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