Irish Driving Test Q&A

General Driving Knowledge

Pre-Driving Checks & Vehicle Condition

  • Overtaking Checks: Before overtaking, ensure the road ahead is clear, check mirrors and blind spots, and signal your intention.
  • Parking Distance: Park within 45cm of the kerb.
  • Tyre Tread Depth: The minimum tread depth on tyres for most vehicles is 1.6mm over their main treads.

Road Markings & Signage

  • Continuous Yellow Line: No parking during certain hours.
  • Broken Yellow Line: Indicates a hard shoulder, normally for pedestrians and cyclists but can be used briefly to allow faster traffic to overtake if safe.
  • Double Broken White Lines: Alerts drivers to continuous white lines ahead; do not cross unless safe.
  • Solid White Line: Stay to the left and do not cross unless for access or in an emergency.
  • White Zig-Zag Lines at Zebra Crossing: No overtaking or parking.
  • Single Red Line: No stopping during certain times, as indicated by signs.
  • Road Markings for No Entry: A continuous and a broken white line with the words "NO ENTRY".
  • Single Broken White Line: You may overtake if it is safe and legal to do so.
  • Continuous & Broken White Line (Centre of Road): Obey the line nearest to you.
  • Double Continuous Yellow Lines: No parking at any time.
  • White Diamond Marking: Indicates a tram or bus lane.

Motorway Rules

  • Red X Above a Lane: The lane is closed; do not use it.
  • Vehicle Breakdown on Motorway: Move to the hard shoulder, turn on hazard lights, place a warning triangle at a safe distance, and call for assistance.
  • Green Arrow Above a Lane: The lane is open and you may use it.
  • Hard Shoulder Use: Only in emergencies or when directed by Gardaí or road signs.

Junctions & Roundabouts

  • Priority at a Roundabout: Give way to traffic already on the roundabout.
  • Box Junction Rules: Do not enter unless you can clear it without stopping, except when turning right and waiting for a gap in traffic from the opposite direction.
  • Parking Distance from a Junction: Over 5 metres.
  • Priority at Unmarked Crossroads: Give priority to traffic on the junction & traffic approaching from your right.
  • Yield Sign: Give way to traffic on a major road ahead or on the roundabout and do not proceed unless safe.

Pedestrian Crossings

  • Island in Pedestrian Crossing: Zebra crossings with a central island should be treated as two separate crossings. Pelican crossings that go straight across the road count as one crossing even if there is a central island. If Pelican crossings on either side of the central island are not in a straight line (staggered), they count as two separate crossings.
  • Parking Distance from Pedestrian Crossing: 15 metres before or 5 metres after.
  • Pelican vs. Zebra Crossing: A pelican crossing is controlled by lights; a zebra crossing has flashing orange beacons and is controlled by the presence of pedestrians.

Speed & Distance

  • "2 Second Rule": Maintain a safe following distance of at least 2 seconds in dry conditions, doubled in wet conditions, and extended further in icy conditions.
  • Stopping Distance at 50 km/h: Approximately 25 meters on a dry road.

Human Factors & Safe Driving Practices

  • Human Factors Affecting Driving: Alcohol, drugs (prescription and non-prescription), tiredness & fatigue, road rage, attitude.
  • Purpose of Rumble Strips: To alert drivers to reduce speed or warn of a hazard ahead.
  • Tailgating: Driving too close to the vehicle in front, not keeping a safe distance.
  • When Being Overtaken: Do not increase your speed.
  • Coasting: Coasting is when the vehicle is not being driven by the engine i.e. the clutch pedal is held down or the gear lever is in neutral. It is dangerous because it reduces the driver's control of the vehicle.

Specific Scenarios & Conditions

  • Red Warning Light on Dashboard: Stop the vehicle as soon as safe and investigate.
  • Vehicle Breaks Down on Motorway: Move to the hard shoulder, turn on your hazard lights, place a warning triangle at a safe distance behind your vehicle, and call for assistance.
  • Driving in Snowy or Icy Conditions: Ensure windows and mirrors are clear, use de-icer, reduce speed, and allow for longer braking distances.
  • Dazzled by Headlights: Slow down and stop if necessary, watching for pedestrians or cyclists. Look towards the left verge if the dazzle is from an oncoming vehicle, or use night-driving mode on the mirror if from a vehicle behind.
  • Hitting a Parked Car: Leave contact details securely on the vehicle and report the incident to Gardaí.
  • Animals on the Road: Slow down, be prepared to stop, and avoid startling the animals.
  • Driving Through a Tunnel: Turn on dipped headlights, maintain a safe distance, and observe tunnel-specific speed limits.
  • Country Roads: Watch out for pedestrians, animals, muddy surfaces, concealed entrances, and slow-moving farm machinery.

Vehicle Equipment & Functionality

  • Purpose of Anti-Lock Braking Systems (ABS): To prevent wheels from locking during emergency braking, maintaining steering control.
  • Fog Lights: Use in dense fog or conditions where visibility is significantly reduced.
  • Brake Failure: Pump the brake pedal, use the handbrake gradually, and shift to a lower gear.

Rules Regarding Specific Vehicles/Lanes

  • Flashing Green Light on Vehicle: Indicates a doctor on an emergency call.
  • Bus Lane Rules: A with-flow bus lane runs in the same direction as the traffic beside it & can be used by bicyclists & taxis as well as buses & is reserved during the times shown on the information plate. A contra-flow bus lane is reserved only for buses, which means no other traffic may use it day or night.
  • When Allowed to Use Bus Lane: Outside of its operational hours or when signs permit use by other vehicles.
  • Flashing Blue Light on Vehicle: Indicates an emergency service vehicle on an emergency call.

General Road Rules & Safety

  • Seat Belt Responsibility: For passengers under 17, the driver is responsible. For passengers 17 and over, the person themselves.
  • What does a clearway mean?: No parking during specified times or stopping unless you are waiting in a line of traffic
  • Traffic Calming Zone: An area where speed is restricted to enhance pedestrian safety.
  • Horns: Do not use one in a built-up area between 11.30pm & 7.00 am, unless there is a traffic emergency.
  • Reversing Illegally: When it would cause danger or inconvenience to other road users.
  • Hard Shoulder on Motorway: Only in emergencies or when directed to do so by Gardaí or road signs.
  • Overtaking on Left: When you have signalled that you intend to turn left. When traffic in both lanes is moving slowly & traffic in the left-hand lane is moving more quickly than the traffic in the right-hand lane.

Speed Limits

  • National Roads (Primary & Secondary): 100km/h
  • Motorways: 120 km/h
  • Built-up Areas: Usually 50km/h unless special speed limits apply (30km/h or 60km/h).

Overtaking Restrictions

  • Where Not to Overtake: Near a bend, the brow of a hill, a hump back bridge, a continuous white line, where your vehicle would obstruct a sign, at an entrance, opposite another vehicle on a narrow road, a taxi rank.
  • When can you overtake on the left?. When you want to go straight ahead & the driver in front of you has moved out & signalled that they intend to turn right.

Traffic Lights

  • Flashing Red Traffic Lights: Stop, train approaching.
  • Approaching Amber Traffic Lights: Stop unless it is unsafe to do so.
  • Traffic Light Sequence: Green, Amber, Red.
  • Flashing Amber Traffic Light: Proceed if the crossing is clear but pedestrians have priority.
  • Filter Light: An arrow light, green or amber, you may proceed in the direction of the arrow if it is safe to do so.

Mobile Phone Usage

  • Penalty: Fines, penalty points, and potentially disqualification.

Other

  • Procedure for Dual Carriageway Crossing: If the median is too narrow for your vehicle, you must wait until you can complete the crossing.
  • What are hatched markings?. Hatched markings are diagonal or chevron markings on the road that can be used for merging traffic, for diverging traffic & for separating traffic travelling in opposite directions (central median islands). If you see these markings on the road you must not enter the area they cover.
  • What is a "blind spot"?. The area around your vehicle that cannot be seen using mirrors.
  • Meaning of Red Triangle: Indicates a temporary hazard or warning ahead.
  • Dipping Headlights: When meeting other traffic. When following close behind another vehicle. On continuously lit roads. In snow, fog, dusk/dawn. Generally, to avoid inconveniencing other traffic.
  • What are the differences between a motorway and a dual carriageway?: On motorways, exits to left only, no traffic lights, no junctions, no roundabouts, 120Kph speed limits may apply.