Drinking and driving: Drinking and driving are taken very seriously in Ireland and few people will risk getting behind the wheel even after one drink. The legal limit to drive in Ireland is 0.5 milligrams of alcohol per milliliter of blood – which is lower than that 0.8 legal limit in many other countries. NORTHERN IRELAND (NI) DRIVER LICENCE CHECK WITH THE VEHICLE AGENCY (DVA) Drivers who use their Driving Licence from Northern Ireland to drive in the UK, can consent to have their Licence validated for their employer by DriverCheck. To apply to exchange a foreign driving licence issued by a member state of the European Union / European Economic Area. If you have a driving licence issued by an EU/EEA member state you can drive in Ireland as long as your existing licence is valid. The motorway limit in Northern Ireland, for example is 70 miles per hour. For local and regional roads in Northern Ireland, pay attention to the speed limit signs on the roads. Use a GPS or Sat Nav system. Ireland is still a predominantly rural country and many locations can be difficult to find.
In the United Kingdom, a driving licence is the official document which authorises its holder to operate motor vehicles on highways and other public roads. It is administered in England, Scotland and Wales by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) and in Northern Ireland by the Driver & Vehicle Agency (DVA). A driving licence is required in England, Scotland, and Wales for any person driving a vehicle on any highway or other 'road', as defined in s.192 Road Traffic Act 1988,[1] irrespective of the ownership of the land over which the road passes. Similar requirements apply in Northern Ireland under the Road Traffic (Northern Ireland) Order 1981.As long as Great Britain and Northern Ireland remains within the European Union, a UK driving licence is a European driving licence.
As UK nationals do not normally have identity cards, a photographic driving licence can serve many of the purposes of an identity card in non-driving contexts, such as proof of identity (e.g. when opening a bank account) or of age (e.g. when buying age-restricted goods such as alcohol or tobacco).
Regulations[edit]Provisional licences and learner drivers[edit]
Applications for a provisional driving licence can be made in the UK from the age of 15 years and 9 months. Once a United Kingdom driving test has been passed, the driving licence is valid for driving a moped or light quad bike from age 16, and a car from age 17, or 16 for those who receive, or have applied for, the higher or enhanced rate of the mobility component of PIP or DLA.[2][3] A driving test consists of three sections: theory, hazard perception and a supervised driving examination. Until this test has been passed, a driver may hold only a provisional licence[4] and is subject to certain conditions.
The conditions attached to provisional licences for a particular category of vehicle are:[5]
L plate
D plate (Wales)
R plate that must be displayed by restricted drivers in Northern Ireland.
In Northern Ireland, learner drivers are limited to a speed of 45 mph (72 km/h), and drivers who have passed their test within the previous year must display R plates (restricted) and are also limited to a speed of 45 mph (72 km/h) until the expiry of the restricted period. R plates are similar in style to L plates, with a thick-set dark orange R displayed on a white background.[8]
After passing a driving test, the provisional licence may be surrendered within two years in exchange for a full UK licence[4] for the relevant kind of vehicle. Full car licences allow use of mopeds and motorcycles provided a CBT (Compulsory Basic Training) course is completed (the requirement to have a CBT in Northern Ireland was introduced on 21 February 2011).[9]
Newly qualified drivers[edit]
There are no restrictions on newly qualified drivers in England, Wales or Scotland, but if a newly qualified driver receives six penalty points within two years of passing, the licence is automatically revoked and the driver must pass the full test again.[10] These six points remain on the new licence until their designated expiry time.[11]
Towing restrictions[edit]
The rules on what a driver can tow are different depending on when they passed their driving test. If they passed their car driving test on or after 1 January 1997, they may drive a car or van up to 3,500 kg maximum authorised mass (MAM) towing a trailer of up to 750 kg MAM, and they may tow a trailer over 750 kg MAM as long as the combined MAM of the trailer and towing vehicle is no more than 3,500 kg MAM when loaded. They must pass the car and trailer driving test to tow anything heavier. If a driver passed their car test before 1 January 1997, they are usually allowed to drive a vehicle and trailer combination up to 8,250 kg MAM. They are also allowed to drive a minibus with a trailer over 750 kg MAM.[12]
Other regulations[edit]
Motor car licences issued in the United Kingdom distinguish between automatic and manual transmission vehicles, depending on whether or not a driving test was passed in a vehicle with manual transmission (unless a vehicle test was taken in the UK before such distinction was made). While a manual transmission vehicle licence permits the holder to drive a vehicle of either kind, an automatic transmission vehicle licence is solely for vehicles with automatic transmission. The licence also shows whether a driver requires glasses or contact lenses to meet the legal driving requirements, if known.
Drivers who obtained rights to drive category D1 minibuses before 1997 (by passing a test for the obsolete class A) must not drive such vehicles for hire or reward, nor accept any form of payment in money, goods or kind from any passengers carried.
There is no maximum age for driving or holding a driving licence, but holders must renew their licences at age 70 and every three years thereafter, at which times they must self-certify their continued fitness to drive.[13]
The Union Flag has been included on GB licences since July 2015, but not on Northern Ireland licences.[14]
History[edit]
Driver registration was introduced in 1903 with the Motor Car Act. Holders of the sulphur-yellow coloured document were entitled to 'drive a motor car or motor cycle'.[15] The wording was changed in 1930 after which holders were allowed to 'drive or steer a motor car or to drive a motor cycle'. Shortly afterwards, the document cover was changed to a dark red colour. Holders were for a period entitled to drive a vehicle of 'any class or description'.[15] Subsequent changes saw the document list precisely those vehicle types for which holders were licensed.
Competency tests were introduced by the Motor Vehicles Regulations 1935 applicable to all drivers who started driving after 1 April 1934. Competency tests were suspended in 1939 for seven years due to the Second World War and in 1956 for one year due to the Suez Crisis. The only person in the United Kingdom who is not required to have a driving licence in order to drive is The Queen.[16]
Until 1973, driving licences (and tax discs) were issued by local authorities and had to be renewed every three years. In 1971, the decision was taken to computerise the licensing system to enable it to be linked to the Police National Computer and to extend the life of the licence up to the driver's 70th birthday, extendable at intervals thereafter provided the driver can prove fitness.
Except for Northern Ireland, driving licences issued before July 1998 did not have photographs on them.[17] Anyone who holds a licence issued before this date may retain their photo-less licence until expiry (normally one's seventieth birthday) or until they change address, whichever comes sooner. The new plastic photocard driving licences have to be renewed every ten years, for a fee. Until 2015, the licence consisted of both the photocard and a paper counterpart which detailed the individual's driving entitlements and convictions ('endorsements'). The counterpart was abolished on 8 June 2015[18] and the information formerly recorded on it is now available online via the View Driving Licence service, except in Northern Ireland where the counterpart must be kept with the photocard.[19]
Licences issued to residents of England, Northern Ireland and Scotland appear only in English, while those issued to residents of Wales appear in both English and Welsh.
Each licence holder in England, Scotland and Wales has a unique driver number, which is 16 characters long. The characters are constructed in the following way:[20]
Each Northern Ireland licence holder has a unique driver number which is 8 characters long. The characters are not constructed in any particular pattern.
Driving licence categories[edit]Current categories[edit]
This is a list of the categories that might be found on a driving licence in the United Kingdom.[22]
Obsolete goods classes[edit]
Although the category system was changed over 20 years ago (1 January 1997), the freight industry and driver recruitment agencies still predominantly use the obsolete class numbers for the entitlement of HGV drivers.
The two systems are not exactly compatible, so the descriptions given are only a guideline.
Class 1: any goods vehicle over 7½ long tons (7,620 kg) with any trailer.
Class 2: any rigid goods vehicle over 7½ long tons.
Class 3: any rigid goods vehicle over 7½ long tons with no more than two axles.
Points and endorsements[edit]
The UK uses a cumulative points system for driving offences. Points are added for driving offences by law courts or where the driver accepts a fixed penalty in lieu of prosecution, and the licence is endorsed accordingly. A UK driving licence may be endorsed for various offences, not only for those committed while driving or in charge of a vehicle. [24] If the individual committing the offence does not hold a valid driver's licence the endorsements may be put by until a licence is held.
Most endorsements remain valid for four years; some (such as driving under the influence) are recorded on the licence for 11 years because more severe penalties apply to those convicted twice within 10 years of drink or drug driving offences.
Twelve points on the licence within three years makes the driver liable to disqualification under the 'totting-up' procedure; however this is not automatic and must be decided on by a court of law.[25][26] Endorsements remain on the licence for one year longer than their validity (three or ten years) because a court can consider points awarded even though they are not valid for 'totting up'.
Driving licence codes[edit]
Certain codes are included on driving licences to indicate restrictions on use. These codes are listed on the back of the card under the column headed '12. Codes' and are listed for each category that is licensed.
As long as the UK remains within the EU, these codes are the same than those for the EU, currently defined by DIRECTIVE 2006/126/EC.
The codes and their meanings are as follows:[27]
Use as proof of identity[edit]
Identity cards for UK nationals were introduced in 2009 on a voluntary basis, and the attempt to introduce a nationwide identity-card scheme in 2010 was reversed mid-course. Its in-progress database was halted and then destroyed.[citation needed] Only workers in certain high-security professions, such as airport workers, were required to have an identity card in 2009, and this remains the case today. Therefore, driving licences, particularly the photocard driving licence introduced in 1998, along with passports, are the most widely used ID documents in the United Kingdom. Most people do not carry their passports with them; this leaves driving licences as the only valid form of ID to be presented. In day-to-day life there is no legal requirement to carry identification whilst driving or otherwise, and most authorities do not arbitrarily ask for identification from individuals.
Non-professional drivers are not legally obliged to carry a driving licence while driving, but section 164 of the Road Traffic Act 1998[28] allows a police officer to require a driver to produce a driving licence within seven days at a police station chosen by the driver. The form which was once issued in such circumstances, the HO/RT 1, was known colloquially as 'a producer', as exemplified in Smiley Culture's hit single 'Police Officer'.[29]
See also[edit]References[edit]
External links[edit]
Retrieved from 'https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Driving_licence_in_the_United_Kingdom&oldid=918059804'
1. Speed limits.
Ireland Driving Laws
2. DO NOT DRIVE WHILE UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL or drugs. The legal tolerance limit is 0.05%. NOTE: This is significantly lower than manyUS states and than the United Kingdom, New Zealand and several other countries, so be aware that you may be over the limit in Ireland having consumed less alcohol than in your home country.
3. Seat belts use is mandatory in front and rear seats.
4. Children under 12 years age must ride in the rear seats.
5. Minimum Driving age: 17 years.
6. Drivers must carry
8. Note that the sequence of most traffic lights is green-amber-red-green. Come to a gradual stop at amber lights.
9. Give way to traffic already on aroundabout.
11. Direction Sign Colours
12. Tolls- There are tolls in operation on a number of motorways, bridges and a tunnel in Ireland. Be prepared with small bills and change, or check your route(s) to see if they include toll roads.
13.Tips for North Americans driving in IRL for the first time. 14. Parking
On-Street Parking
Parking on the street in Ireland is usually either subject to a fee or a time limit. See local signage for details. Parking rules are quite strictly enforced, particularly in large urban areas, and parking illegally can result in a hefty fine (up to €95), immobilisation using a clamp (boot) or in some cases, your vehicle can be towed and impounded incurring an even larger release fee. For this reason, it is advisable to comply with local parking regulations which are clearly sign-posted.
Do not park on double-yellow lines or in areas marked 'clearway'. Some areas may be marked with a single yellow line, in which case, parking is restricted to certain times as sign-posted e.g. 'loading bays' which are kept clear to facilitate deliveries to local businesses at particular times of the day. See local signage for details. Parking is also not permitted in bus lanes, close to junctions, traffic lights or pedestrian crossings.
Disabled Parking
You can only use disabled parking spaces (marked with a blue and white sign with a pictogramme of a wheelchair) if you have a European Disabled Drivers parking sticker displayed on your window. For more information visit The Disabled Drivers Association of Ireland (DDAI) http://www.ddai.ie/
Parking Meters
These usually control parking in a particular street / a number of parking spaces (bays). The most common type is a solar powered unit located on the street. To use the meter, simply insert coins until the desired parking time is displayed. Then press the Green button to print a ticket. The ticket should be displayed on your dashboard so that it is visible for parking attendants to check. Some machines also accept major credit cards.
Disk Parking
Some urban areas, notably all of Cork City and suburban Dublin, use pre-paid parking disks. These can be purchased in local shops/stores individually or in books. To use these disks simply scratch off the current time and date, much like you would scratch a lottery ticket. Display the disk on your dashboard so that it can be clearly read by a parking attendant.
Park by Phone (Park Magic)
Cork City and Limerick City use a system where motorists can pay for parking using their mobile phones. If you are going to be spending some time or parking regularly in these areas it may be worth setting up an account. You simply pick-up a window sticker with a barcode in a local store, or order one from http://www.parkmagic.net/ . Attach the sticker to your front windshield and call the number from an Irish mobile phone with caller ID active to register. You can then register your credit card / or Laser debit card. To top up, simply follow the instructions. To park, simply call the number on the sticker and enter the parking zone number displayed on local parking signs. Parking attendants can check that you have paid by scanning the barcode on your window.
Multi-Story Car Parks and Parking Lots
Major cities, towns and other urban areas have plenty of privately operated car parks. These are often multistory and prices can vary substantially depending on the area. Hourly rates are usually signposted at the entrance. Central Dublin and Cork can be quite expensive. It is usually possible to pay by credit card. If you need to park overnight, it is advisable to consult the signage as some car parks do not allow you to stay overnight, or may charge very high fees to do so.
Cork and Dublin have electronic signage around the city advising motorists where car parks are located and whether they have sufficient spaces.
Information for major cities
Call 1-800 29 39 49 (free incl. from payphones and mobiles) with signposting suggestions, traffic signal fault reports, information on parked vehicles causing congestion and traffic jams caused by roadworks.
16. Broadcast traffic reports on radio
The traffic information of the motoring organizations is broadcast regularly on national, regional and local radio stations.
17. Fuel
Ireland Driving Maps
Petrol Stations (Gas stations) are widely available throughout Ireland and all accept major credit and debit cards.
*IMPORTANT* Unlike roads in most other countries and due to Ireland's relatively sparse population Irish motorways do not currently have very many service stations. It is extremely important that you fill-up with sufficient petrol (gas) for your journey before setting out on any Irish motorway. If you are running low on fuel, exit to the nearest town and fill-up. Where services are available on motorways, they are very clearly signed. Look out for symbols displaying a petrol/gas pump on the signs. These will appear several km ahead of the exit and are pictograms. There is a serious risk of becoming stranded on the side of a motorway if you run out of fuel. There are plenty of petrol stations located in towns along the motorways, but beware that these can sometimes be several KM from the motorway exit. Plan your trip carefully and ensure that you always have sufficient fuel to get to a petrol station. If you remain on the motorway, it is possible to drive for hundreds of KM without ever seeing a petrol station! So do not attempt to drive without at least enough fuel to arrive at your destination if you are unfamiliar with your route.
Also, if you need food or a bathroom break, you will have to exit to the nearest town
You can get the current exchange rate for the Euro (Republic of Ireland) and Sterling (Northern Ireland)http://www.xe.com . Americans should bear in mind that European cars tend to be more economical in terms of fuel. Diesel cars tend to be even more economical still and diesel fuel is sometimes cheaper.
18. Drivers Licenses
Northern Ireland Driving License Renewal
When renting a car most car rental companies will require a drivers license issued by the state you are normally resident in - and not an 'international driving license'.
19. Additional Resources
Northern Ireland Driving License Check
For more information on driving in Irelandhttp://www.iol.ie/~discover/driving.htm .
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