Driving Differences: Ireland vs. Liechtenstein Explained
When exploring the roads of Ireland and Liechtenstein, drivers encounter distinct regulations and practices that shape their journey. Key distinctions include driving sides, speed limits, and lane usage. Understanding these nuances is crucial for ensuring safe travel and compliance with local laws, making for a smoother experience abroad.
Lanes
| Ireland | Liechtenstein | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks areas where passing is not allowed. | Used primarily at construction sites; indicates no passing. |
| 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: Presence | Yes | No |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | Not typically used in Liechtenstein. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement. |
| 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
liechtenstein:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
ireland:
Marks areas where passing is not allowed.
liechtenstein:
Used primarily at construction sites; indicates no passing.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
ireland:
Used as centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
liechtenstein:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
ireland:
No, overtake on the right.
liechtenstein:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
ireland:
Yes, standard overtaking side.
liechtenstein:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
ireland:
Use leftmost lane.
liechtenstein:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
ireland:
Yes
liechtenstein:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
ireland:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
liechtenstein:
Not typically used in Liechtenstein.
Bus Lanes: Markings
ireland:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
liechtenstein:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
ireland:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
liechtenstein:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
ireland:
N/A
liechtenstein:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
ireland:
No
liechtenstein:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
ireland:
N/A
liechtenstein:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Ireland | Liechtenstein | |
|---|---|---|
| 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: 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. | Yes; fines can often be paid immediately |
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
ireland:
80-100 km/h
liechtenstein:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
ireland:
80-100 km/h
liechtenstein:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
ireland:
80-90 km/h
liechtenstein:
80 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
ireland:
90 km/h
liechtenstein:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
ireland:
No
liechtenstein:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
ireland:
N/A
liechtenstein:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
ireland:
More common; fines can be issued on the spot.
liechtenstein:
Yes; fines can often be paid immediately
Signals
| Ireland | Liechtenstein | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 to indicate that the light is about to turn green |
| 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 | German; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangles with red borders | Triangle-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber
ireland:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles.
liechtenstein:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
ireland:
Indicates the light is about to turn green.
liechtenstein:
Used to indicate that the light is about to turn green
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
ireland:
Signal when entering and exiting
liechtenstein:
Signal when exiting
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
ireland:
Use between 11:30pm and 7:00am is generally prohibited in residential areas.
liechtenstein:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Traffic Signs: Language
ireland:
English; symbols are standard
liechtenstein:
German; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
ireland:
Triangles with red borders
liechtenstein:
Triangle-shaped with red border
Turns
| Ireland | Liechtenstein | |
|---|---|---|
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Permitted unless prohibited by signs |
U- Turns Allowed
ireland:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
liechtenstein:
Permitted unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Ireland | Liechtenstein | |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Compulsory for vehicles older than four years; NCT certificate required. | Required annually |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Required | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
ireland:
Compulsory for vehicles older than four years; NCT certificate required.
liechtenstein:
Required annually
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
ireland:
Displayed on the windshield
liechtenstein:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
ireland:
Required
liechtenstein:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
ireland:
Not mandatory, but recommended
liechtenstein:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Ireland | Liechtenstein | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
liechtenstein:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Ireland | Liechtenstein | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.05% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Random breath testing is common. | Common; checkpoints used to deter drunk driving |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Heavy fines; varies by severity |
Limits: General Drivers
ireland:
0.05%
liechtenstein:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
ireland:
0.02%
liechtenstein:
0.05%
Enforcement: Random Checks
ireland:
Random breath testing is common.
liechtenstein:
Common; checkpoints used to deter drunk driving
Enforcement: Fines
ireland:
Varies; can be substantial
liechtenstein:
Heavy fines; varies by severity
Emergency Services
| Ireland | Liechtenstein | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 or 999 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 112 or 999 | 117 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or AA Ireland | Contact insurance company or local service providers |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Required | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
ireland:
112 or 999
liechtenstein:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
ireland:
112 or 999
liechtenstein:
117
Contact: Roadside Assistance
ireland:
Check with your insurance provider or AA Ireland
liechtenstein:
Contact insurance company or local service providers
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
ireland:
Required
liechtenstein:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
ireland:
Not mandatory, but recommended
liechtenstein:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Ireland | Liechtenstein | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; €80 to €120, and points on license | Varies; can be substantial, points on license |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | €60 fine and two penalty points | Mandatory, fines apply for non-compliance |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | €60 fine and three penalty points | Fines for use without hands-free kit; can be substantial |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | €80 and three penalty points | Heavy fines, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines can be issued on the spot | Yes; fines can often be paid immediately |
Common Fines: Speeding
ireland:
Varies; €80 to €120, and points on license
liechtenstein:
Varies; can be substantial, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts
ireland:
€60 fine and two penalty points
liechtenstein:
Mandatory, fines apply for non-compliance
Common Fines: Phone Use
ireland:
€60 fine and three penalty points
liechtenstein:
Fines for use without hands-free kit; can be substantial
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
ireland:
€80 and three penalty points
liechtenstein:
Heavy fines, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
ireland:
Possible; fines can be issued on the spot
liechtenstein:
Yes; fines can often be paid immediately