Driving in Ireland vs. North Macedonia: Key Differences
When venturing from Ireland to North Macedonia, understanding the distinct road rules is crucial for a safe journey. Key contrasts include driving on the left in Ireland versus the right in North Macedonia, and varying speed limits for vehicles. Familiarizing yourself with these regulations ensures a smooth and secure driving experience abroad.
Lanes
| Ireland | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | Not typically allowed in North Macedonia. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Use rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS' or with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | Bicycle symbols and marked paths. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
ireland:
Left
north macedonia:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
ireland:
Marks areas where passing is not allowed.
north macedonia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
ireland:
Used as centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
north macedonia:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
ireland:
No, overtake on the right.
north macedonia:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
ireland:
Yes, standard overtaking side.
north macedonia:
Not typically allowed in North Macedonia.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
ireland:
Use leftmost lane.
north macedonia:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Markings
ireland:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
north macedonia:
Labeled 'BUS' or with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
ireland:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
north macedonia:
Bicycle symbols and marked paths.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
ireland:
N/A
north macedonia:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
ireland:
N/A
north macedonia:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Ireland | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 70 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90 km/h | 80 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 |
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
ireland:
80-100 km/h
north macedonia:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
ireland:
80-100 km/h
north macedonia:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
ireland:
80-90 km/h
north macedonia:
70 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
ireland:
90 km/h
north macedonia:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
ireland:
N/A
north macedonia:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
ireland:
More common; fines can be issued on the spot.
north macedonia:
Yes
Signals
| Ireland | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber | Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles. | Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Indicates the light is about to turn green. | Prepare to go |
| 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. | Prohibited in urban areas at night |
| Headlight Flash: Usage | To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking | To warn other drivers of your presence |
| Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage | Not to be used to signal other messages | Not to signal other messages |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | Macedonian; standard symbols |
| 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.
north macedonia:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
ireland:
Indicates the light is about to turn green.
north macedonia:
Prepare to go
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
ireland:
Signal when entering and exiting
north macedonia:
Signal when exiting
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
ireland:
Use between 11:30pm and 7:00am is generally prohibited in residential areas.
north macedonia:
Prohibited in urban areas at night
Headlight Flash: Usage
ireland:
To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking
north macedonia:
To warn other drivers of your presence
Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage
ireland:
Not to be used to signal other messages
north macedonia:
Not to signal other messages
Traffic Signs: Language
ireland:
English; symbols are standard
north macedonia:
Macedonian; standard symbols
Traffic Signs: Warning
ireland:
Triangles with red borders
north macedonia:
Triangle-shaped with red border
Turns
| Ireland | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Prohibited unless specified by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Allowed when not prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
ireland:
Not allowed
north macedonia:
Prohibited unless specified by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
ireland:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
north macedonia:
Allowed when not prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Ireland | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 inspection required |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Required | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
ireland:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
north macedonia:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
ireland:
Compulsory for vehicles older than four years; NCT certificate required.
north macedonia:
Annual inspection required
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
ireland:
Required
north macedonia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
ireland:
Not mandatory, but recommended
north macedonia:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Ireland | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
north macedonia:
Common practice
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
ireland:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
north macedonia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Ireland | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Random breath testing is common. | Conducted at checkpoints |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Can be substantial |
Limits: Professional Drivers
ireland:
0.02%
north macedonia:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
ireland:
0.00%; zero tolerance
north macedonia:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
ireland:
Random breath testing is common.
north macedonia:
Conducted at checkpoints
Enforcement: Fines
ireland:
Varies; can be substantial
north macedonia:
Can be substantial
Emergency Services
| Ireland | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 or 999 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 112 or 999 | 192 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or AA Ireland | Contact 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
north macedonia:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
ireland:
112 or 999
north macedonia:
192
Contact: Roadside Assistance
ireland:
Check with your insurance provider or AA Ireland
north macedonia:
Contact local service providers
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
ireland:
Required
north macedonia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
ireland:
Not mandatory, but recommended
north macedonia:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Ireland | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; €80 to €120, and points on license | Varies; 30 to 300 EUR, points on license |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | €60 fine and two penalty points | 50 EUR |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | €60 fine and three penalty points | 40 EUR |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | €80 and three penalty points | 250 EUR, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines can be issued on the spot | Yes, often required |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically within 15 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
ireland:
Varies; €80 to €120, and points on license
north macedonia:
Varies; 30 to 300 EUR, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts
ireland:
€60 fine and two penalty points
north macedonia:
50 EUR
Common Fines: Phone Use
ireland:
€60 fine and three penalty points
north macedonia:
40 EUR
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
ireland:
€80 and three penalty points
north macedonia:
250 EUR, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
ireland:
Possible; fines can be issued on the spot
north macedonia:
Yes, often required
Payment: Deadline
ireland:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
north macedonia:
Varies; typically within 15 days to pay