Traffic drives on the left and signposts are usually bilingual. Motorways are marked 'M' with a corresponding number (such as M1 and M2), main roads and dual carriageways 'N' and regional and local roads 'R' and 'L'. On motorways a speed limit of 120kph (74mph) applies. On national roads and dual carriageways, the speed limit is 100kpm (62mph).  On 'R' and 'L' roads, the general speed limit is 80kph (50mph), dropping to 50kph (31mph) in towns and cities. The alcohol-to-blood ratio for drivers is 0.08%.

The minimum driving age is 17 years. A valid national driving licence is required and a Green Card and Motor Insurance certificate are recommended. A country identification sticker is compulsory, as are seat belts in the front and, where fitted, in the rear of the car.

The Automobile Association of Ireland (tel: (01) 617 9999; website: www.aaireland.ie) provides information on reciprocal agreements with other motoring associations.

Emergency breakdown service: Automobile Association (tel: 1 800 667 788).

Routes to the city: Dublin can be approached via the N11 dual carriageway from Dún Laoghaire harbour, the N1 and the M1 motorway from Belfast, the N6 and N4 from Galway and the N7 (M7) and N8 (M8) from Cork.

Approximate driving times to Dublin: From Belfast - 2 hours 45 minutes; Galway - 3 hours 30 minutes; Cork - 4 hours 15 minutes.

Coach services: Bus Éireann (tel: (01) 836 6111; website: www.buseireann.ie) operates Ireland's largest coach station, Busáras (Central Bus Station), Amiens Street, with routes nationwide and destinations including Cork, Galway and Limerick, as well as Belfast and Derry in Northern Ireland. Services are more frequent than those provided by the rail network. Facilities include restaurant, bureaux de change and left luggage. Bus Éireann/Eurolines (tel: (01) 836 6111; website: www.eurolines.ie) has daily services to UK and European destinations, including Amsterdam, Brussels, Edinburgh, Leeds, London and Paris.