Road Signs Ireland

Road signs play a huge role in making Ireland a country with safe roads. Learners who plan
to take up a driving test and get licensed are expected to recognise a befitting percentage of
these signs if they want to come out successful with the test.

Thanks for downloading and best of luck kick starting your driving!
On a general note, Road signs are divided into four broad aspects. They are Regulatory
road signs, warning road signs, information road signs, and motorway road signs.

Some of these signs in the warning category are explained as follows.

Dangerous corner: Road configuration is something you can’t really predict if you are
driving for the first time. No matter how safe a road may look, you can always expect to meet
up with a sharp corner, which is a potentially dangerous road configuration.

The road sign of a dangerous corner is in the form of a right angle pointer. Usually, it points
in the direction to which the bend in question heads.

This will help road users have an idea which side of the road the bent is tilted to and how
sharp it is.

Whenever you see a warning sign of this nature, it is best for you to drop down the speed of
the vehicle and pay more than usual attention to the road configuration; driving accordingly.

Roundabout ahead: roundabouts are an integral part of roads in many countries. Ireland is
not an exemption. There are roundabouts even in rural areas and in highbrow areas, we
have complex road structures which include roundabouts.

A roundabout warning sign usually comes in the form of three round pointers that gives them
a general look of a circle of the same diameter.

Once you see this, you should have it in mind that you are approaching a major roundabout.

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Therefore, it is expected that you drop your speed and anticipate the situation you are going
to encounter getting to the roundabout.

Mini roundabout: this is quite different from the type of roundabout earlier described, the
size of a roundabout is very important to the attitude of the driver plying the road it
determines the attitude of drivers on the road.

Hence, in addition to identifying a roundabout warning sign on the road, it is vital that you
have an idea of how big it is.

A mini-roundabout warning sign has a dot in the middle, then surrounded by three curved
lines towing the same diameter, making it look like a circle with three broken lines. However,
the curved lines are with small arrows or pointers as described in the main roundabout
warning sign.

Once you see something of this nature, you can expect to meet a not-so-busy roundabout.
However, you still want to be careful and reduce your speed as you approach it.

Merging traffic: in busy areas, you get to see two busy roads merging in a slanted format.
You get to see that it is not really a T junction. Usually, the receiving lane is a one-way lane.

Once you are about to get to a road with this configuration, it is always vital to slow down
your speed.

However, many drivers feel this is not a junction; hence, they tend to just transit at the same
speed level.

That is why you get to see a warning signal for roads of this configuration so drivers can be
mindful of their speed as they approach merging traffic.

Two-way traffic: this can also be known as a double lane. It is not uncommon to see two
standard roads side by side, demarcated with a constructed concrete ridge that houses large
street lamps in Irish cities.

When you are approaching a road of this configuration, you get to see a warning sign of two
arrows lying side by side but pointing in different directions.

On seeing this, drivers are expected to configure their minds to comply with the rules
associated with driving on roads with this configuration.

For example, they should know when they need to be on the fast lane or slow lane. Again,
they want to exercise caution in transiting from a fast to a slow lane or vice versa.

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Dangerous bend ahead: Don’t get confused, there is actually a difference between a
dangerous corner and a dangerous bend. The difference is that one being a bend and the
other being a corner.

While a corner is quite gentle in its diversion, a bend is way Swiffer. For a dangerous bend,
its sigh looks exactly like a gently bending arrow.

In essence, you want to exercise a more significant deal of patience when approaching a
dangerous corner. In the case of a bend, you want to be careful too by dropping your speed
while you ply the bending part of the road.

Series of dangerous bends ahead: some road configuration can be really complex. You
find roads like this in areas with rough topography, such as undulating mountains that are
sometimes characterised by clumsy water bodies.

In cases like this, road designers are usually short of options in their quest to deliver easily
navigable roads. This gives birth to a set of dangerous bends.

Once this is the situation, the only option to maintain road safety is by cautioning road users
via a warning traffic sign that reads “series of dangerous roads ahead.” This sign is usually in
the form of a snake-like arrow, signifying multiple bends.

It is not uncommon for roads like this to be accompanied by multiple bumps. This is usually
done in a bid to force reckless drivers to drop their speed while they navigate the bends.

Restricted headroom: some axis or areas are mindful of the type of vehicle allowed into
them. Most of the time, reasons for this restriction might be road capability or even security
in some cases.

For roads like this, you get to see road signs, including the specific height of restricted
vehicles, if your vehicle is a bit longer than the benchmark height; you are likely to be met
with some sort of restriction.

Most times, a barricade that prevents the unwanted category of vehicle is built at the
entrance of such roads.

T-junction: this road type is quite common. It is found both in rural areas and urban centers.

It is usually the transition of a less busy road to a major highway. This is indicated in the
warning traffic sign as it is often a short thin vertical line meeting with a longer horizontal line
that is visibly thicker.

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Series of dangerous corners ahead: the look of this warning sign is terrifying. Often the
situation on the ground is just as dangerous as this sign suggests.

It makes no sense to drive recklessly on roads like this.

The construction story is similar to that of dangerous bends as mentioned earlier. Also, it is
not uncommon for roads like this to be accompanied by bumps.

When you see a warning traffic sign that indicates two consecutive sharp bends, making it
look like the “letter N,” then you should know you are bound for a dangerous corner.

With that in mind, we present the full list of road signs seen in Ireland and the categories
they fall under.

Warning traffic signs

You already know this is the most crucial to your safety when driving. As the name implies,
they are meant to warn you of approaching dangers. They are arranged into a few
subcategories for better understanding.

Hazards ahead: as mentioned earlier, they are used to warn road users of an incoming
danger

● Dangerous corner ahead

● Roundabout ahead
● Mini-roundabout ahead
● Merging traffic
● Two-way traffic
● Dangerous bend ahead
● Series of dangerous bends ahead
● Series of dangerous corners ahead
● Restricted headroom
● T-junction

Junctions ahead: With roads of varying importance or roads of equal importance

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 ● T-junction
● Y-junction
● Side road
● Crossroads
● Staggered crossroads

Advanced warning of major roads

● T-junctions of a dual carriage way

● Crossroads with dual carriage way
● Crossroads

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General-purpose warning signs

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 ● Drive on left

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 ● Safe height plate
● Low-flying aircrafts
● Road divides
● Merging/diverging traffic
● Dual carriage ends
● Traffic crossover ahead
● Overhead electric cables
● Traffic signals ahead
● Pedestrian crossing ahead
● Slippery road ahead.
● Road narrows on both sides
● Road narrows from left
● Road narrows from right
● Tunnel ahead
● Cyclists
● Start of a passing lane
● lane loss
● Start of a climbing lane
● Loop road ahead
● Sharp dip ahead
● Series of bumps ahead
● Sharp rise ahead
● Wild animals ahead
● Sheep
● Cattle and farm animals
● Accompanied horses and ponies
● Crosswinds
● Steep descent ahead
● Steep ascent ahead
● Danger of falling rocks
● Unprotected quay, canal or river
● Low bridge ahead
● Level crossing ahead, guarded by gates or lifting barrier
● Level crossing ahead, unguarded by gates or lifting barrier
● Level crossing ahead, guarded by gates or lifting barriers
● Stop when lights are red
● Automatic level crossing ahead
● Chevron board (left or right direction)

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Warning Signs for Schools and Kids

● School ahead
● School children crossing ahead
● Children crossing ahead (in academic area)
● Children crossing ahead (in residential areas)

Tram signs

● Tram lane crossing ahead

● Tram lane warning signs for pedestrians(look right, look left, and look both
ways)
● Slippery for cyclists

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Warning signs for road works

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 ● Road works ahead
● One-lane crossover (out)
● One-lane crossover (back)
● Move to leave (one lane)
● Move to right (one lane)
● Move to left (two lanes)
● Move to right (two lanes)
● Obstruction between lanes
● End of obstruction between lanes
● Start of central reserve or obstruction
● End of central reserve or obstruction
● Lanes diverge at crossover
● Lanes rejoin at crossover
● Two-lanes crossover (back)
● Two-lanes crossover (out)
● Single-lane (for shuttle working)
● Two-way traffic
● Road narrows from left
● Road narrows from right
● Road narrows on both sides
● Offside lane (of two) closed
● Nearside lane (of two) closed
● Offside lane (of three) closed
● Nearside lane (of three) closed
● Two offside lanes (of three) closed
● Two nearside lanes (of three) closed. Two alternative styles
● Offside lane (of four) closed
● Nearside lane (of four) closed
● Two offside lanes (of four) closed

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 ● Two nearside lanes (of four) closed
● Side road on left
● Side road on right
● Site access on left
● Site access on right
● Temporary traffic
● signals ahead
● Flagman ahead
● Queues likely Hump or ramp
● Uneven surface
● Slippery road
● Loose chippings
● Pedestrians cross To left
● Pedestrians cross To right
● Overhead electric cables
● Detour ahead
● Detour to left
● Detour to right
● Road closed
● Diverted traffic left
● Diverted traffic
● Diverted traffic
● Diverted traffic
● End of detour
● Detour destination

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Information plates at road works

● Distance
● Length
● Direction
● Direction and distance
● End
● Cautionary speed
● Slow
● Concealed Entrance
● Type of works
● Use hard shoulder
● Hard shoulder closed
● Unfinished road surface
● Barrier board
● Chevron board
● Speed limit ahead

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Manual traffic control signs at roads

● Flagman ahead
● Stop
● Either form of Go or Téigh can be used

Regulatory traffic signs

Regulation signs are road signals that require a driver to obey a specific order. They are also
called traffic control signage.

This is basically the most important signage category for drivers who are new in town as
they serve as guide for them not break traffic rules that could attract stiff sanctions..

They include the following

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 ● Stop
● Yield
● School wardens stop sign
● No left turn
● No entry or ‘No straight ahead’
● No right turn
● Parking prohibited
● Clearway
● Max speed limit 30kmh
● Max speed limit 50kmh
● Max speed limit 60kmh

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 ● Max speed limit 80kmh
● Max speed limit 100kmh
● Max speed limit 120kmh
● Speed limits per lane
● No bicycles
● No ridden or accompanied horses
● No entry to vehicles
● Maximum gross weight (traffic management)
● Maximum vehicle length
● Maximum vehicle width
● Maximum axle weight
● No overtaking for three-axle vehicles
● No horse carriages
● Height restriction
● Taxi rank
● No entry for large vehicles (by reference to weight)
● No U-turn
● No overtaking
● Height restriction
● Pedestrianised street
● Parking permitted
● Disc parking plate
● Zonal restriction – parking of large vehicles
● End of the restriction zone

Mandatory signs at junctions: these are usually in white and blue colours.

● Turn left ahead

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 ● Turn right ahead
● Turn left Turn right Straight ahead
● Keep left
● Keep right
● Pass either side
● Mini roundabout

Manual traffic control sign at road works

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 ● Stop
● Go
● No entry to goods vehicles (by reference to number of axles)
● no entry for pedestrians to tramway
● With flow bus lane on left
● With flow bus lane on right
● Contra flow bus lane
● Tram lane on left
● Tram lane on right
● Start of cycle track
● End of cycle track
● Electronic variable speed
● limit sign (tunnel only)
● Variable speed limit
● Electronic periodic speed limit sign
● Electronic periodic speed limit sign at school
● Tram only street
● Tram and access only street
● Bus only street
● Turn back
● Pedestrians and bicycles only
● Separate bicycle and pedestrian lanes

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Traffic lane control signs: this category of regulatory traffic signs is useful in tunnels,
national roads and motorways.

● Go (Lane open)
● Stop (Lane closed)
● Move into the left-hand lane
● Move into the right-hand lane

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Variable message signs (VMS)

● Overhead VWS
● Mobile VMS displaying text message
● Mobile VMS displaying chevrons
● VMS chevron formats

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Information Road Signs

Usually in rectangular forms, they provide guidance and information for drivers; helping them
explores interstate roads without having to ask passersby, pedestrians, or fellow road users
for directions.

Advance direction signs

● Motorway
● National road
● National road
● Regional road
● Lane destination sign
● Dublin Port Tunnel ahead

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Direction signs at junctions

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 ● Motorway direction sign
● National road direction signs
● Regional road direction sign
● Regional road direction sign
● Local road direction sign
● Destination distance sign
● Town or village sign
● Cycle track information signs with numbers referring to mapped cycle routes
● Slow lane sign
● Cul-de-sac
● Industrial estate symbol
● Disabled persons parking bay
● Airport symbol
● Ferry symbol
● Alternative route for high vehicles
● Lay-by ahead sign
● Hospital ahead sign
● Lay-by sign
● Hospital sign
● Car park with facilities for disabled persons
● SOS lay-by
● Speed camera
● Speed limit change ahead
● Advance information sign for low clearance
● Advance information sign for low clearance
● Alternative route for heavy vehicles
● Traffic calming sign
● Traffic calming sign
● Supplementary plate
● Ramps on road

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Tourist information signs

● Advance sign for facilities in lay-by

● Advance sign for lay-by with tourism information
● Sign for youth hostels
● Advance direction to local services
● Signing to approved tourist information
● Alternative route off the motorway
● Tourist advanced direction sign

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 ● Tourist attraction direction sign
● Pedestrian sign to a tourist attraction
● Pedestrian sign to a car park
● Sign to approved tourist information points

Motorway signs

These are signs that are basically aimed to help drivers have an idea of the road type they
are on to and what type of road to expect a few meters away.

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 ● Motorway ahead
● Motorway ahead
● Advance direction sign
● Route confirmatory sign with Euro Route marker plate
● Entry to motorway
● 300m to next exit
● 200m to next exit
● 100m to next exit
● The motorway ends 1km ahead
● Motorway ends 500m ahead
● End of motorway
● Typical lane gain sign
● Advance direction for destination
● Typical 2km next exit sign
● Toll plaza ahead
● Route confirmatory sign for M7

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 ● Toll plaza information sign
● Authorized vehicles only
● Garda only
● Toll charges
● Toll plaza
● Motorway service plaza
● information sign

Other Learner Driver Resources

These are links to our website:

● Learning to drive

● Driving test questions

● Road signs

● Mock theory test

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