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