Driving in Ireland vs. Venezuela: Key Safety Differences
When exploring the roads of Ireland and Venezuela, understanding their unique driving regulations is essential for safe travels. Key distinctions include driving on opposite sides—left in Ireland and right in Venezuela—as well as varying speed limits and overtaking rules. Equip yourself with this knowledge to ensure a smooth journey in either country.
Lanes
| Ireland | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| 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: Presence | Yes | Yes, usually in larger cities |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | Infrequent |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Where available, exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | Bicycle symbols may be used. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
ireland:
Left
venezuela:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
ireland:
Marks areas where passing is not allowed.
venezuela:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
ireland:
Used as centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
venezuela:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
ireland:
No, overtake on the right.
venezuela:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
ireland:
Yes, standard overtaking side.
venezuela:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
ireland:
Use leftmost lane.
venezuela:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
ireland:
Yes
venezuela:
Yes, usually in larger cities
Cycle Lanes: Presence
ireland:
Yes
venezuela:
Infrequent
Cycle Lanes: Usage
ireland:
Exclusive for bicycles.
venezuela:
Where available, exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
ireland:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
venezuela:
Bicycle symbols may be used.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
ireland:
N/A
venezuela:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
ireland:
N/A
venezuela:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Ireland | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 30-60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80-90 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 120 km/h | 80-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90 km/h | 70-90 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 |
Urban Areas: Standard
ireland:
50 km/h
venezuela:
30-60 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
ireland:
80-100 km/h
venezuela:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
ireland:
80-100 km/h
venezuela:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
ireland:
80-90 km/h
venezuela:
60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
ireland:
120 km/h
venezuela:
80-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
ireland:
100 km/h
venezuela:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
ireland:
90 km/h
venezuela:
70-90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
ireland:
N/A
venezuela:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
ireland:
More common; fines can be issued on the spot.
venezuela:
Yes
Signals
| Ireland | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Spanish; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangles with red borders | Diamond-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber
ireland:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles.
venezuela:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
ireland:
Indicates the light is about to turn green.
venezuela:
Not used
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
ireland:
Signal when entering and exiting
venezuela:
Signal when exiting
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
ireland:
Use between 11:30pm and 7:00am is generally prohibited in residential areas.
venezuela:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Traffic Signs: Language
ireland:
English; symbols are standard
venezuela:
Spanish; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
ireland:
Triangles with red borders
venezuela:
Diamond-shaped with red border
Turns
| Ireland | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Generally allowed unless otherwise indicated by signs |
Right Turn On Red
ireland:
Not allowed
venezuela:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
ireland:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
venezuela:
Generally allowed unless otherwise indicated by signs
Documentation
| Ireland | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Compulsory for vehicles older than four years; NCT certificate required. | Annual inspection required |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Required | 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
venezuela:
International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
ireland:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
venezuela:
International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
ireland:
Compulsory for vehicles older than four years; NCT certificate required.
venezuela:
Annual inspection required
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
ireland:
Required
venezuela:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
ireland:
Not mandatory, but recommended
venezuela:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Ireland | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Frequent use compared to some countries |
| 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
venezuela:
Frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
ireland:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
venezuela:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Ireland | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.08% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Random breath testing is common. | Fairly common |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
ireland:
0.05%
venezuela:
0.08%
Enforcement: Random Checks
ireland:
Random breath testing is common.
venezuela:
Fairly common
Enforcement: Fines
ireland:
Varies; can be substantial
venezuela:
Can be substantial
Emergency Services
| Ireland | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 or 999 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 112 or 999 | 171 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or AA Ireland | Check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Required | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
ireland:
112 or 999
venezuela:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
ireland:
112 or 999
venezuela:
171
Contact: Roadside Assistance
ireland:
Check with your insurance provider or AA Ireland
venezuela:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
ireland:
Required
venezuela:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Ireland | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; €80 to €120, and points on license | Varies; can be significant |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | €60 fine and two penalty points | Fines applicable |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | €60 fine and three penalty points | Fines applicable |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | €80 and three penalty points | Fines applicable |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines can be issued on the spot | Yes, sometimes possible |
Common Fines: Speeding
ireland:
Varies; €80 to €120, and points on license
venezuela:
Varies; can be significant
Common Fines: Seat Belts
ireland:
€60 fine and two penalty points
venezuela:
Fines applicable
Common Fines: Phone Use
ireland:
€60 fine and three penalty points
venezuela:
Fines applicable
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
ireland:
€80 and three penalty points
venezuela:
Fines applicable
Payment: On The Spot
ireland:
Possible; fines can be issued on the spot
venezuela:
Yes, sometimes possible