Driving Differences: Ireland vs Lithuania Explained
When navigating the roads of Ireland and Lithuania, understanding their distinct traffic regulations is crucial for a safe journey. Key contrasts include driving sides—left in Ireland and right in Lithuania—as well as varying speed limits and overtaking rules. Familiarizing yourself with these driving nuances can significantly enhance your safety while abroad.
Lanes
| Ireland | Lithuania | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks areas where passing is not allowed. | Separation of opposing traffic directions. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Used as centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. | Passing permitted with caution. |
| Overtaking: On Left | No, overtake on the right. | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes, standard overtaking side. | Allowed on multi-lane roads |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Use rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | Reserved for buses and taxis during peak hours. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS' or 'A'; often with road signs. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
ireland:
Left
lithuania:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
ireland:
Marks areas where passing is not allowed.
lithuania:
Separation of opposing traffic directions.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
ireland:
Used as centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
lithuania:
Passing permitted with caution.
Overtaking: On Left
ireland:
No, overtake on the right.
lithuania:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
ireland:
Yes, standard overtaking side.
lithuania:
Allowed on multi-lane roads
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
ireland:
Use leftmost lane.
lithuania:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
ireland:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
lithuania:
Reserved for buses and taxis during peak hours.
Bus Lanes: Markings
ireland:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
lithuania:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'A'; often with road signs.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
ireland:
N/A
lithuania:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
ireland:
N/A
lithuania:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Ireland | Lithuania | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | More common; fines can be issued on the spot. | Yes, issued by police. |
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
ireland:
80-100 km/h
lithuania:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
ireland:
80-100 km/h
lithuania:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
ireland:
80-90 km/h
lithuania:
70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
ireland:
120 km/h
lithuania:
130 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
ireland:
N/A
lithuania:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
ireland:
More common; fines can be issued on the spot.
lithuania:
Yes, issued by police.
Signals
| Ireland | Lithuania | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | Indicates prepared to start |
| 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 |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | Lithuanian; 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.
lithuania:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
ireland:
Indicates the light is about to turn green.
lithuania:
Indicates prepared to start
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
ireland:
Signal when entering and exiting
lithuania:
Signal when exiting
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
ireland:
Use between 11:30pm and 7:00am is generally prohibited in residential areas.
lithuania:
Unnecessary use discouraged
Traffic Signs: Language
ireland:
English; symbols are standard
lithuania:
Lithuanian; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
ireland:
Triangles with red borders
lithuania:
Triangle-shaped with red border
Turns
| Ireland | Lithuania | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
Right Turn On Red
ireland:
Not allowed
lithuania:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
ireland:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
lithuania:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
Documentation
| Ireland | Lithuania | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted; International Driving Permit not required |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Compulsory for vehicles older than four years; NCT certificate required. | Mandatory annual check |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Displayed on license plate or windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Required | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
ireland:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
lithuania:
Accepted; International Driving Permit not required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
ireland:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
lithuania:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
ireland:
Compulsory for vehicles older than four years; NCT certificate required.
lithuania:
Mandatory annual check
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
ireland:
Displayed on the windshield
lithuania:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
ireland:
Required
lithuania:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
ireland:
Not mandatory, but recommended
lithuania:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Ireland | Lithuania | |
|---|---|---|
| Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging | Common practice, especially in heavy traffic | Common practice |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
ireland:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
lithuania:
Common practice
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
ireland:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
lithuania:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Ireland | Lithuania | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.04% |
| 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, particularly at night and weekends |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Substantial; varies based on BAC level |
| Enforcement: Imprisonment | Possible for severe offenses | Possible for high BAC levels or repeat offenses |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Results in penalties and license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
ireland:
0.05%
lithuania:
0.04%
Limits: Professional Drivers
ireland:
0.02%
lithuania:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
ireland:
0.00%; zero tolerance
lithuania:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
ireland:
Random breath testing is common.
lithuania:
Common, particularly at night and weekends
Enforcement: Fines
ireland:
Varies; can be substantial
lithuania:
Substantial; varies based on BAC level
Enforcement: Imprisonment
ireland:
Possible for severe offenses
lithuania:
Possible for high BAC levels or repeat offenses
Test Refusal
ireland:
Can result in license suspension
lithuania:
Results in penalties and license suspension
Emergency Services
| Ireland | Lithuania | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 or 999 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 112 or 999 | 112 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or AA Ireland | Contact your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Required | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
ireland:
112 or 999
lithuania:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
ireland:
112 or 999
lithuania:
112
Contact: Roadside Assistance
ireland:
Check with your insurance provider or AA Ireland
lithuania:
Contact your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
ireland:
Required
lithuania:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
ireland:
Not mandatory, but recommended
lithuania:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Ireland | Lithuania | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; €80 to €120, and points on license | Varies; fines based on km/h over the limit |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | High fines, possible license suspension or imprisonment |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | €60 fine and two penalty points | Mandatory, fines apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | €60 fine and three penalty points | Fines apply, use of hands-free device required |
| 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, by police |
Common Fines: Speeding
ireland:
Varies; €80 to €120, and points on license
lithuania:
Varies; fines based on km/h over the limit
Common Fines: Alcohol
ireland:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
lithuania:
High fines, possible license suspension or imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
ireland:
€60 fine and two penalty points
lithuania:
Mandatory, fines apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
ireland:
€60 fine and three penalty points
lithuania:
Fines apply, use of hands-free device required
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
ireland:
€80 and three penalty points
lithuania:
Fines apply
Payment: On The Spot
ireland:
Possible; fines can be issued on the spot
lithuania:
Yes, by police