Our Tips

To help you get the most from your driving education, we’ve assembled some helpful driving and road safety tips as well as answers to common questions regarding driving theory and licensing in Ireland.

Driving and Road Safety Tips

Hand Controls:
Never take both hands off the wheel when the vehicle is moving.

Mirrors:
Always check the position of your mirrors before starting the car and adjust as needed. When driving, don’t just look into your mirrors; act safely and sensibly on what you see.

Braking:
Always use your brake to show traffic behind you of the conditions ahead.

Signal:
Check mirrors, signal, and then maneuver.

Traffic Signs and Hazards:
Look, assess, decide and act.

Awareness and Anticipation:
Always try to anticipate the actions of other road users.

Bends:
A slight bend can feel like a very sharp corner to a driver who approaches it too fast. This can bring disastrous results, so go slowly around bends.

Stopping Distance:
Your overall stopping distance is the only really safe gap. Anything less is taking a risk.

Overtaking:
If in doubt, don’t overtake. Overtaking often takes longer than you may think, especially if you are overtaking a large vehicle.

Roundabouts:
When using the right hand lane to go ahead or turn right, be aware of traffic in the lane to your left.

Turning your vehicle around:
Keep on the lookout for other road users, particularly pedestrians about to cross behind you & vehicles approaching from any direction.

Hazards:
If you are following a large vehicle too closely, the driver might not be able to see you in their mirrors. Rule of thumb: if you cannot see the vehicle’s mirrors, the driver cannot see you.

Other road users:
Motorcyclists and cyclists are harder to see than other road users, and are exposed to bad weather, slippery roads and uneven surfaces. Look out for them, especially at junctions.

On the Motorway:
Leave plenty of space between yourself and the vehicle ahead for controlled braking. Always check in your mirrors before you brake.

Two second rule:
To determine the appropriate distance between you and the vehicle in front of you, pick a marker ahead such as a light post or sign. As soon as the front of the other vehicle goes past that marker, say to yourself “Only a fool breaks the two second rule.” If you get to the marker before you have finished saying the above, then you are following too close. Double or even treble this distance if the road is wet or icy.

Fog:
If you happen to be in really thick fog and you can see the rear lights of a vehicle ahead, then you may be too close to stop in an emergency.

Parking:
Lock it or lose it. Do not leave anything on display in your car that could tempt someone to break into it.

Driving in Europe:
On the spot fines are imposed for most minor motoring offences. Make sure you know and follow the regulations for each country you plan to visit.

Basic fault finding:
Prevention is better and indeed cheaper than cure. Stick to the service schedules. If you notice any faults, consult your garage.

Safe Driving:
Remember, the perfect driver doesn’t exist. So whatever stage you have reached as a driver, always aim for a higher standard.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a learner permit and do I need one to learn to drive in Ireland?
A learner permit is a provisional license that allows learner drivers to operate a vehicle in the presence of a qualified driver. A learner permit is required by anyone of age (17 and over for a standard car) that wants to learn to drive in Ireland. You must have a learner permit before you are able to get behind the wheel of a vehicle. While driving with a learner permit, you must be accompanied by a qualified driver that has held a full driving license (for the category of vehicle being driven) for no less than two years. In order to apply for a learner permit, you must first pass the Driver Theory Test. (To learn more about how to apply for a learner permit in Ireland, visit the Road Safety Authority’s website.) Once you have been issued your learner permit by your motor taxation office, you must wait 6 months before sitting your driving exam.

What can I expect from the Driving Theory Test?

The Driving Theory Test must be passed in order to apply for your Learner Permit in Ireland. It is a computerized multiple choice exam that tests learners on road safety and motoring legislation knowledge, covering such topics as:

• Rules of the Road
• Risk perception
• Eco-driving
• Hazard awareness
• Good driving behaviour

There are 41 locations around Ireland that offer the Driver Theory Test. In order to pass, you must answer 35 of the 40 questions correctly.

Can I retake the Driver Theory Test if I fail the first time?

Luckily, if you fail the test you can retake it after three days. However, there is a fee that must be paid each time, so it’s best to make sure you are well prepared before testing. The Road Safety Authority offers a fantastic online resource to help learners prepare for their Driving Theory Test at www.DrivingTheory.ie. Visit their site for up to date test preparation material and information on registering for your Driving Theory Test in Ireland.

Is my foreign driving license valid in Ireland?
Foreign drivers coming from EU countries and EEA countries can drive in Ireland with their foreign driving license provided that it is current. Once the foreign license expires, it can then be exchanged for a full Irish driving license. Application for a license exchange must be made within one year of the foreign license’s expiry date. Foreign driving license exchange is also allowed for foreign drivers coming from one of the following ‘recognised states’:

• Australia
• Gibraltar
• Guernsey
• Isle of Man
• Japan
• Jersey
• New Zealand
• South Africa
• South Korea
• Switzerland

Foreign drivers that hold licenses issued by any other countries (such as the United States or Canada for example) must go through the full licensing procedure for Ireland. You must first pass the Driving Theory Test, then apply for and receive a Learner Permit, complete the Essential Driver Training course, and finally pass the Irish driving test. Once you have passed the driving test in Ireland, you can apply for a full Irish driving license. During this time, however, you can drive on your foreign driving license provided that it is valid and current, that you have the proper insurance in place, and that you have not been in the country for longer than 12 months.