Driving Differences: Ireland vs. Slovenia Explained
Explore the essential distinctions between driving in Ireland and Slovenia to ensure a secure journey abroad. Key variations include driving sides, speed limits, and regulations for overtaking. Understanding these nuances is vital for navigating roads safely and confidently in each country. Enhance your travel experience by familiarizing yourself with these critical driving guidelines.
Lanes
| Ireland | Slovenia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | Reserved for buses, taxis, and sometimes bicycles. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
ireland:
Left
slovenia:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
ireland:
Marks areas where passing is not allowed.
slovenia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
ireland:
Used as centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
slovenia:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
ireland:
No, overtake on the right.
slovenia:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
ireland:
Yes, standard overtaking side.
slovenia:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
ireland:
Use leftmost lane.
slovenia:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
ireland:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
slovenia:
Reserved for buses, taxis, and sometimes bicycles.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
ireland:
N/A
slovenia:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
ireland:
N/A
slovenia:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Ireland | Slovenia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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, fines are often issued directly by police |
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
ireland:
80-100 km/h
slovenia:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
ireland:
80-100 km/h
slovenia:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
ireland:
80-90 km/h
slovenia:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
ireland:
120 km/h
slovenia:
130 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
ireland:
90 km/h
slovenia:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
ireland:
N/A
slovenia:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
ireland:
More common; fines can be issued on the spot.
slovenia:
Yes, fines are often issued directly by police
Signals
| Ireland | Slovenia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Slovenia |
| 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 | Slovenian; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangles with red borders | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber
ireland:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles.
slovenia:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
ireland:
Indicates the light is about to turn green.
slovenia:
Not used in Slovenia
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
ireland:
Signal when entering and exiting
slovenia:
Signal when exiting
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
ireland:
Use between 11:30pm and 7:00am is generally prohibited in residential areas.
slovenia:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Traffic Signs: Language
ireland:
English; symbols are standard
slovenia:
Slovenian; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
ireland:
Triangles with red borders
slovenia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Ireland | Slovenia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Prohibited |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Allowed where not prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
ireland:
Not allowed
slovenia:
Prohibited
U- Turns Allowed
ireland:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
slovenia:
Allowed where not prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Ireland | Slovenia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted; no International Driving Permit required |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit recommended, but not mandatory for short visits |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Compulsory for vehicles older than four years; NCT certificate required. | Yes, periodic inspections 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 | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
ireland:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
slovenia:
Accepted; no International Driving Permit required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
ireland:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
slovenia:
International Driving Permit recommended, but not mandatory for short visits
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
ireland:
Compulsory for vehicles older than four years; NCT certificate required.
slovenia:
Yes, periodic inspections required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
ireland:
Displayed on the windshield
slovenia:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
ireland:
Required
slovenia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
ireland:
Not mandatory, but recommended
slovenia:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Ireland | Slovenia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
slovenia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Ireland | Slovenia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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; roadside checks conducted |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Severe fines; varies based on offense |
Limits: Professional Drivers
ireland:
0.02%
slovenia:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
ireland:
0.00%; zero tolerance
slovenia:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
ireland:
Random breath testing is common.
slovenia:
Common; roadside checks conducted
Enforcement: Fines
ireland:
Varies; can be substantial
slovenia:
Severe fines; varies based on offense
Emergency Services
| Ireland | Slovenia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 or 999 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 112 or 999 | 113 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or AA Ireland | 1987 for AMZS |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Required | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
ireland:
112 or 999
slovenia:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
ireland:
112 or 999
slovenia:
113
Contact: Roadside Assistance
ireland:
Check with your insurance provider or AA Ireland
slovenia:
1987 for AMZS
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
ireland:
Required
slovenia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
ireland:
Not mandatory, but recommended
slovenia:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Ireland | Slovenia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; €80 to €120, and points on license | Varies; €40 to €1200, points on license |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | €60 fine and two penalty points | Fines apply, €120 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | €60 fine and three penalty points | Fines apply, €120 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | €80 and three penalty points | Fines apply, €250 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines can be issued on the spot | Yes, often fines are paid directly or within a deadline |
| 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
slovenia:
Varies; €40 to €1200, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts
ireland:
€60 fine and two penalty points
slovenia:
Fines apply, €120
Common Fines: Phone Use
ireland:
€60 fine and three penalty points
slovenia:
Fines apply, €120
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
ireland:
€80 and three penalty points
slovenia:
Fines apply, €250
Payment: On The Spot
ireland:
Possible; fines can be issued on the spot
slovenia:
Yes, often fines are paid directly or within a deadline
Payment: Deadline
ireland:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
slovenia:
Varies; typically 8 days to pay