The definitive guide to road signs in Ireland

July 2025

Road signs in Ireland are key to safe driving. Learn about essential signs, speed limits, and traffic laws to avoid fines and stay safe on Irish roads.

An understanding of road signs in Ireland is important before you attempt to drive on a public road – whether you’re a seasoned driver, a learner preparing for a driving test or a tourist mulling a scenic drive along the Emerald Isle. 

Road signs not only play a vital role in regulating traffic but also help prevent crashes and protect pedestrians. Failing to follow road traffic laws can lead to fines, penalty points on your licence, convictions, and even disqualification from driving. The loss of 174 lives on Irish roads in 2024 serves as a sobering reminder of the potential consequences of ignoring traffic laws and signs.  

In this concise guide, we’ll help you understand three broad categories of traffic signs in Ireland that you need to know. 

Regulatory signs essentially indicate what you must obey under road traffic law. They are usually circular, but can also appear in octagonal, triangular or rectangular shapes. These signs generally come in two formats, with red borders indicating prohibitions and blue for mandatory actions you must take at junctions.  

Some common examples include: 

Red circles: Speed limits, Yield, No entry, No parking, No overtaking 

Blue circles: Turn left/right, straight ahead   

Regulatory signs with red borders (Source: RSA)

Some common regulatory signs with blue borders. Source: RSA

In Ireland, you’ll be driving on the left-hand side of the road. Check out our guide to driving around Ireland for a comprehensive overview and helpful tips.

Warning traffic signs, as the name implies, alert you about potential hazards ahead such as roundabouts, crossroads and dangerous bends. These signs are usually diamond-shaped with a yellow background and black symbols or lettering.  

Some common warning signs you could encounter on Irish roads include school ahead, slippery road, and pedestrian crossing. If you are driving through the countryside, you’ll frequently spot livestock crossing signs such as deer, sheep, cattle and farm animals. 

Some common warning signs in Ireland (Source: RSA)

These signs help you navigate the roads by giving directions and showing distances from your current location. They are usually rectangular and colour-coded by road type.  

• Blue – Motorways (M-roads) 
• Green – National roads (N-roads) 
• White – Local and regional roads 
• Brown – Tourist attractions, scenic areas 

Examples of Information road signs in Ireland

Examples of information road signs in Ireland

Aside from the above-mentioned traffic signs, Ireland uses distinct set of road signs for motorways and warning signs for road works.

Motorways are designed to reduce journey times by separating traffic and removing road junctions. These signs are rectangular and displayed on a blue background. They are also legally enforceable.  

Key motorway signs are: 

• Motorway ahead 
• Entry to motorway 
• End of motorway 
• Countdown markers at 300, 200, and 100 metres before exits 
• Motorway toll charges 

Examples of motorway signs

Unlike yellow warning signs, roadwork signs are orange with black borders and symbols. Common signage includes roadworks ahead, flagman ahead, temporary traffic signals, and detour notices.

Signs for roadworks

Refer to the RSA rules of the road book for a comprehensive list of road signs.

Stop: It is the only regulatory sign in red octagon shape. You must come to a complete stop before entering the main road when you spot a Stop sign. 

Yield or Géill Slí: This inverted triangle means you must give way to traffic on a major road ahead and only proceed when it’s safe.  

Speed Limits: 120 km/h on motorways, 100 km/h on national roads, 60 km/h on non-national roads, 50 km/h in towns and cities, 30 km/h in built-up and densely populated areas. Be sure to keep an eye out for speed signs and remember that in some areas average speed cameras are in place to track your speed over a distance rather than just at a single point.

No Entry: This regulatory circular road sign appears in two formats. The first one features an upward pointing black arrow with a red diagonal line, and it means that vehicles cannot proceed straight ahead.  

Whereas the second variant has a white horizontal bar in a red circle, indicating no entry for vehicular traffic.  

Roundabout Ahead: This warning sign, which appears in three curved black arrows in a circular formation against a yellow diamond background, indicates that you should reduce your speed as you are approaching a roundabout.  

Before you hit the road, make sure you’re covered. Read our guide on motor insurance in Ireland to understand what you’ll need. 

Most are colour-coded and shape-specific. Warning signs are yellow diamonds, regulatory signs are circles (red or blue), and informational signs are rectangular.

There are many differences between road signs in Ireland. Ireland uses km/h, not mph. Warning signs are yellow diamonds, not red triangles like in the UK. Many signs are also bilingual.

Regulatory – Must follow (speed limits, no entry), Warning – Alert to hazards (bends, animals), Informational – Directions, services, and attractions.

Yes, most Irish road signs are in English and Irish. In Irish-speaking areas, signs may be in Gaelic only, so some basic familiarity helps.

Check the official Road Safety Authority website, use apps like Theory Test Ireland, or look up YouTube walkthroughs before your trip.

This guidance is for general information purposes only. Allianz accepts no responsibility or liability for any losses that may arise from any reliance upon the information contained in this guidance.  

This content is not regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.  

This information is correct as at 14/07/2025.