Driving in Ireland vs. Monaco: Key Differences Explained
When comparing the road regulations of Ireland and Monaco, distinct contrasts emerge in driving practices and safety measures. While Ireland follows left-side driving and allows overtaking on the right, Monaco's right-side navigation presents unique challenges. Understanding these variations is crucial for ensuring safe travels in these diverse environments.
Lanes
| Ireland | Monaco | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks areas where passing is not allowed. | Not commonly used in Monaco. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Used as centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. | Not commonly used in Monaco. |
| Overtaking: On Left | No, overtake on the right. | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes, standard overtaking side. | Allowed if traffic conditions permit. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Use rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes | Limited, mostly on main roads |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | Predominantly for buses. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | Labeled ‘BUS’. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | Limited |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Shared with small vehicles or buses. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | Bicycle symbols or shared lane markings. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Standard speed limits apply |
Driving Side
ireland:
Left
monaco:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
ireland:
Marks areas where passing is not allowed.
monaco:
Not commonly used in Monaco.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
ireland:
Used as centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
monaco:
Not commonly used in Monaco.
Overtaking: On Left
ireland:
No, overtake on the right.
monaco:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
ireland:
Yes, standard overtaking side.
monaco:
Allowed if traffic conditions permit.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
ireland:
Use leftmost lane.
monaco:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
ireland:
Yes
monaco:
Limited, mostly on main roads
Bus Lanes: Usage
ireland:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
monaco:
Predominantly for buses.
Bus Lanes: Markings
ireland:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
monaco:
Labeled ‘BUS’.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
ireland:
Yes
monaco:
Limited
Cycle Lanes: Usage
ireland:
Exclusive for bicycles.
monaco:
Shared with small vehicles or buses.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
ireland:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
monaco:
Bicycle symbols or shared lane markings.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
ireland:
N/A
monaco:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
ireland:
N/A
monaco:
Standard speed limits apply
Speeds Limits
| Ireland | Monaco | |
|---|---|---|
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | N/A |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | N/A |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80-90 km/h | N/A |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 120 km/h | N/A |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | N/A |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90 km/h | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Standard speed limits apply |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | More common; fines can be issued on the spot. | Common for traffic violations |
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
ireland:
80-100 km/h
monaco:
N/A
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
ireland:
80-100 km/h
monaco:
N/A
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
ireland:
80-90 km/h
monaco:
N/A
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
ireland:
120 km/h
monaco:
N/A
Highways: Buses And Vans
ireland:
100 km/h
monaco:
N/A
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
ireland:
90 km/h
monaco:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
ireland:
N/A
monaco:
Standard speed limits apply
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
ireland:
More common; fines can be issued on the spot.
monaco:
Common for traffic violations
Signals
| Ireland | Monaco | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Indicates the light is about to turn green. | Rare in Monaco, usually not used |
| 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 | French; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangles with red borders | Triangle-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
ireland:
Indicates the light is about to turn green.
monaco:
Rare in Monaco, usually not used
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
ireland:
Signal when entering and exiting
monaco:
Signal when exiting
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
ireland:
Use between 11:30pm and 7:00am is generally prohibited in residential areas.
monaco:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Traffic Signs: Language
ireland:
English; symbols are standard
monaco:
French; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
ireland:
Triangles with red borders
monaco:
Triangle-shaped with red border
Turns
| Ireland | Monaco | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Prohibited |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Permitted where indicated; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
ireland:
Not allowed
monaco:
Prohibited
U- Turns Allowed
ireland:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
monaco:
Permitted where indicated; check for signs
Documentation
| Ireland | Monaco | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | 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. | Required annually; proof may be required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Displayed on the vehicle windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Required | Recommended |
| 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
monaco:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
ireland:
Compulsory for vehicles older than four years; NCT certificate required.
monaco:
Required annually; proof may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
ireland:
Displayed on the windshield
monaco:
Displayed on the vehicle windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
ireland:
Required
monaco:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
ireland:
Not mandatory, but recommended
monaco:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Ireland | Monaco | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
monaco:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Ireland | Monaco | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Can be substantial; varies by severity |
Limits: Underage Drivers
ireland:
0.00%; zero tolerance
monaco:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
ireland:
Random breath testing is common.
monaco:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
Enforcement: Fines
ireland:
Varies; can be substantial
monaco:
Can be substantial; varies by severity
Emergency Services
| Ireland | Monaco | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 or 999 | 112 or 18 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 112 or 999 | Local police also available on 911 using GSM |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or AA Ireland | Available through service providers or insurance |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Required | Recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
ireland:
112 or 999
monaco:
112 or 18
Contact: Traffic Police
ireland:
112 or 999
monaco:
Local police also available on 911 using GSM
Contact: Roadside Assistance
ireland:
Check with your insurance provider or AA Ireland
monaco:
Available through service providers or insurance
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
ireland:
Required
monaco:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
ireland:
Not mandatory, but recommended
monaco:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Ireland | Monaco | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; €80 to €120, and points on license | Varies; fines are substantial |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | €60 fine and two penalty points | Fine applies if not used |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | €60 fine and three penalty points | Substantial fines issued |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | €80 and three penalty points | High fines, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines can be issued on the spot | Possible; varies |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically must be settled soon |
Common Fines: Speeding
ireland:
Varies; €80 to €120, and points on license
monaco:
Varies; fines are substantial
Common Fines: Seat Belts
ireland:
€60 fine and two penalty points
monaco:
Fine applies if not used
Common Fines: Phone Use
ireland:
€60 fine and three penalty points
monaco:
Substantial fines issued
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
ireland:
€80 and three penalty points
monaco:
High fines, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
ireland:
Possible; fines can be issued on the spot
monaco:
Possible; varies
Payment: Deadline
ireland:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
monaco:
Varies; typically must be settled soon