Give way
Yield
Give way to traffic on the major road ahead.
What to do: Slow down and stop if needed. Do not enter the major road until it is safe.
Priority and junctions
Yield (Irish wording)
Géill Slí
The same as the YIELD sign, in Irish.
What to do: Give way to traffic on the major road ahead.
Stop
Stop completely at the line before entering the major road.
What to do: Stop every time, however quiet the road looks, then give way.
Roundabout ahead
A roundabout is ahead.
What to do: Slow down, enter by turning left and give way to traffic already on the roundabout.
Mini roundabout
You are at a mini roundabout.
What to do: Go round clockwise and give way to traffic from your right.
Stop sign ahead
Stop ahead
A Stop sign is ahead.
What to do: Slow down and be ready to stop at the junction.
Yield sign ahead
Yield ahead
A Yield sign is ahead.
What to do: Slow down and be ready to give way at the junction.
Crossroads ahead
Crossroads
A crossroads is ahead.
What to do: Slow down and watch for traffic joining or crossing.
Speed and cameras
Speed limit
The maximum speed in km/h from this point.
What to do: Keep to the limit until another limit sign.
Speed camera ahead
A speed camera is ahead at the distance shown.
What to do: Check your speed against the limit.
Average speed zone
Crios Meánluais / Average speed zone
Your average speed is measured between two cameras.
What to do: Keep to the limit for the whole section, not just at the cameras.
Slow zone
Crios Mall / Slow zone
A residential area with a 30 km/h limit.
What to do: Keep to 30 km/h and watch for children and pedestrians.
Motorways and overtaking
Toll road ahead
Toll
A toll road starts at the distance shown.
What to do: Have cash or a card ready for a barrier plaza.
Warnings
Level crossing with lights
Level crossing with flashing red signals
A railway level crossing with flashing red lights is ahead.
What to do: Stop at the line when the red lights flash. Cameras at some crossings catch drivers who do not.
Sharp corner
A sharp corner is ahead in the direction shown.
What to do: Slow down well before the corner.
Series of sharp bends
Several sharp bends are ahead.
What to do: Slow down and keep left on the bends.
Road narrows
Road narrows on both sides
The road gets narrower ahead.
What to do: Slow down and be ready to let oncoming traffic pass.
One-lane section
The road narrows to a single lane ahead.
What to do: Slow down and be ready to give way to oncoming traffic.
Road hump
A road hump is ahead.
What to do: Slow down.
Cattle or farm animals
Farm animals may be on the road.
What to do: Slow down and be ready to stop.
Deer or wild animals
Deer or other wild animals may cross.
What to do: Slow down, especially at dawn and dusk.
School ahead
A school is ahead.
What to do: Slow down and watch for children.
Directions
Motorway direction sign
Directions on a motorway (M road).
What to do: Read the English line in capitals. Motorways have a default limit of 120 km/h, and distances are in kilometres.
National road direction sign
Directions on a national road (N road).
What to do: Follow the N number. Unless signposted otherwise, the limit on N roads is 100 km/h.
Regional and local road direction sign
Directions on regional (R) and local (L) roads.
What to do: Follow the R or L number. Unless signposted otherwise, R roads are 80 km/h and L roads 60 km/h.
Other signs
60 km/h limit on a local road
Rural speed limit sign with Go Mall / SLOW plate
A 60 km/h speed limit on a narrow local road. Elsewhere in Europe a similar disc means the end of restrictions, but not here.
What to do: Do not exceed 60 km/h, and drive much slower where the road is narrow or bendy.
Drive on the left
Attention / Achtung: Drive on left
A reminder at ports, airports and other entry points that traffic keeps left.
What to do: Keep left, especially when pulling out and at junctions.
Variable speed limit zone
Crios Luasteorainneacha Athraitheacha / Variable speed limit zone
On this motorway the limit is shown on electronic signs, can change, and is enforced by camera.
What to do: Follow the limit shown on the electronic signs.
Humpback bridge
A steep, narrow bridge is ahead, and you may not see oncoming traffic over it.
What to do: Slow down before the bridge.
Tractors
Tractors and farm machinery may be on or entering the road.
What to do: Slow down and be ready for slow vehicles.
Words on the signs
| On the sign | Means |
|---|---|
| Yield | Give way The word on Ireland's give way sign. |
| Géill Slí | Yield Irish wording on some yield signs. |
| Go Mall | Slow On the plate under the rural speed limit sign. |
| Crios Mall | Slow zone A 30 km/h residential area. |
| Crios Meánluais | Average speed zone |
| Gaeltacht | Irish-speaking area Signs there are in Irish only. |
| Special speed limit | A limit set by a council bye-law Usually 30 or 60 km/h. |
| Yellow box | Box junction Do not enter the cross-hatched area unless you can clear it without stopping. |
Drawings follow the official designs described by Ireland's road authorities. Real signs vary a little in size and lettering. The full guide to driving in Ireland