Driving tips in Ireland
by NOEMI BERES
Hiring a car is the easiest way to to get to and from Dublin Airport, but some people. never drove a right hand drive car before. You might think it is uncomfortable or even dangerous. Don��t be afraid. It��s actually easier than you think. Here are a few tips on driving your rental car on the Irish roads.
One of Ireland��s Senator suggested Irish motorist should drive on the right side of the road to facilitate tourists and foreigners when they drive on Irish roads.
I admit that his idea made me thinking. A couple of questions came to my mind, like, "Did European countries always drive on the left ? " "Did everybody drive on the left and later switched to right-hand traffic?" "Why and when did it happen?" Let��s check out the history of right- and left-hand traffic in Europe and overseas. In the past, almost the whole world travelled on the left side of the road. It was more convenient for a right-handed person to mount a horse from the left side of the horse, especially if he wore a sword..
Later, Napoleon spread the right-hand traffic all over Belgium, The Netherlands, Luxemburg, Switzerland, Poland, Germany, Russia and many parts of Spain and Italy. Probably because he was left-handed and he wanted to be different than the English.
Although Britain, the Austro-Hungarian Empire and Portugal had resisted. The division between left- and right-hand nations remained until after the First World War. England and France founded many colonies, which had to follow the rules of London or Paris. England had its influence i.e. in Australia, India, Kenya, Indonesia and New Guinea. Congo, Vietnam, Spain, Portugal, South- and Central America and parts of Africa had to follow France��s right-hand traffic.
There was also a right- and left-hand traffic divison between Canada and the US. From Quebec to Louisiana people drove on the right because it was controlled by the French. While territories occupied by the English �C British Columbia, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland �C kept left.
In the 1920��s British Columbia and the Atlantic provinces changed to right-hand traffic in order to conform with the rest of Canada and the USA.
The European left-driving countries one by one changed to right-hand traffic. The last country who joined the ��right side��, was Iceland. The change took place in 1968. Today, only 4 European countries still drive on the left: Cyprus, Malta, Great Britain and Ireland.
It would be very difficult to change the traffic directionality in Ireland because of the heavy traffic and the amount of cars -1.8 million - on Irish roads. Although driving a rental car on the left side of the road is as safe as driving on the right side. There are a couple of basic things to remember. If you are familiar with them, you can just relax and enjoy your driving holiday.
Here are a few driving tips when you drive a rental car in Ireland. If you never drove right hand drive car before, book a car with automatic transmission. This would ease driving, and you don��t have to worry about changing gear with left hand. Before you hit the road, get familiar with the car��s controls and equipments. When you sit in a right-hand drive car, the car��s controls are exactly at the same place as in a left-hand drive car. Pedals from right to left are accelerator pedal, brake pedal, clutch pedal (if it is a manual car). The hand brake lever is on your left.
Take a look at the speedometer too. In 2005 the measurement of speed limits on Irish roads was changed from miles per hour to kilometres per hour. The speedometer measures in km/h only or both in km/h and mph, but km/h is pre-dominant. Take your car around the block at Dublin Airport, or drive a few minutes in the rental company��s car park.
When you are familiar with your rental car, hit the Irish roads. Keep always left! Many car hire companies put a small sticker saying "keep left" on the dashboard. After a couple of days you will definitely get used to driving on the left side. So don��t be afraid to drive in Ireland. Enjoy your holiday to the full. Discover the spectacular natural beauty and the ancient history.
As the Irish say "Turas maith" �C Bon Voyage !
ReservaCar Dublin Airport is specialist for car rental at Dublin Airport, in Dublin and worldwide. ReservaCar Dublin Airport is dedicated to comprehensive online car hire service at Dublin Airport. For further information on car rental, please visit our website: www.reservacar-dublinairport.com
