Driving in Ireland vs. Serbia: Key Safety Differences
When exploring the roads of Ireland and Serbia, understanding their distinct regulations is crucial for a safe journey. Key contrasts include driving on the left in Ireland versus the right in Serbia, differing speed limits, and unique overtaking rules. Familiarizing yourself with these variations will enhance your travel experience and ensure your safety on foreign terrain.
Lanes
| Ireland | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Driving Side
ireland:
Left
serbia:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
ireland:
Marks areas where passing is not allowed.
serbia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
ireland:
Used as centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
serbia:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
ireland:
No, overtake on the right.
serbia:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
ireland:
Yes, standard overtaking side.
serbia:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
ireland:
Use leftmost lane.
serbia:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Markings
ireland:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
serbia:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
ireland:
N/A
serbia:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
ireland:
No
serbia:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
ireland:
N/A
serbia:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Ireland | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits |
| 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
serbia:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
ireland:
80-100 km/h
serbia:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
ireland:
80-90 km/h
serbia:
70 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
ireland:
90 km/h
serbia:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
ireland:
No
serbia:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
ireland:
N/A
serbia:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
ireland:
More common; fines can be issued on the spot.
serbia:
Yes
Signals
| Ireland | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Serbia |
| 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 | Serbian; 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.
serbia:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
ireland:
Indicates the light is about to turn green.
serbia:
Not used in Serbia
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
ireland:
Signal when entering and exiting
serbia:
Signal when exiting
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
ireland:
Use between 11:30pm and 7:00am is generally prohibited in residential areas.
serbia:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Traffic Signs: Language
ireland:
English; symbols are standard
serbia:
Serbian; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
ireland:
Triangles with red borders
serbia:
Triangle-shaped with red border
Turns
| Ireland | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Varies by city; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
ireland:
Not allowed
serbia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
ireland:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
serbia:
Varies by city; check for signs
Documentation
| Ireland | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit may be required |
| 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. | Mandatory periodic inspections |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Displayed on windshield |
| 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
serbia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit may be required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
ireland:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
serbia:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
ireland:
Compulsory for vehicles older than four years; NCT certificate required.
serbia:
Mandatory periodic inspections
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
ireland:
Displayed on the windshield
serbia:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
ireland:
Required
serbia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
ireland:
Not mandatory, but recommended
serbia:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Ireland | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
serbia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Ireland | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Random breath testing is common. | Common; police regularly perform checks |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Substantial, varies by severity |
Limits: General Drivers
ireland:
0.05%
serbia:
0.03%
Limits: Professional Drivers
ireland:
0.02%
serbia:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
ireland:
Random breath testing is common.
serbia:
Common; police regularly perform checks
Enforcement: Fines
ireland:
Varies; can be substantial
serbia:
Substantial, varies by severity
Emergency Services
| Ireland | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 1987 |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Required | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
ireland:
112 or 999
serbia:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
ireland:
112 or 999
serbia:
192
Contact: Roadside Assistance
ireland:
Check with your insurance provider or AA Ireland
serbia:
1987
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
ireland:
Required
serbia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
ireland:
Not mandatory, but recommended
serbia:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Ireland | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; €80 to €120, and points on license | Varies; typically €20 to €100, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Varies; heavy fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | €60 fine and two penalty points | €20 to €40 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | €60 fine and three penalty points | €30 to €50 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | €80 and three penalty points | €30 to €50, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines can be issued on the spot | Yes, possible for smaller fines |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically 8 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
ireland:
Varies; €80 to €120, and points on license
serbia:
Varies; typically €20 to €100, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
ireland:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
serbia:
Varies; heavy fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
ireland:
€60 fine and two penalty points
serbia:
€20 to €40
Common Fines: Phone Use
ireland:
€60 fine and three penalty points
serbia:
€30 to €50
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
ireland:
€80 and three penalty points
serbia:
€30 to €50, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
ireland:
Possible; fines can be issued on the spot
serbia:
Yes, possible for smaller fines
Payment: Deadline
ireland:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
serbia:
Varies; typically 8 days to pay