| Hiring a car is the easiest way to to get to | | | | traffic in order to conform with the rest of |
| and from Dublin Airport, but some people. | | | | Canada and the USA. |
| never drove a right hand drive car before. | | | | |
| You might think it is uncomfortable or even | | | | The European left-driving countries one by |
| dangerous. Don't be afraid. It's actually | | | | one changed to right-hand traffic. The last |
| easier than you think. Here are a few tips on | | | | country who joined the 'right side', was |
| driving your rental car on the Irish roads. | | | | Iceland. The change took place in 1968. |
| | | | Today, only 4 European countries still drive |
| One of Ireland's Senator suggested Irish | | | | on the left: Cyprus, Malta, Great Britain and |
| motorist should drive on the right side of | | | | Ireland. |
| the road to facilitate tourists and | | | | |
| foreigners when they drive on Irish roads. | | | | It would be very difficult to change the |
| | | | traffic directionality in Ireland because of |
| I admit that his idea made me thinking. A | | | | the heavy traffic and the amount of cars -1.8 |
| couple of questions came to my mind, like, | | | | million - on Irish roads. Although driving |
| "Did European countries always drive on the | | | | a rental car on the left side of the road is |
| left ? " "Did everybody drive on the left | | | | as safe as driving on the right side. There |
| and later switched to right-hand traffic?" | | | | are a couple of basic things to remember. If |
| "Why and when did it happen?" Let's check | | | | you are familiar with them, you can just |
| out the history of right- and left-hand | | | | relax and enjoy your driving holiday. |
| traffic in Europe and overseas. In the | | | | |
| past, almost the whole world travelled on the | | | | Here are a few driving tips when you drive a |
| left side of the road. It was more convenient | | | | rental car in Ireland. If you never drove |
| for a right-handed person to mount a horse | | | | right hand drive car before, book a car with |
| from the left side of the horse, especially | | | | automatic transmission. This would ease |
| if he wore a sword.. | | | | driving, and you don't have to worry about |
| | | | changing gear with left hand. Before you hit |
| Later, Napoleon spread the right-hand traffic | | | | the road, get familiar with the car's |
| all over Belgium, The Netherlands, Luxemburg, | | | | controls and equipments. When you sit in a |
| Switzerland, Poland, Germany, Russia and many | | | | right-hand drive car, the car's controls are |
| parts of Spain and Italy. Probably because he | | | | exactly at the same place as in a left-hand |
| was left-handed and he wanted to be different | | | | drive car. Pedals from right to left are |
| than the English. | | | | accelerator pedal, brake pedal, clutch pedal |
| | | | (if it is a manual car). The hand brake lever |
| Although Britain, the Austro-Hungarian Empire | | | | is on your left. |
| and Portugal had resisted. The division | | | | |
| between left- and right-hand nations remained | | | | Take a look at the speedometer too. In 2005 |
| until after the First World War. England and | | | | the measurement of speed limits on Irish |
| France founded many colonies, which had to | | | | roads was changed from miles per hour to |
| follow the rules of London or Paris. England | | | | kilometres per hour. The speedometer measures |
| had its influence i.e. in Australia, India, | | | | in km/h only or both in km/h and mph, but km |
| Kenya, Indonesia and New Guinea. Congo, | | | | h is pre-dominant. Take your car around the |
| Vietnam, Spain, Portugal, South- and Central | | | | block at Dublin Airport, or drive a few |
| America and parts of Africa had to follow | | | | minutes in the rental company's car park. |
| France's right-hand traffic. | | | | |
| | | | When you are familiar with your rental car, |
| There was also a right- and left-hand traffic | | | | hit the Irish roads. Keep always left! Many |
| divison between Canada and the US. From | | | | car hire companies put a small sticker saying |
| Quebec to Louisiana people drove on the right | | | | "keep left" on the dashboard. After a couple |
| because it was controlled by the French. | | | | of days you will definitely get used to |
| While territories occupied by the English - | | | | driving on the left side. So don't be afraid |
| British Columbia, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, | | | | to drive in Ireland. Enjoy your holiday to |
| Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland - kept | | | | the full. Discover the spectacular natural |
| left. | | | | beauty and the ancient history. |
| | | | |
| In the 1920's British Columbia and the | | | | As the Irish say "Turas maith" - Bon Voyage ! |
| Atlantic provinces changed to right-hand | | | | |