Motorways, overtaking and lanes theory test practice
Free, no accountBased on the Rules of the Road
What you need to know
Motorways are the safest roads per kilometre, but mistakes at high speed are serious. Only drivers with a full licence for the vehicle category may use them, which means learner permit holders cannot. A driver who has just passed the driving test must also wait for the full licence before using a motorway. Cyclists, pedestrians, animals, 50cc vehicles and vehicles that can't do 50 km/h are banned.
To join, use the acceleration lane to match the speed of the traffic, signal early, check your mirrors and blind spot, and give way to traffic already on the motorway. Don't drive on hatched markings before merging. Once on the road you drive ahead only: no turning, reversing, or stopping to pick up or set down. The hard shoulder is for emergencies, and you may stop on the motorway only for a breakdown or when a Garda signals you.
Lane 1 is the left-hand lane and is the normal driving lane. On a two-lane motorway, use Lane 2 for overtaking and move back when finished. Signal before every lane change, treating each as a separate move. If you miss your exit, carry on to the next one. The standard motorway limit is 120 km/h unless signs say otherwise.
Overtaking is normally done on the right. Only overtake when you can see far enough ahead to finish safely, and never near a junction, bend, brow of a hill, narrow road or pedestrian crossing. Overtake on the left only in the situations the Rules of the Road allow, such as slow queues. Bus lanes usually operate 7 am to 7 pm or at peak hours, so check the plate.
Rules of the Road: Motorways · Speed limits · Overtaking · Bus lanes
20 practice questions
Pick an answer to see whether it is right and why.
You hold a learner permit for a car. Can you drive on a motorway?
Mark one answer · keys A to D
All the questions with answers
1. You hold a learner permit for a car. Can you drive on a motorway?
Answer: No, learners cannot use motorways
Only drivers holding a full licence for that category may use a motorway. Learner permit holders cannot.
Rules of the Road: Motorways
2. You have just passed your driving test and are waiting for your full licence. Can you use a motorway?
Answer: No, you need the full licence first
The test certificate is not a licence. You can't use a motorway until the full licence is issued.
Rules of the Road: Motorways
3. Which of these is not allowed on a motorway?
Answer: A cyclist
Cyclists, pedestrians, animals and vehicles of 50cc or less, or unable to reach 50 km/h, may not use motorways.
Rules of the Road: Motorways
4. What is the usual maximum speed on a motorway for a car?
Answer: 120 km/h
The motorway limit is 120 km/h unless signs show a lower limit.
Rules of the Road: Motorways · Speed limits
5. What is the purpose of the acceleration lane when joining a motorway?
Answer: To build up speed to match the traffic
Use the acceleration lane to build speed and match the general speed of traffic in the lane you are joining.
Rules of the Road: Motorways
6. You are joining a motorway from a slip road. Who has priority?
Answer: Traffic already on the motorway
You must give way to traffic already on the motorway when you merge.
Rules of the Road: Motorways
7. There are hatched markings at the end of the slip road. What should you do about them?
Answer: Not drive on them before merging
Don't drive on hatched markings before merging into motorway traffic.
Rules of the Road: Motorways
8. On a motorway, which lane is Lane 1?
Answer: The left-hand lane
Lane 1 is the inside lane on the left. The normal keep-left rule applies, and you stay in it unless overtaking.
Rules of the Road: Motorways
9. You are driving in Lane 2 of a two-lane motorway and there is nothing to overtake. What should you do?
Answer: Move back into Lane 1 when it is safe
On a two-lane motorway Lane 2 is for overtaking only. Move back into Lane 1 when you have finished.
Rules of the Road: Motorways
10. You are in Lane 3 and want to move to Lane 1. How should you signal?
Answer: Signal separately for each lane change
Treat each lane change as a separate manoeuvre and signal before each one.
Rules of the Road: Motorways
11. You feel tired on a motorway. When may you use the hard shoulder?
Answer: In an emergency only
The hard shoulder is only for emergencies. Leave at the next exit or service area for a rest instead.
Rules of the Road: Motorways
12. In which situation may you stop on a motorway?
Answer: If you break down
You may stop only if your vehicle breaks down or a Garda signals you to stop.
Rules of the Road: Motorways
13. You realise you are driving against the flow of traffic on a motorway. What should you do?
Answer: Pull onto the hard shoulder and call 999 or 112
Pull in immediately to the hard shoulder, stop and call the Gardaí. Never try to turn the vehicle.
Rules of the Road: Motorways
14. You miss your exit on a motorway. What should you do?
Answer: Carry on to the next exit
On a motorway you drive ahead only, with no reversing or turning. Continue to the next exit.
Rules of the Road: Motorways
15. When should you normally overtake on a road with two-way traffic?
Answer: On the right side
You must normally overtake on the right, with exceptions listed in the Rules of the Road.
Rules of the Road: Overtaking
16. In which situation may you overtake on the left?
Answer: When the driver ahead is signalling to turn right
You may go past on the left if the driver ahead has signalled right, or if you are turning left, or in slow queues moving faster on the left.
Rules of the Road: Overtaking
17. Where must you not overtake?
Answer: On the approach to a bend or a junction
Don't overtake near junctions, bends, dips, humpback bridges, brows, narrow roads or pedestrian crossings.
Rules of the Road: Overtaking
18. You are about to overtake and see another vehicle already overtaking. What should you not do?
Answer: Follow it directly
Never directly follow another overtaking vehicle, and you must not exceed the speed limit even when overtaking.
Rules of the Road: Overtaking
19. A car is overtaking you on a country road. What should you do?
Answer: Keep your pace and stay left
Continue at the same pace, keep as near to the left as is safe, don't accelerate, and watch for the vehicle pulling back in.
Rules of the Road: Overtaking
20. A bus lane sign shows no times on its plate. When do bus lanes normally operate?
Answer: 7 am to 7 pm, or peak hours
Bus lanes normally operate from 7 am to 7 pm or in peak hours, and the plate gives the exact times. Outside them, all traffic may use the lane.
Rules of the Road: Bus lanes
Questions people ask
- Can a learner driver use the motorway in Ireland?
- No. Only drivers with a full licence for that category of vehicle may use a motorway, so learner permit holders cannot. This also applies after passing the driving test until the full licence arrives.
- What is the speed limit on a motorway in Ireland?
- It is 120 km/h unless a sign shows a lower limit, for example at roadworks. Some vehicles, such as buses and heavy goods vehicles, have lower limits.
- When can I use the hard shoulder on a motorway?
- Only in an emergency, such as a breakdown. You must not drive along it, or stop or park there for any other reason, unless a Garda signals you to.
- What hours do bus lanes operate in Ireland?
- Normally from 7 am to 7 pm, or during peak hours. Check the information plate for the exact times, as other traffic may use the lane outside those hours.
Other theory test topics
- Learner permits and licences
- Penalty points and offences
- Alcohol, drugs, phones and fatigue
- Vehicle safety and passengers
- Speed limits and stopping distances
- Junctions and right of way
- Roundabouts and turning
- Road signs and markings
- Pedestrians, cyclists and other road users
- Parking and stopping
- Hazards, emergencies and breakdowns
Rules summarised from the Rules of the Road (© Road Safety Authority). Questions written by PassRank. These are not the official Driver Theory Test questions.