Driving in Ireland vs. Romania: Key Safety Differences
Discover the unique driving landscapes of Ireland and Romania as we delve into their distinct road regulations and practices. From contrasting speed limits to lane usage and alcohol laws, this comparison unveils essential insights that can enhance your travel safety and navigation in these two fascinating countries.
Lanes
| Ireland | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | Limited, mainly in urban areas |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Not applicable |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Not commonly used |
Driving Side
ireland:
Left
romania:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
ireland:
Marks areas where passing is not allowed.
romania:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
ireland:
Used as centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
romania:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
ireland:
No, overtake on the right.
romania:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
ireland:
Yes, standard overtaking side.
romania:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
ireland:
Use leftmost lane.
romania:
Use rightmost lane.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
ireland:
Yes
romania:
Limited, mainly in urban areas
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
ireland:
N/A
romania:
Not applicable
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
ireland:
N/A
romania:
Not commonly used
Speeds Limits
| Ireland | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 120 km/h | 130 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Not commonly used |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | More common; fines can be issued on the spot. | Yes, common practice |
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
ireland:
80-100 km/h
romania:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
ireland:
80-100 km/h
romania:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
ireland:
80-90 km/h
romania:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
ireland:
120 km/h
romania:
130 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
ireland:
N/A
romania:
Not commonly used
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
ireland:
More common; fines can be issued on the spot.
romania:
Yes, common practice
Signals
| Ireland | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Romania |
| 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; restrictions apply in some areas |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | Romanian; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangles with red borders | Triangular-shaped with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber
ireland:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles.
romania:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
ireland:
Indicates the light is about to turn green.
romania:
Not used in Romania
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
ireland:
Signal when entering and exiting
romania:
Signal when exiting
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
ireland:
Use between 11:30pm and 7:00am is generally prohibited in residential areas.
romania:
Unnecessary use discouraged; restrictions apply in some areas
Traffic Signs: Language
ireland:
English; symbols are standard
romania:
Romanian; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
ireland:
Triangles with red borders
romania:
Triangular-shaped with a red border
Turns
| Ireland | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Generally allowed unless signed otherwise |
U- Turns Allowed
ireland:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
romania:
Generally allowed unless signed otherwise
Documentation
| Ireland | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended |
| 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. | Yes, periodic inspections required |
| 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
romania:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
ireland:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
romania:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
ireland:
Compulsory for vehicles older than four years; NCT certificate required.
romania:
Yes, periodic inspections required
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
ireland:
Required
romania:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
ireland:
Not mandatory, but recommended
romania:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Ireland | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Moderate use expected |
| 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
romania:
Moderate use expected
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
ireland:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
romania:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Ireland | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.00% to 0.05%; new drivers may have stricter limits |
| 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; checkpoints used regularly |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Considerable fines for offenses |
Limits: General Drivers
ireland:
0.05%
romania:
0.00% to 0.05%; new drivers may have stricter limits
Limits: Professional Drivers
ireland:
0.02%
romania:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
ireland:
0.00%; zero tolerance
romania:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
ireland:
Random breath testing is common.
romania:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
Enforcement: Fines
ireland:
Varies; can be substantial
romania:
Considerable fines for offenses
Emergency Services
| Ireland | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 or 999 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 112 or 999 | Call 112 for police assistance |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or AA Ireland | Call your insurance provider or a local service |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Required | Mandatory; must be carried in the vehicle |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory; must be worn when outside the vehicle on the road |
Contact: General Emergency
ireland:
112 or 999
romania:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
ireland:
112 or 999
romania:
Call 112 for police assistance
Contact: Roadside Assistance
ireland:
Check with your insurance provider or AA Ireland
romania:
Call your insurance provider or a local service
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
ireland:
Required
romania:
Mandatory; must be carried in the vehicle
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
ireland:
Not mandatory, but recommended
romania:
Mandatory; must be worn when outside the vehicle on the road
Penalties And Fines
| Ireland | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; €80 to €120, and points on license | Varies; fines increase with speed over the limit |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Hefty fines and possible license suspension |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | €60 fine and two penalty points | Fine applicable; mandatory for all passengers |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | €60 fine and three penalty points | Fines apply; using a phone without a hands-free kit is prohibited |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | €80 and three penalty points | Fines applicable; license points may be added |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines can be issued on the spot | Possible; payment can be immediate or through the bank |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically within 15 to 30 days |
| Foreign Drivers: Vehicle Impoundment | Possible if fines are not paid | Possible if fines are not paid or immediate safety concerns exist |
Common Fines: Speeding
ireland:
Varies; €80 to €120, and points on license
romania:
Varies; fines increase with speed over the limit
Common Fines: Alcohol
ireland:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
romania:
Hefty fines and possible license suspension
Common Fines: Seat Belts
ireland:
€60 fine and two penalty points
romania:
Fine applicable; mandatory for all passengers
Common Fines: Phone Use
ireland:
€60 fine and three penalty points
romania:
Fines apply; using a phone without a hands-free kit is prohibited
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
ireland:
€80 and three penalty points
romania:
Fines applicable; license points may be added
Payment: On The Spot
ireland:
Possible; fines can be issued on the spot
romania:
Possible; payment can be immediate or through the bank
Payment: Deadline
ireland:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
romania:
Varies; typically within 15 to 30 days
Foreign Drivers: Vehicle Impoundment
ireland:
Possible if fines are not paid
romania:
Possible if fines are not paid or immediate safety concerns exist