. | Not used for lane separation; may indicate temporary diversions. |
| Overtaking: On Left | No, overtake on the right. | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes, standard overtaking side. | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead 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
italy:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
ireland:
Marks areas where passing is not allowed.
italy:
Not commonly used; occasionally as edge line.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
ireland:
Used as centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
italy:
Not used for lane separation; may indicate temporary diversions.
Overtaking: On Left
ireland:
No, overtake on the right.
italy:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
ireland:
Yes, standard overtaking side.
italy:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
ireland:
Use leftmost lane.
italy:
Use rightmost lane.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
ireland:
N/A
italy:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
ireland:
No
italy:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
ireland:
N/A
italy:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Ireland | Italy | |
|---|---|---|
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80-90 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 120 km/h | 130 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90 km/h | 80 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. | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation |
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
ireland:
80-100 km/h
italy:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
ireland:
80-100 km/h
italy:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
ireland:
80-90 km/h
italy:
70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
ireland:
120 km/h
italy:
130 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
ireland:
90 km/h
italy:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
ireland:
No
italy:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
ireland:
N/A
italy:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
ireland:
More common; fines can be issued on the spot.
italy:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
Signals
| Ireland | Italy | |
|---|---|---|
| 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; prepare to go when green appears |
| 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 discouraged; local ordinances may apply |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | Italian; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangles with red borders | Triangle-shaped with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber
ireland:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles.
italy:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
ireland:
Indicates the light is about to turn green.
italy:
Used; prepare to go when green appears
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
ireland:
Signal when entering and exiting
italy:
Signal when exiting
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
ireland:
Use between 11:30pm and 7:00am is generally prohibited in residential areas.
italy:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Traffic Signs: Language
ireland:
English; symbols are standard
italy:
Italian; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
ireland:
Triangles with red borders
italy:
Triangle-shaped with a red border
Turns
| Ireland | Italy | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Not allowed unless indicated by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Varies by locality; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
ireland:
Not allowed
italy:
Not allowed unless indicated by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
ireland:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
italy:
Varies by locality; check for signs
Documentation
| Ireland | Italy | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted with International Driving Permit |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Compulsory for vehicles older than four years; NCT certificate required. | Mandatory for vehicles over four years old |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Displayed on license plate |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Required | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
ireland:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
italy:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
ireland:
Compulsory for vehicles older than four years; NCT certificate required.
italy:
Mandatory for vehicles over four years old
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
ireland:
Displayed on the windshield
italy:
Displayed on license plate
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
ireland:
Required
italy:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
ireland:
Not mandatory, but recommended
italy:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Ireland | Italy | |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
ireland:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
italy:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Ireland | Italy | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Random breath testing is common. | Common; checkpoints used frequently |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Substantial |
Limits: Professional Drivers
ireland:
0.02%
italy:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
ireland:
0.00%; zero tolerance
italy:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
ireland:
Random breath testing is common.
italy:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
Enforcement: Fines
ireland:
Varies; can be substantial
italy:
Substantial
Emergency Services
| Ireland | Italy | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 or 999 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 112 or 999 | 113 (State Police) |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or AA Ireland | 116 (ACI) |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Required | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
ireland:
112 or 999
italy:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
ireland:
112 or 999
italy:
113 (State Police)
Contact: Roadside Assistance
ireland:
Check with your insurance provider or AA Ireland
italy:
116 (ACI)
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
ireland:
Required
italy:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
ireland:
Not mandatory, but recommended
italy:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Ireland | Italy | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; €80 to €120, and points on license | Varies; significant fines, possible license suspension |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | €60 fine and two penalty points | Varies; fines apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | €60 fine and three penalty points | Fines apply, strict enforcement |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | €80 and three penalty points | Fines apply, may include points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines can be issued on the spot | Possible, especially for foreign drivers |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically a set period to pay, often 60 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
ireland:
Varies; €80 to €120, and points on license
italy:
Varies; significant fines, possible license suspension
Common Fines: Seat Belts
ireland:
€60 fine and two penalty points
italy:
Varies; fines apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
ireland:
€60 fine and three penalty points
italy:
Fines apply, strict enforcement
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
ireland:
€80 and three penalty points
italy:
Fines apply, may include points on license
Payment: On The Spot
ireland:
Possible; fines can be issued on the spot
italy:
Possible, especially for foreign drivers
Payment: Deadline
ireland:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
italy:
Varies; typically a set period to pay, often 60 days