Ireland Driving Test 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What does this sign mean?
- Stop, for school crossing ahead.
- Stop your vehicle. (Correct answer)
- Other traffic must give way to you.
- Give way to traffic coming from your right.
Correct answer: Stop your vehicle.
This sign, a red octagon with the word 'STOP' in white, is a universal regulatory sign. It means that drivers must bring their vehicle to a complete halt before proceeding. This is a mandatory instruction to ensure safety at junctions or crossings.
Question 2: What must a driver do when this sign is accompanied by a white stop line on the road?
- Stop at the line. (Correct answer)
- When you have passed the line.
- Only if there is traffic on the major road.
- No more than one car length past the line.
Correct answer: Stop at the line.
When a STOP sign is accompanied by a white stop line painted on the road, drivers must stop their vehicle precisely at that line. The stop line indicates the exact point where the vehicle should halt to ensure maximum visibility and safety without obstructing cross-traffic or pedestrians. Failing to stop at the line is considered an infraction.
Question 3: What must a driver do when this sign is NOT accompanied by a white stop line on the road?
- No more than one car length past the sign.
- Stop at the sign. (Correct answer)
- Only if there is traffic at the junction.
- Only when having passed the sign.
Correct answer: Stop at the sign.
If a STOP sign is present but there is no white stop line on the road, drivers must stop their vehicle at the sign itself. The stopping point should be where the driver has a clear view of the intersecting road without entering the flow of traffic. This ensures the driver can assess the situation safely before proceeding.
Question 4: What does this sign mean at a junction?
- Yield to all heavy goods vehicles.
- Slow down and stop for pedestrians.
- Yield to traffic on the major road. (Correct answer)
- Yield to traffic coming from your right.
Correct answer: Yield to traffic on the major road.
This sign, typically an inverted red triangle with a white background (often with 'GIVE WAY' or 'YIELD'), indicates that you must yield to traffic on the major road. At a junction, this means you must slow down and be prepared to stop, giving priority to vehicles already traveling on the road you are entering or crossing. You should only proceed when it is safe to do so without causing other traffic to slow down or change direction.
Question 5: What does this sign mean at a roundabout?
- Yield to traffic on the major road.
- Yield to traffic coming from the right. (Correct answer)
- Yield to trucks and buses only.
- All vehicles, except motorcycles, must yield.
Correct answer: Yield to traffic coming from the right.
At a roundabout in Ireland, this 'Give Way' or 'Yield' sign (inverted red triangle) means you must yield to traffic already on the roundabout. Specifically, you must give priority to traffic approaching from your right. You should slow down, be prepared to stop, and only enter the roundabout when there is a safe gap in the traffic flow from your right.
Question 6: What does this sign mean?
- Straight ahead only. (Correct answer)
- Overtaking lane ahead.
- Parking permitted from this point on.
- One way street ahead.
Correct answer: Straight ahead only.
This sign, a blue circle with a white arrow pointing straight up, is a mandatory direction sign. It indicates that vehicles must proceed straight ahead only. You are not permitted to turn left or right at the junction or point where this sign is displayed.
Question 7: What does this sign mean?
- Motorway to the left.
- Diversion ahead to the left.
- Traffic from the right has priority.
- Turn Left Only. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Turn Left Only.
This sign, a blue circle with a white arrow pointing to the left, is a mandatory direction sign. It indicates that vehicles must turn left only at the junction or point where the sign is located. No other direction of travel is permitted.
Question 8: What does this sign mean?
- Overtake only on the right
- Diversion ahead to the right.
- Turn right only. (Correct answer)
- Major road joining from the left.
Correct answer: Turn right only.
This sign, a blue circle with a white arrow pointing to the right, is a mandatory direction sign. It indicates that vehicles must turn right only at the junction or point where the sign is located. Drivers are prohibited from going straight or turning left.
Question 9: What does this sign mean?
- Diversion to the left ahead.
- Turn left ahead. (Correct answer)
- One-way traffic to the left.
- Parking area to the left ahead.
Correct answer: Turn left ahead.
This sign, a blue circle with a white arrow curving to the left, is a mandatory direction sign. It indicates that drivers must turn left ahead. This sign is typically placed in advance of a junction or bend where a left turn is compulsory.
Question 10: What does this sign mean?
- Turn right ahead. (Correct answer)
- Diversion to the right ahead.
- One-way traffic to the right ahead.
- Sharp bend ahead.
Correct answer: Turn right ahead.
This sign, a blue circle with a white arrow curving to the right, is a mandatory direction sign. It indicates that drivers must turn right ahead. This sign is typically placed in advance of a junction or bend where a right turn is compulsory.
Question 11: What does this sign mean?
- Sharp bend to the left ahead.
- Steep decline ahead to the left.
- Keep Left. (Correct answer)
- Roundabout ahead.
Correct answer: Keep Left.
This sign, a blue circle with a white arrow pointing downwards and to the left, is a mandatory instruction. It means that drivers must keep to the left of an obstruction or traffic island ahead. This ensures traffic flows safely around the obstacle.
Question 12: What does this sign mean?
- Turn back.
- Steep decline ahead to the right.
- Keep right. (Correct answer)
- Traffic crossing from the left.
Correct answer: Keep right.
This sign, a blue circle with a white arrow pointing downwards and to the right, is a mandatory instruction. It means that drivers must keep to the right of an obstruction or traffic island ahead. This ensures traffic flows safely around the obstacle.
Question 13: What does this sign mean?
- One-way street.
- Two way traffic ahead.
- Pass either side. (Correct answer)
- Dual-carriageway ahead.
Correct answer: Pass either side.
This sign, a blue circle with two white arrows pointing downwards, one left and one right, separated by a vertical line, indicates 'Pass either side.' It means that drivers may pass on either the left or the right side of an obstruction or traffic island ahead. This sign provides flexibility in navigating around an obstacle.
Question 14: What does this sign mean?
- Cul-de-sac ahead.
- No hard shoulder ahead.
- No entry. (Correct answer)
- Parking not allowed ahead.
Correct answer: No entry.
This sign, a red circle with a white horizontal bar, is a regulatory sign meaning 'No Entry.' It prohibits all vehicles from entering the road or area beyond the sign. This is often used to indicate one-way streets or restricted access areas.
Question 15: What does this sign mean?
- No right turn. (Correct answer)
- Yield to other traffic when turning right.
- Turn right if there is no oncoming traffic.
- No hard shoulder to the right.
Correct answer: No right turn.
This sign, a red circle with a white background and a black arrow pointing right with a red diagonal line through it, is a prohibitory sign. It means 'No Right Turn.' Drivers are not permitted to make a right turn at the junction or point where this sign is displayed.
Question 16: What does this sign mean?
- Roundabout ahead with no left exit.
- Cul-de-sac to the left.
- No hard shoulder to the left.
- No left turn. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: No left turn.
This sign, a red circle with a white background and a black arrow pointing left with a red diagonal line through it, is a prohibitory sign. It means 'No Left Turn.' Drivers are not permitted to make a left turn at the junction or point where this sign is displayed.
Question 17: What does this sign mean?
- U-turn not permitted. (Correct answer)
- Reversing not permitted.
- Slippery road ahead.
- Two-way traffic prohibited.
Correct answer: U-turn not permitted.
This sign, a red circle with a white background and a black U-turn arrow with a red diagonal line through it, is a prohibitory sign. It means 'U-turn not permitted.' Drivers are prohibited from making a U-turn at this location.
Question 18: What does this sign mean?
- Maximum speed is 30 km\/h. (Correct answer)
- Parking not allowed for more than 30 minutes.
- Distance to junction is 30 meters.
- Motorway continues for 30 kilometers.
Correct answer: Maximum speed is 30 km\/h.
This sign, a red circle with a white background and the number '30' in black, is a regulatory speed limit sign. It indicates that the maximum speed permitted is 30 kilometers per hour (km/h). Drivers must not exceed this speed limit in the area where the sign is displayed.
Question 19: What does this sign mean?
- Motorway continues for 50 kilometers.
- Minimum distance between vehicles is 50 meters.
- Minimum speed is 50 km\/h. (Correct answer)
- Maximum speed is 50 km\/h.
Correct answer: Minimum speed is 50 km\/h.
This sign is a mandatory instruction sign, indicated by its blue circular shape with a white symbol. The number '50' within the circle signifies a minimum speed limit. Therefore, drivers must maintain a speed of at least 50 km/h on this stretch of road, unless road conditions or other hazards require a lower speed for safety.
Question 20: What does this sign mean?
- Parking not allowed for more than 60 minutes.
- Distance to junction is 60 meters.
- Height restriction is 60 meters.
- Maximum speed is 60 km\/h. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Maximum speed is 60 km\/h.
This sign is a regulatory sign, specifically indicating a maximum speed limit. The red circle with the black number '60' clearly means that drivers are legally prohibited from exceeding 60 kilometers per hour. Adhering to this sign is crucial for road safety and to avoid penalties.
Question 21: What does this sign mean?
- Maximum speed is 80km\/h. (Correct answer)
- 80 meters to start of motorway.
- Maximum permitted weight is 80 tonnes.
- 80 meters to end of motorway.
Correct answer: Maximum speed is 80km\/h.
This is a standard regulatory sign indicating a maximum speed limit. The red circle with the black number '80' means that drivers are legally prohibited from exceeding 80 kilometers per hour. These signs are placed to ensure safety and manage traffic flow effectively on specific road sections.
Question 22: What does this sign mean?
- Maximum speed is 100 km\/h. (Correct answer)
- Clearway ahead at 100 meters.
- Motorway continues for 100 Kilometers.
- Minimum speed is 100 km\/h.
Correct answer: Maximum speed is 100 km\/h.
This regulatory sign indicates the maximum permissible speed for vehicles on that stretch of road. The red circle with the black number '100' mandates that drivers must not exceed 100 kilometers per hour. This limit is set to ensure safety and efficient traffic management, often found on motorways or dual carriageways.
Question 23: What does this sign mean?
- Motorway exit ahead at 120 meters.
- Traffic merging at 120 meters ahead.
- Motorway continues for 120 Kilometers.
- Maximum speed is 120 km\/h. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Maximum speed is 120 km\/h.
This sign is a regulatory speed limit sign, indicating the highest speed at which vehicles are legally allowed to travel. The red circle with the black number '120' means that drivers must not exceed 120 kilometers per hour. This speed limit is typically found on motorways where higher speeds are permitted under safe conditions.
Question 24: What does these signs together mean?
- Parking permitted at times shown. (Correct answer)
- Parking prohibited at times shown.
- Parking reserved for people with disabilities.
- Maximum parking for 1 hour during times shown.
Correct answer: Parking permitted at times shown.
The main 'P' sign indicates that parking is allowed. The supplementary plate below it specifies the exact hours and days (e.g., Mon-Fri 8am-6pm) during which this parking regulation applies. Therefore, these signs together mean that parking is permitted only during the times displayed on the plate, outside of which different rules may apply or parking may be unrestricted.
Question 25: What does this sign mean?
- Public service vehicles prohibited.
- Parking prohibited. (Correct answer)
- Private vehicles prohibited.
- Parking permitted.
Correct answer: Parking prohibited.
This regulatory sign, a red circle with a blue background and a single red diagonal line, specifically indicates 'No Parking'. It means that vehicles are not permitted to park at any time in the area where the sign is displayed. While parking is prohibited, this sign typically allows for brief stopping to pick up or set down passengers.
What does this sign mean?