Driving in Ireland vs. Oman: Key Safety Differences
When navigating the roads of Ireland and Oman, drivers encounter distinct regulations and practices that impact their travel experience. Key contrasts include the driving side—left in Ireland versus right in Oman—and varying speed limits. Understanding these disparities ensures a safer and more enjoyable journey in both countries.
Lanes
| Ireland | Oman | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | 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. | N/A |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
ireland:
Left
oman:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
ireland:
Marks areas where passing is not allowed.
oman:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
ireland:
Used as centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
oman:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
ireland:
No, overtake on the right.
oman:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
ireland:
Yes, standard overtaking side.
oman:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
ireland:
Use leftmost lane.
oman:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
ireland:
Yes
oman:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
ireland:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
oman:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
ireland:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
oman:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
ireland:
N/A
oman:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
ireland:
N/A
oman:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Ireland | Oman | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80-90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90 km/h | 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 |
Urban Areas: Standard
ireland:
50 km/h
oman:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
ireland:
30 km/h
oman:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
ireland:
80-90 km/h
oman:
80 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
ireland:
90 km/h
oman:
100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
ireland:
N/A
oman:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
ireland:
More common; fines can be issued on the spot.
oman:
Yes
Signals
| Ireland | Oman | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 used in Oman |
| 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 | Arabic; 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.
oman:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
ireland:
Indicates the light is about to turn green.
oman:
Not used in Oman
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
ireland:
Signal when entering and exiting
oman:
Signal when exiting
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
ireland:
Use between 11:30pm and 7:00am is generally prohibited in residential areas.
oman:
Unnecessary use discouraged
Traffic Signs: Language
ireland:
English; symbols are standard
oman:
Arabic; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
ireland:
Triangles with red borders
oman:
Triangle-shaped with red border
Turns
| Ireland | Oman | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Not typically allowed |
Right Turn On Red
ireland:
Not allowed
oman:
Not typically allowed
Documentation
| Ireland | Oman | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted with International Driving Permit |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted with International Driving Permit |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Compulsory for vehicles older than four years; NCT certificate required. | Regular inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Required | Mandatory |
| 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
oman:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
ireland:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
oman:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
ireland:
Compulsory for vehicles older than four years; NCT certificate required.
oman:
Regular inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
ireland:
Displayed on the windshield
oman:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
ireland:
Required
oman:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
ireland:
Not mandatory, but recommended
oman:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Ireland | Oman | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Use more frequent compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
ireland:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
oman:
Use more frequent compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
ireland:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
oman:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Ireland | Oman | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.00% |
| 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 |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Substantial fines |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and heavy penalties |
Limits: General Drivers
ireland:
0.05%
oman:
0.00%
Limits: Professional Drivers
ireland:
0.02%
oman:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
ireland:
0.00%; zero tolerance
oman:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
ireland:
Random breath testing is common.
oman:
Common
Enforcement: Fines
ireland:
Varies; can be substantial
oman:
Substantial fines
Test Refusal
ireland:
Can result in license suspension
oman:
Can result in license suspension and heavy penalties
Emergency Services
| Ireland | Oman | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 or 999 | 9999 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 112 or 999 | 9999 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or AA Ireland | Check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Required | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
ireland:
112 or 999
oman:
9999
Contact: Traffic Police
ireland:
112 or 999
oman:
9999
Contact: Roadside Assistance
ireland:
Check with your insurance provider or AA Ireland
oman:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
ireland:
Required
oman:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
ireland:
Not mandatory, but recommended
oman:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Ireland | Oman | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; €80 to €120, and points on license | Varies; fines can be substantial |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | €60 fine and two penalty points | Fines may apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | €60 fine and three penalty points | Fines may apply |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | €80 and three penalty points | Fines can be substantial |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines can be issued on the spot | Common |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; ensure timely payment |
Common Fines: Speeding
ireland:
Varies; €80 to €120, and points on license
oman:
Varies; fines can be substantial
Common Fines: Alcohol
ireland:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
oman:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
ireland:
€60 fine and two penalty points
oman:
Fines may apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
ireland:
€60 fine and three penalty points
oman:
Fines may apply
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
ireland:
€80 and three penalty points
oman:
Fines can be substantial
Payment: On The Spot
ireland:
Possible; fines can be issued on the spot
oman:
Common
Payment: Deadline
ireland:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
oman:
Varies; ensure timely payment