While planning our trip, we didn’t think twice about driving in Ireland. We knew we wanted to venture to remote and beautiful places on our own timetable.
In the past, we have rented cars in Italy, Germany
Read Driving a Car versus Public Transportation.
We were in for quite a surprise as we started our adventure driving in Ireland on the left side of the road. While I still highly
Choose the Left
Before you start driving, think through staying on the left side. Repeat LEFT, LEFT, LEFT. Anytime you feel lost, just say it over and over. Everything will feel backward (and, for the foreigner, it is!). Stay focused and relax. Following other traffic will help you get the hang of it. So don’t drive remotely until you get better at knowing where to be.
Throw out the Manual
My husband grew up driving a manual car. When he booked our rental, he didn’t think twice about saving money and not booking an automatic.
However, it was much harder than he suspected. Since you sit on the right side, you shift with your left hand. This makes all the gears on the opposite side of what your brain tells you they should be. Having to shift and drive on the ‘wrong’ side was challenging.
If you aren’t comfortable driving a stick shift, I would definitely recommend springing for an automatic while driving in Ireland. It won’t take away all your problems, but maybe a few!
Bring a ‘Backseat Driver’
Navigating
We usually enjoy listening to the radio, an audiobook or a podcast. However, we spent countless hours driving the country and didn’t listen to a thing. We felt like we both had to be present and focused to make the correct turns, stay in our lane and get to our destinations.
You can’t always rely on GPS on the country roads driving in Ireland. Having a second person to focus on the path to take is vital, so the driver can focus on driving.
Tell the Backseat Driver to calm down!
Naturally, a driver who is used to being on the right side will feel uncomfortable being in the middle of the wrong side. They will usually run the passenger into the bushes, gutter, or curb (or street signs). The narrow roads and tight passages definitely add to the terror of the passenger.
As the backseat driver, I started out screaming that I was going to hit parked cars, curbs and signs. I soon learned that panicking was not helpful and made the driver spin out in confusion. I learned to calmly say, “I’m in the bushes” and he would politely scoot the car closer to the middle.
A couple of times we were in precarious situations. As the passenger, but sitting in the left seat, my legs automatically pressed imaginary brakes and my hands spun a non-existent steering wheel to attempt to get out of the situation. There is something so ingrained in us on the right side of the road that our natural instincts take over when the going gets tough.
Take things slow and stay focused!
Remember: A Left Turn will Feel like a Right Turn.
When you come to an intersection, you will automatically look both directions. But your mind is trained to look for cars coming from a certain direction. Now you will be confused
I can’t tell you how long we sat waiting to make a ‘left’
I started telling my husband, “Take a left up here, but it will feel like a right.”
Don’t Panic When You See Driver-less cars
In the age where self-driving cars are becoming a reality, it is a bit terrifying to see no person where our mind automatically thinks the driver would be. F
We soon realized that the driver was in the right seat and all was well. But the damage was done and the adrenaline was coursing through our blood.
Never, Under Any Circumstance, make a U-turn
We made a U-turn driving in Ireland twice. Both times the driver automatically went into the wrong lane and stayed there nearly causing a head-on collision. As the passenger, I didn’t notice anything was awry until a car was headed straight for us. Even then, it was unclear in my mind who was in the wrong lane {it was us, of course!}.
Know you Aren’t Alone!
When we dropped off the rental car, the people behind us in line had to admit to breaking off the mirror on the left
Don’t be Surprised When you Get Home
You would think that coming home would be no problem. I’ve driven on the right side of the road for 20 years, how hard could it be? Plus, I didn’t even drive in Ireland, I was only the co-pilot!
But I can’t tell you how often I called out {screamed} to my 10-year-old son asking him which side of the road I should be on. (I trained him to say, “Choose the RIGHT!”)
Having this “CTR” mantra will be very helpful as you adjust to being home. The ‘lost’ feeling typically hits as you take a left turn onto an empty road. When you don’t know which way is up, make sure you have a way to get your bearings back.
Luckily, the confusion only lasted a week or two. Be prepared to be extra vigilant even after your vacation is over.
Is Driving in Ireland Worth it?
Absolutely! Ireland is gorgeous! So much of the country is best explored on your own in a car! Despite the challenges of driving on the ‘wrong’ side of the road, it is definitely worth it. The adventures you will have will last a lifetime.
Read the Ideal Itinerary for driving around Ireland.
Make sure you don’t miss the most scenic and beautiful drive in the country on the Dingle Peninsula.
Driving in Italy? You must read Essential Information about Driving in Italy
Fly by the Seat of our Pants contains affiliate links. When you buy through the links it helps keep this website running, at no extra cost to you.
