Driving Differences: Ireland vs. Jordan Explained
When embarking on a journey from Ireland to Jordan, understanding the unique road rules is vital for ensuring a safe experience. Key distinctions include driving orientation—left in Ireland versus right in Jordan—and varying speed limits. Additionally, the presence of dedicated bus lanes and cycle lanes further highlights the diverse traffic landscapes of these two nations..
Lanes
| Ireland | Jordan | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks areas where passing is not allowed. | Marks the edge of the roadway. |
| 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 only on multi-lane urban roads. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Use rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes | No specific bus lanes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | Buses share lanes with other vehicles. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | Limited; primarily in urban areas. |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Shared with vehicular traffic. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | Cycle symbols where applicable. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
ireland:
Left
jordan:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
ireland:
Marks areas where passing is not allowed.
jordan:
Marks the edge of the roadway.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
ireland:
Used as centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
jordan:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
ireland:
No, overtake on the right.
jordan:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
ireland:
Yes, standard overtaking side.
jordan:
Allowed only on multi-lane urban roads.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
ireland:
Use leftmost lane.
jordan:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
ireland:
Yes
jordan:
No specific bus lanes
Bus Lanes: Usage
ireland:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
jordan:
Buses share lanes with other vehicles.
Bus Lanes: Markings
ireland:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
jordan:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
ireland:
Yes
jordan:
Limited; primarily in urban areas.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
ireland:
Exclusive for bicycles.
jordan:
Shared with vehicular traffic.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
ireland:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
jordan:
Cycle symbols where applicable.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
ireland:
N/A
jordan:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
ireland:
N/A
jordan:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Ireland | Jordan | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 50-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80-90 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 120 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | More common; fines can be issued on the spot. | Yes; common. |
Urban Areas: Standard
ireland:
50 km/h
jordan:
50-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
ireland:
30 km/h
jordan:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
ireland:
80-100 km/h
jordan:
70-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
ireland:
80-90 km/h
jordan:
70-90 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
ireland:
120 km/h
jordan:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
ireland:
100 km/h
jordan:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
ireland:
90 km/h
jordan:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
ireland:
N/A
jordan:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
ireland:
More common; fines can be issued on the spot.
jordan:
Yes; common.
Signals
| Ireland | Jordan | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 typically used |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Horn Usage: Allowed | Only in cases to avoid accidents | To avoid accidents |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Use between 11:30pm and 7:00am is generally prohibited in residential areas. | Unnecessary use discouraged; fines may apply for misuse |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | Arabic and English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangles with red borders | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber
ireland:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles.
jordan:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
ireland:
Indicates the light is about to turn green.
jordan:
Not typically used
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
ireland:
Signal when entering and exiting
jordan:
Signal when exiting
Horn Usage: Allowed
ireland:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
jordan:
To avoid accidents
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
ireland:
Use between 11:30pm and 7:00am is generally prohibited in residential areas.
jordan:
Unnecessary use discouraged; fines may apply for misuse
Traffic Signs: Language
ireland:
English; symbols are standard
jordan:
Arabic and English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
ireland:
Triangles with red borders
jordan:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Ireland | Jordan | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Varies by location; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
ireland:
Not allowed
jordan:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
ireland:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
jordan:
Varies by location; check for signs
Documentation
| Ireland | Jordan | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Compulsory for vehicles older than four years; NCT certificate required. | Annual inspections required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Required | Recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
ireland:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
jordan:
International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
ireland:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
jordan:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
ireland:
Compulsory for vehicles older than four years; NCT certificate required.
jordan:
Annual inspections required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
ireland:
Displayed on the windshield
jordan:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
ireland:
Required
jordan:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
ireland:
Not mandatory, but recommended
jordan:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Ireland | Jordan | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Moderate use is common |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary | Pull over and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
ireland:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
jordan:
Moderate use is common
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
ireland:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
jordan:
Pull over and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Ireland | Jordan | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 at checkpoints |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Can be substantial |
Limits: Professional Drivers
ireland:
0.02%
jordan:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
ireland:
0.00%; zero tolerance
jordan:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
ireland:
Random breath testing is common.
jordan:
Common at checkpoints
Enforcement: Fines
ireland:
Varies; can be substantial
jordan:
Can be substantial
Emergency Services
| Ireland | Jordan | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 or 999 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 112 or 999 | 911 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or AA Ireland | Check with your insurance provider or local services |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Required | Recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
ireland:
112 or 999
jordan:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
ireland:
112 or 999
jordan:
911
Contact: Roadside Assistance
ireland:
Check with your insurance provider or AA Ireland
jordan:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
ireland:
Required
jordan:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
ireland:
Not mandatory, but recommended
jordan:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Ireland | Jordan | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; €80 to €120, and points on license | Varies; fines can be substantial |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | €60 fine and two penalty points | Fines apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | €60 fine and three penalty points | Fines apply |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | €80 and three penalty points | Fines apply |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines can be issued on the spot | Yes, occasionally |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
ireland:
Varies; €80 to €120, and points on license
jordan:
Varies; fines can be substantial
Common Fines: Seat Belts
ireland:
€60 fine and two penalty points
jordan:
Fines apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
ireland:
€60 fine and three penalty points
jordan:
Fines apply
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
ireland:
€80 and three penalty points
jordan:
Fines apply
Payment: On The Spot
ireland:
Possible; fines can be issued on the spot
jordan:
Yes, occasionally
Payment: Deadline
ireland:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
jordan:
Typically 30 days to pay