Know the Difference

Preparing for a vacation isn't all about remembering to pack your favorite shirt.  While packing is an important part of planning for a vacation, even to Ireland, there are other aspects that have a high level of importance as well. 

Driving in Ireland is quite a bit different from driving in the United States.  The biggest difference is where you actually drive.  When in America, you drive your car on the right side of the street.  It works the opposite way in Ireland.  Instead, you will be driving on the left hand side of the street.  This also means that your position in the car changes as well.  When you drive on the right side of the street, you are driving in the left front seat of the car.  In Ireland, where you drive on the left side of the street, you will be sitting in the right front seat of the car when you're driving.  This switch alone is enough to confuse a lot of drivers.  Before you start touring Ireland by car, you should make sure that you have grown accustomed to this new way of driving.  Most car rental places, especially at the airport, will have an easy neighborhood nearby that you can practice in.  It's wise to spend some time in this area acclimating yourself to this new way.  Don't start driving to your destination until you have grown comfortable driving on the left side of the road.

This isn't the only way that driving in Ireland is different than driving in America.  For one thing, Ireland goes by kilometer rather than miles.  Luckily, the car you rent will most likely have a speedometer that shows this kind of distance per hour.  Things change if you plan on travelling to Northern Ireland, though.  This separate country uses miles instead of kilometer.  The sudden switch may be confusing for you, so be prepared before touring Ireland by car.  Also, in order to help you have a better trip, you should make sure that you have adequate maps for all of the areas that you will be travelling through.  Signage in Ireland can be a bit confusing, so it's a good idea to have maps on the ready.  Most people who don't prepare will inevitably get lost.  There are many people who had this highlight to their vacation.  While it does provide a good story to tell your friends later, getting lost can be a big aggravation.  It can also cost you a lot of time when you're on the road in a new country.

Like in most other countries, there are standard speed limits for different areas.  While they will usually be posted, you should still be aware of these just in case they aren't.  For regular motorways, the average speed limit is 120 kilometers per hour.  For standard roads outside of high population urban areas, the speed limit is usually 80 kilometers per hour.  For urban areas, it can range from 30 to 50 kilometers per hour.  By knowing these statistics, you will avoid getting in trouble with the law in Ireland.  You will also have a safer and happier trip by following these rules.