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Legal Matters & Rules of the Road: theory test questions

238 questions from the Irish Driver Theory Test, each with the correct answer and an explanation.

  1. What does this sign mean?Answer: Automatic level crossing ahead.Yellow rectangular plates read SLOW Automatic Level Crossing, with Irish wording below.
  2. What does this sign mean?Answer: Low bridge up ahead.Yellow diamond with opposing vertical black triangles and the measurements 14 feet 3 inches and 4.4 m.
  3. What does this sign mean?Answer: Two-way traffic ahead.Yellow diamond with two black arrows, left pointing up and right pointing down.
  4. What does this sign mean?Answer: Possibility of sheep ahead.Yellow diamond containing a black sheep silhouette.
  5. What does this sign mean?Answer: Staggered crossroads ahead with roads of equal importance.Yellow diamond with a black vertical bar and two side branches at different heights.
  6. What does this sign mean?Answer: Junction ahead with roads of lesser importance.Yellow diamond with a thick black vertical bar crossed by a narrower horizontal bar.
  7. What does this sign mean?Answer: School ahead.Yellow diamond showing two children carrying bags.
  8. What does this sign mean?Answer: A driver must drive on the left-hand side.Yellow sign reading ATTENTION / ACHTUNG and Drive on left, with a small road diagram and French and German wording.
  9. What does this sign mean at a roundabout?Answer: Yield to traffic coming from the right, or already on the roundabout.Inverted white triangle with a thick red border and black YIELD text.
  10. What does this traffic light mean?Answer: The driver may proceed in the direction of the green arrow if the way is clear.Traffic lights showing red, with an additional illuminated green right-pointing arrow beside the bottom lamp.
  11. What does this sign mean?Answer: The driver must stop their vehicle.Red octagonal sign with a white border and large white STOP text.
  12. What does this traffic light mean?Answer: Stop, unless it is unsafe to do so.Vertical traffic light with the middle amber lamp illuminated.
  13. What does this traffic light mean?Answer: Traffic must stop at the traffic light.Vertical traffic light with the top red lamp illuminated.
  14. What does this traffic light mean?Answer: Traffic turning left may proceed if the way is clear.Traffic lights showing red, with an additional illuminated green left-pointing arrow beside the bottom lamp.
  15. What is the maximum authorised mass (MAM) of a car that may be driven by the holder of a Category B driving licence?Answer: 3,500 kilograms.
  16. What does this traffic light mean?Answer: Traffic may proceed if the way is clear.Vertical traffic light with the bottom green lamp illuminated.
  17. What does this sign mean?Answer: Danger of falling rocks ahead.Yellow diamond containing a black cliff edge with several falling rock shapes.
  18. What does this sign mean?Answer: Possibility of low flying aircraft.Yellow diamond containing a black aeroplane silhouette.
  19. What should a driver check when parking their vehicle?Answer: That they comply with mandatory road markings and signs.
  20. When can the holder of a Category W learner permit carry a passenger?Answer: Only when the passenger also holds a Category W driving licence and the vehicle is designed to carry a passenger.
  21. What roads are learner permit holders allowed to drive on?Answer: All roads except motorways.
  22. What traffic may use a cycle lane accompanied by a continuous white line?Answer: Cyclists and motorised wheelchairs.
  23. What must a driver do when this sign is accompanied by a white stop line on the road?Answer: Stop at the line.Red octagonal sign with a white border and large white STOP text.
  24. What must a driver do when this sign is NOT accompanied by a white stop line on the road?Answer: Stop at the sign.Red octagonal sign with a white border and large white STOP text.
  25. What lights indicate a zebra crossing?Answer: Flashing amber beacons.
  26. When do temporary speed limits apply at roadworks?Answer: For the duration of the roadworks.
  27. When can a child under the age of sixteen drive a tractor on a public road?Answer: Children under 16 are not allowed to drive a tractor on a public road.
  28. What is the purpose of traffic calming measures?Answer: To slow down traffic in the vicinity.
  29. When a vehicle is being driven by a person who is not the owner, who is responsible for ensuring that the vehicle is taxed and that a current tax disc is displayed?Answer: The driver and/or the owner of the vehicle are responsible.
  30. When must drivers stop at an automated railway level crossing with barriers and red flashing lights?Answer: Stop safely when the amber light shows, or when red lights start to flash.
  31. When must the holder of a learner permit display L plates on their car?Answer: At all times when driving.
  32. Which vehicle is exempt from speed limits when being used in an emergency?Answer: Garda.
  33. Which roads are learner permit holders not allowed to drive on?Answer: They may not drive on motorways.
  34. When is parking permitted on a footpath?Answer: It is never permitted to park on a footpath.
  35. When wanting to stop temporarily in a congested area where should the driver park?Answer: Park in a safe, legal and convenient place.
  36. Where is a driver allowed to park?Answer: Where the driver is not blocking other road users their view of traffic signals or the road ahead.
  37. When may a trailer be towed on a public road without a rear number plate?Answer: Never, a number plate must always be displayed.
  38. When must a current tax disc be displayed on a new vehicle on a public road?Answer: At all times when the vehicle is on a public road.
  39. Which car, if any, is parked incorrectly?Answer: Both cars.Red car partly over a striped pedestrian crossing and a green car beyond, beside a yellow globe post.
  40. Where should L-plates be displayed on cars?Answer: Both front and rear.
  41. Is a driver permitted to park at an entrance to a property?Answer: Yes, with the property owner's consent.
  42. What does a continuous white line along the centre of the road mean?Answer: No U-turn allowed.Empty rural road with a single continuous white center line, grass, trees and hills ahead.
  43. What does this sign mean?Answer: Traffic merging from the left.Yellow diamond with a black vertical bar and a diagonal branch joining from the lower left.
  44. What does this hand signal mean?Answer: The cyclist intends to turn left.Cyclist facing the viewer with one arm extended horizontally toward the right of the image.
  45. Unless otherwise indicated, what is the maximum speed allowed for a car towing a trailer on a motorway?Answer: 80 km/h.
  46. If a driver wishes to drive another privately-owned vehicle but they are uncertain if they are insured to drive that vehicle, what should they do?Answer: A driver should contact their own insurer to confirm whether or not their insurance policy covers the driving of other vehicles.
  47. Apart from cyclists and motorised wheelchairs, what other road users may use an unoccupied cycle lane accompanied by a broken white line?Answer: All drivers may make temporary use.
  48. At a railway level crossing with unattended gates, what should a car driver do?Answer: Open both gates before proceeding to cross.
  49. Is a driver still insured to drive their vehicle after their insurance policy has expired?Answer: The driver is not insured after the expiry of the policy.
  50. What do these road markings mean?Answer: Continuous white lines ahead.Road surface with repeated pairs of short white line markings.

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