Driving Differences: Ireland vs Ivory Coast Safety Tips
Driving in Ireland and the Ivory Coast presents unique challenges and regulations that every traveler should understand. Key distinctions include driving on the left in Ireland versus the right in Ivory Coast, varied speed limits, and contrasting traffic signal protocols. Familiarizing yourself with these nuances ensures a safer journey through each country.
Lanes
| Ireland | Ivory coast | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Use rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | Typically reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Exclusive for bicycles, but limited in urban areas. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | Bicycle symbols and possibly colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Not applicable |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Not applicable |
Driving Side
ireland:
Left
ivory coast:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
ireland:
Marks areas where passing is not allowed.
ivory coast:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
ireland:
Used as centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
ivory coast:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
ireland:
No, overtake on the right.
ivory coast:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
ireland:
Yes, standard overtaking side.
ivory coast:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
ireland:
Use leftmost lane.
ivory coast:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
ireland:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
ivory coast:
Typically reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
ireland:
Exclusive for bicycles.
ivory coast:
Exclusive for bicycles, but limited in urban areas.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
ireland:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
ivory coast:
Bicycle symbols and possibly colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
ireland:
N/A
ivory coast:
Not applicable
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
ireland:
N/A
ivory coast:
Not applicable
Speeds Limits
| Ireland | Ivory coast | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 120 km/h | 110 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 110 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Not applicable |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | More common; fines can be issued on the spot. | Yes, for some infractions. |
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
ireland:
80-100 km/h
ivory coast:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
ireland:
80-100 km/h
ivory coast:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
ireland:
80-90 km/h
ivory coast:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
ireland:
120 km/h
ivory coast:
110 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
ireland:
100 km/h
ivory coast:
110 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
ireland:
90 km/h
ivory coast:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
ireland:
N/A
ivory coast:
Not applicable
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
ireland:
More common; fines can be issued on the spot.
ivory coast:
Yes, for some infractions.
Signals
| Ireland | Ivory coast | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | Not used in Ivory Coast |
| 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 |
| Headlight Flash: Usage | To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking | To warn other drivers of your presence |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | French; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangles with red borders | Triangular with red border |
Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber
ireland:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles.
ivory coast:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
ireland:
Indicates the light is about to turn green.
ivory coast:
Not used in Ivory Coast
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
ireland:
Signal when entering and exiting
ivory coast:
Signal when exiting
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
ireland:
Use between 11:30pm and 7:00am is generally prohibited in residential areas.
ivory coast:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Headlight Flash: Usage
ireland:
To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking
ivory coast:
To warn other drivers of your presence
Traffic Signs: Language
ireland:
English; symbols are standard
ivory coast:
French; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
ireland:
Triangles with red borders
ivory coast:
Triangular with red border
Turns
| Ireland | Ivory coast | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Varies by locality; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
ireland:
Not allowed
ivory coast:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
ireland:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
ivory coast:
Varies by locality; check for signs
Documentation
| Ireland | Ivory coast | |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Compulsory for vehicles older than four years; NCT certificate required. | Annual vehicle inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Required | Recommended but not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Recommended but not mandatory |
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
ireland:
Compulsory for vehicles older than four years; NCT certificate required.
ivory coast:
Annual vehicle inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
ireland:
Displayed on the windshield
ivory coast:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
ireland:
Required
ivory coast:
Recommended but not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
ireland:
Not mandatory, but recommended
ivory coast:
Recommended but not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Ireland | Ivory coast | |
|---|---|---|
| Flashing Lights: Usage | To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake | To warn of hazards |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | More frequent use compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary | Pull over to the side and stop if necessary |
Flashing Lights: Usage
ireland:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
ivory coast:
To warn of hazards
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
ireland:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
ivory coast:
More frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
ireland:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
ivory coast:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Ireland | Ivory coast | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.04% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance applies |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Random breath testing is common. | Less common; checkpoints used in some areas |
Limits: General Drivers
ireland:
0.05%
ivory coast:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
ireland:
0.02%
ivory coast:
0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers
ireland:
0.00%; zero tolerance
ivory coast:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance applies
Enforcement: Random Checks
ireland:
Random breath testing is common.
ivory coast:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
Emergency Services
| Ireland | Ivory coast | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 or 999 | 170 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 112 or 999 | 171 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or AA Ireland | Check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Required | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
ireland:
112 or 999
ivory coast:
170
Contact: Traffic Police
ireland:
112 or 999
ivory coast:
171
Contact: Roadside Assistance
ireland:
Check with your insurance provider or AA Ireland
ivory coast:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
ireland:
Required
ivory coast:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Ireland | Ivory coast | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; €80 to €120, and points on license | Varies; fines may apply, points on license |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | €60 fine and two penalty points | Varies, points may apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | €60 fine and three penalty points | Fines may apply, points may apply |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | €80 and three penalty points | Fines may apply, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines can be issued on the spot | Possible for some infractions |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically stipulated |
Common Fines: Speeding
ireland:
Varies; €80 to €120, and points on license
ivory coast:
Varies; fines may apply, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts
ireland:
€60 fine and two penalty points
ivory coast:
Varies, points may apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
ireland:
€60 fine and three penalty points
ivory coast:
Fines may apply, points may apply
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
ireland:
€80 and three penalty points
ivory coast:
Fines may apply, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
ireland:
Possible; fines can be issued on the spot
ivory coast:
Possible for some infractions
Payment: Deadline
ireland:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
ivory coast:
Varies; typically stipulated