Motorway Driving in Ireland: A 2025 Guide for New and Novice Drivers

Learner drivers are not allowed on Irish motorways, which means your first motorway trip often happens after the test. This guide gives you clear, practical advice so you can join, cruise and exit safely with confidence.

Before you go

Plan your route and service areas in advance
Check tyre pressures, tread and screen wash
Set mirrors, seat and radio before moving
Keep your phone on silent and use a holder for navigation

Joining the motorway

Use the acceleration lane to match the speed of traffic
Check mirrors, look over your right shoulder and indicate early
Choose a safe gap and join smoothly without braking
If the lane is busy, continue to the end of the slip road and be patient

Lane discipline

Keep left except when overtaking
Return to the left lane once you have passed safely
Avoid lane hopping and weaving since it increases risk and annoys other drivers
Leave a large gap in front of you so others can merge

Safe following distances

Use at least a two second gap in the dry
Increase to four seconds in rain or poor visibility
Add more space at night and when following heavy vehicles

Speed and signs

Obey the posted limit and any electronic signs
Adjust speed for weather, traffic and visibility
Remember that a limit is not a target in poor conditions

Overtaking

Check mirrors and blind spots, indicate and pass with purpose
Do not sit beside another vehicle in the middle lane
Watch for motorbikes and fast moving cars approaching from behind
Avoid passing on the left except in slow moving queues where your lane is moving faster

Sharing the road with heavy vehicles

Give trucks and buses extra space since their blind spots are large
Expect spray in wet weather and longer braking distances
Leave plenty of room when pulling in after overtaking a heavy vehicle

Exiting the motorway

Move to the left lane in good time
Signal early and enter the deceleration lane smoothly
Check your speed as many exits have sharp bends or lower limits

Breakdowns and emergencies

Move to the hard shoulder as far left as possible
Put on hazard lights and switch passengers out through the left doors
Stand behind a barrier if there is one and stay well away from traffic
Use the emergency phone if available or call 999 or 112
Do not place a warning triangle on a motorway

Smart habits for stress free trips

Take a short break every two hours
Keep sunglasses handy for low sun and glare
Use gentle steering and smooth throttle inputs
If you miss your exit, continue to the next one rather than cutting across lanes

Final thoughts

Motorway driving feels easy once you understand space, speed and lane discipline. Keep left, look far ahead and give yourself generous room. With calm inputs and good planning you will find the motorway is often the safest and most relaxed part of a journey.