Driving in Ireland vs. Philippines: Key Differences Uncovered
Explore the unique aspects of road regulations between Ireland and the Philippines, ensuring a safer journey abroad. Key distinctions include driving on the left in Ireland versus the right in the Philippines, varying speed limits, and different overtaking rules. Understanding these nuances is essential for navigating the roads confidently and responsibly.
Lanes
| Ireland | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | Generally not allowed, except on one-way streets. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Use rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | Reserved for buses and sometimes PUVs. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | Labeled with signs; often separated by a bus lane barrier. |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Shared with motorcycles or exclusive for bicycles. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Minimum two occupants |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Not commonly used |
Driving Side
ireland:
Left
philippines:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
ireland:
Marks areas where passing is not allowed.
philippines:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
ireland:
Used as centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
philippines:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
ireland:
No, overtake on the right.
philippines:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
ireland:
Yes, standard overtaking side.
philippines:
Generally not allowed, except on one-way streets.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
ireland:
Use leftmost lane.
philippines:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
ireland:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
philippines:
Reserved for buses and sometimes PUVs.
Bus Lanes: Markings
ireland:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
philippines:
Labeled with signs; often separated by a bus lane barrier.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
ireland:
Exclusive for bicycles.
philippines:
Shared with motorcycles or exclusive for bicycles.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
ireland:
No
philippines:
Yes
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
ireland:
N/A
philippines:
Minimum two occupants
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
ireland:
N/A
philippines:
Not commonly used
Speeds Limits
| Ireland | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 40 kph |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 20 kph |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 80 kph |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 70 kph |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80-90 km/h | 50 kph |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 120 km/h | 100 kph |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 80 kph |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90 km/h | 80 kph |
| Speed Units | km/h | kph |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Not commonly used |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | More common; fines can be issued on the spot. | Less common; fines are usually issued later |
Urban Areas: Standard
ireland:
50 km/h
philippines:
40 kph
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
ireland:
30 km/h
philippines:
20 kph
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
ireland:
80-100 km/h
philippines:
80 kph
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
ireland:
80-100 km/h
philippines:
70 kph
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
ireland:
80-90 km/h
philippines:
50 kph
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
ireland:
120 km/h
philippines:
100 kph
Highways: Buses And Vans
ireland:
100 km/h
philippines:
80 kph
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
ireland:
90 km/h
philippines:
80 kph
Speed Units
ireland:
km/h
philippines:
kph
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
ireland:
N/A
philippines:
Not commonly used
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
ireland:
More common; fines can be issued on the spot.
philippines:
Less common; fines are usually issued later
Signals
| Ireland | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 | English and Filipino; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangles with red borders | Diamond-shaped with yellow or white background |
Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber
ireland:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles.
philippines:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
ireland:
Indicates the light is about to turn green.
philippines:
Not used
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
ireland:
Signal when entering and exiting
philippines:
Signal when exiting
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
ireland:
Use between 11:30pm and 7:00am is generally prohibited in residential areas.
philippines:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Traffic Signs: Language
ireland:
English; symbols are standard
philippines:
English and Filipino; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
ireland:
Triangles with red borders
philippines:
Diamond-shaped with yellow or white background
Turns
| Ireland | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Common, check for signs indicating restrictions |
Right Turn On Red
ireland:
Not allowed
philippines:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
ireland:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
philippines:
Common, check for signs indicating restrictions
Documentation
| Ireland | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| Insurance | Liability insurance mandatory | Compulsory third-party liability insurance mandatory |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Compulsory for vehicles older than four years; NCT certificate required. | Required for registration; certificate must be displayed |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Required | Mandatory |
Insurance
ireland:
Liability insurance mandatory
philippines:
Compulsory third-party liability insurance mandatory
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
ireland:
Compulsory for vehicles older than four years; NCT certificate required.
philippines:
Required for registration; certificate must be displayed
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
ireland:
Displayed on the windshield
philippines:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
ireland:
Required
philippines:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Ireland | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Frequent use in urban areas to alert other road users |
| 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
philippines:
Frequent use in urban areas to alert other road users
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
ireland:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
philippines:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Ireland | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.05% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Random breath testing is common. | Common during checkpoints, especially on holidays |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Severe for violations, may include imprisonment |
Limits: Professional Drivers
ireland:
0.02%
philippines:
0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers
ireland:
0.00%; zero tolerance
philippines:
0.05%
Enforcement: Random Checks
ireland:
Random breath testing is common.
philippines:
Common during checkpoints, especially on holidays
Enforcement: Fines
ireland:
Varies; can be substantial
philippines:
Severe for violations, may include imprisonment
Emergency Services
| Ireland | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 or 999 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 112 or 999 | 117 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or AA Ireland | Check with your insurance provider or AAA |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Required | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
ireland:
112 or 999
philippines:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
ireland:
112 or 999
philippines:
117
Contact: Roadside Assistance
ireland:
Check with your insurance provider or AA Ireland
philippines:
Check with your insurance provider or AAA
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
ireland:
Required
philippines:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Ireland | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; €80 to €120, and points on license | Varies; typically ranges from PHP 1000 to PHP 2000 |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | €60 fine and two penalty points | PHP 300 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | €60 fine and three penalty points | PHP 1000 to PHP 5000 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | €80 and three penalty points | PHP 1000 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines can be issued on the spot | Less common; typically done through authorized payment centers |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; usually within 15 days upon issuance |
Common Fines: Speeding
ireland:
Varies; €80 to €120, and points on license
philippines:
Varies; typically ranges from PHP 1000 to PHP 2000
Common Fines: Seat Belts
ireland:
€60 fine and two penalty points
philippines:
PHP 300
Common Fines: Phone Use
ireland:
€60 fine and three penalty points
philippines:
PHP 1000 to PHP 5000
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
ireland:
€80 and three penalty points
philippines:
PHP 1000
Payment: On The Spot
ireland:
Possible; fines can be issued on the spot
philippines:
Less common; typically done through authorized payment centers
Payment: Deadline
ireland:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
philippines:
Varies; usually within 15 days upon issuance