Driving in Ireland vs. Tunisia: Key Differences Explained
Welcome to our in-depth analysis of the driving landscape in Ireland and Tunisia. This comparison highlights notable contrasts, such as driving on the left in Ireland versus the right in Tunisia, and varying speed limits. Equip yourself with essential knowledge to navigate these distinct road environments safely and confidently.
Lanes
| Ireland | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | Not typically permitted. |
| 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 |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
ireland:
Left
tunisia:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
ireland:
Marks areas where passing is not allowed.
tunisia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
ireland:
Used as centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
tunisia:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
ireland:
No, overtake on the right.
tunisia:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
ireland:
Yes, standard overtaking side.
tunisia:
Not typically permitted.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
ireland:
Use leftmost lane.
tunisia:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
ireland:
Yes
tunisia:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
ireland:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
tunisia:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
ireland:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
tunisia:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
ireland:
Yes
tunisia:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
ireland:
Exclusive for bicycles.
tunisia:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
ireland:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
tunisia:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
ireland:
N/A
tunisia:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
ireland:
N/A
tunisia:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Ireland | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80-90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 120 km/h | 110 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 90 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 |
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
ireland:
80-100 km/h
tunisia:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
ireland:
80-100 km/h
tunisia:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
ireland:
80-90 km/h
tunisia:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
ireland:
120 km/h
tunisia:
110 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
ireland:
100 km/h
tunisia:
90 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
ireland:
90 km/h
tunisia:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
ireland:
N/A
tunisia:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
ireland:
More common; fines can be issued on the spot.
tunisia:
Yes
Signals
| Ireland | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 typically 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 | Arabic and French; 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.
tunisia:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
ireland:
Indicates the light is about to turn green.
tunisia:
Not typically used
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
ireland:
Signal when entering and exiting
tunisia:
Signal when exiting
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
ireland:
Use between 11:30pm and 7:00am is generally prohibited in residential areas.
tunisia:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Traffic Signs: Language
ireland:
English; symbols are standard
tunisia:
Arabic and French; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
ireland:
Triangles with red borders
tunisia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Ireland | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Prohibited |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Allowed at intersections unless otherwise posted |
Right Turn On Red
ireland:
Not allowed
tunisia:
Prohibited
U- Turns Allowed
ireland:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
tunisia:
Allowed at intersections unless otherwise posted
Documentation
| Ireland | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Compulsory for vehicles older than four years; NCT certificate required. | Mandatory; proof may be required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Required | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
ireland:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
tunisia:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
ireland:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
tunisia:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
ireland:
Compulsory for vehicles older than four years; NCT certificate required.
tunisia:
Mandatory; proof may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
ireland:
Displayed on the windshield
tunisia:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
ireland:
Required
tunisia:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
ireland:
Not mandatory, but recommended
tunisia:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Ireland | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging | Common practice, especially in heavy traffic | Encouraged, especially in heavy traffic |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Moderate use |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
ireland:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
tunisia:
Encouraged, especially in heavy traffic
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
ireland:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
tunisia:
Moderate use
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
ireland:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
tunisia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Ireland | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00%; zero tolerance policy |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Random breath testing is common. | Common; checkpoints used broadly |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Substantial; varies by offense |
Limits: Professional Drivers
ireland:
0.02%
tunisia:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
ireland:
0.00%; zero tolerance
tunisia:
0.00%; zero tolerance policy
Enforcement: Random Checks
ireland:
Random breath testing is common.
tunisia:
Common; checkpoints used broadly
Enforcement: Fines
ireland:
Varies; can be substantial
tunisia:
Substantial; varies by offense
Emergency Services
| Ireland | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 or 999 | 197 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 112 or 999 | 197 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or AA Ireland | Check with your insurance provider or local services |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Required | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
ireland:
112 or 999
tunisia:
197
Contact: Traffic Police
ireland:
112 or 999
tunisia:
197
Contact: Roadside Assistance
ireland:
Check with your insurance provider or AA Ireland
tunisia:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
ireland:
Required
tunisia:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Ireland | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; €80 to €120, and points on license | Varies; DT 40 to DT 500 |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | €60 fine and two penalty points | DT 40 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | €60 fine and three penalty points | DT 60 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | €80 and three penalty points | Varies; DT 60 to DT 200 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines can be issued on the spot | Yes |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
ireland:
Varies; €80 to €120, and points on license
tunisia:
Varies; DT 40 to DT 500
Common Fines: Seat Belts
ireland:
€60 fine and two penalty points
tunisia:
DT 40
Common Fines: Phone Use
ireland:
€60 fine and three penalty points
tunisia:
DT 60
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
ireland:
€80 and three penalty points
tunisia:
Varies; DT 60 to DT 200
Payment: On The Spot
ireland:
Possible; fines can be issued on the spot
tunisia:
Yes
Payment: Deadline
ireland:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
tunisia:
Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay