What changes when driving in Northern Ireland: signs, speed limits and currency for parking?
Three things change at an unmarked border. Units: signs, distances and speed limits switch from kilometres per hour to miles per hour, with limits of 30 mph in built up areas, 60 mph on single carriageways and 70 mph on motorways and dual carriageways. Language: road signs in the North are in English only, where the Republic signs in Irish and English. Money: Northern Ireland spends pounds sterling, so parking meters, machines and car parks want £, though cards work as usual. The drink drive limit is also higher, at 80 milligrams. Driving stays on the left, and the first mph sign, not a checkpoint, is your border crossing.
Useful pages: Driving in Ireland: the full guide · An Ireland road trip · Dublin · County Kerry · Scenic drives in Ireland · Killarney · Healthcare and emergencies · Plan your journey · Northern Ireland
Sources
- nidirect and the Department for Infrastructure: driving in Northern Ireland, speed limits in mph, nidirect.gov.uk
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