Northern Ireland’s beauty can lure the heartiest homebody behind the wheel of a car in order to explore the region’s coast and glens. Planning ahead will help ensure a smooth ride.
Choosing the Right Rental Car for a Road Trip
First up is determining the kind of vehicle required for a self-drive tour. A compact car or a minivan? Travellers should consider the number of passengers and luggage along for the trip.
Car rental (or “car hire,” as they’re called in Northern Ireland) companies are located at City of Derry Airport and Belfast International Airport, and reservations can be made via the airports’ websites. Many vehicles in Northern Ireland have standard transmission, so motorists who can only drive cars with automatic transmission should request an automatic car when reserving a rental.
Before the keys are turned in the ignition, becoming acquainted with the car's controls early — such as how to turn on the heat, headlights and emergency lights, and using the windshield wipers — can keep panic away on the motorway during a sudden downpour, for instance. Driving the car around the parking lot, if possible, can also begin to increase a North American's comfort level with driving on the left-hand side of roads.
Once a rental car is on the road, drivers should remember to yield (or “give way”) to traffic coming from the right, and heed signs painted on the asphalt, such as “slow” — they are there for safety's sake!
Colours on Road Signs Indicate the Type of Road
Posted street signs are uncommon in Northern Ireland’s cities, so before embarking to an urban destination, explorers may want to study maps and identify landmarks to help get them where they are going. However, should they discover they are going in circles, pulling the car over somewhere safe, and going into a public place to ask someone for directions should place them back on the right track. Visitors may find many people are friendly and more than willing to help.
Back on the route, visitors will notice speed limits on road signs in Northern Ireland are posted in miles per hour. The signs are also colour-coded for a reason: highways/motorway signs are blue, regional/secondary road signs are green, are local routes are indicated on white signs.
Fear Not Navigating the Roundabout
Soon enough, drivers will come upon a roundabout instead of an intersection. Roundabouts may be intimidating to the uninitiated, but visitors may be surprised to find that navigating them is easy. When approaching one, drivers should slow down, and yield to traffic coming from the right. Vehicles on the roundabout have right of way. Drivers may enter the roundabout when it's safe to do so, and then signal and turn off at their exit (many roundabouts have signs pointing to destinations).
A couple of items travellers may want to take along on their road trips is a cellphone that can be used overseas, and a list of key phone numbers, such as that of police and the car rental company. Drivers involved in accidents in Northern Ireland must remain at the scene. They should call for help, but only if the car is stopped: driving while talking on a cellphone in Northern Ireland is prohibited.
With a little preparation, individuals stricken with wanderlust will be able to cruise Northern Ireland’s roads just like the locals!
Author Sunil S.
Choosing the Right Rental Car for a Road Trip
First up is determining the kind of vehicle required for a self-drive tour. A compact car or a minivan? Travellers should consider the number of passengers and luggage along for the trip.
Car rental (or “car hire,” as they’re called in Northern Ireland) companies are located at City of Derry Airport and Belfast International Airport, and reservations can be made via the airports’ websites. Many vehicles in Northern Ireland have standard transmission, so motorists who can only drive cars with automatic transmission should request an automatic car when reserving a rental.
Before the keys are turned in the ignition, becoming acquainted with the car's controls early — such as how to turn on the heat, headlights and emergency lights, and using the windshield wipers — can keep panic away on the motorway during a sudden downpour, for instance. Driving the car around the parking lot, if possible, can also begin to increase a North American's comfort level with driving on the left-hand side of roads.
Once a rental car is on the road, drivers should remember to yield (or “give way”) to traffic coming from the right, and heed signs painted on the asphalt, such as “slow” — they are there for safety's sake!
Colours on Road Signs Indicate the Type of Road
Posted street signs are uncommon in Northern Ireland’s cities, so before embarking to an urban destination, explorers may want to study maps and identify landmarks to help get them where they are going. However, should they discover they are going in circles, pulling the car over somewhere safe, and going into a public place to ask someone for directions should place them back on the right track. Visitors may find many people are friendly and more than willing to help.
Back on the route, visitors will notice speed limits on road signs in Northern Ireland are posted in miles per hour. The signs are also colour-coded for a reason: highways/motorway signs are blue, regional/secondary road signs are green, are local routes are indicated on white signs.
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Fear Not Navigating the Roundabout
Soon enough, drivers will come upon a roundabout instead of an intersection. Roundabouts may be intimidating to the uninitiated, but visitors may be surprised to find that navigating them is easy. When approaching one, drivers should slow down, and yield to traffic coming from the right. Vehicles on the roundabout have right of way. Drivers may enter the roundabout when it's safe to do so, and then signal and turn off at their exit (many roundabouts have signs pointing to destinations).
A couple of items travellers may want to take along on their road trips is a cellphone that can be used overseas, and a list of key phone numbers, such as that of police and the car rental company. Drivers involved in accidents in Northern Ireland must remain at the scene. They should call for help, but only if the car is stopped: driving while talking on a cellphone in Northern Ireland is prohibited.
With a little preparation, individuals stricken with wanderlust will be able to cruise Northern Ireland’s roads just like the locals!
Author Sunil S.
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