U-Turns

datslife81

Hello,

Can you tell me what is the stance on u-turns in Ireland as I can see that they seem to be proceed with caution on some sites but not sure? Very difficult to get definite answer on web

Thanks in advance of response

datslife81

Hello,

I will be moving to Ireland shortly and I need to know if U-Turns are legal in Ireland under proceed with caution terms? Very difficult to see this online

Thanks.

Steve

AFAIK, it is perfectly legal unless there is a solid white line or a 'no U turn sign'.

Esel

Legal unless prohibited by signage, afaik.

Edit: or as Steve said in your other thread, unless there is a solid white line.

dinorebel

Only if you complete the movement and do a doughnut.

Chickenoregg

Common spool of thought in accident situations as I drive for a living and I have seen cases of this where on roads with 2 lanes going both ways, i.e. slow lane, fast lane but not motorway or dual carriageway or roads where you might be single line traffic but you have slow and fast lane oncoming. It is actually common to see U-Turn attempts. The roads markings not a single white line but the line markings to signify a turn off just finishing or coming up to the start of a fast lane or or turn off where you must get ready to indicate to cross a road.

I would be interested to know the liability in these cases, car indicates right to do u-turn, car behind doesn't see indicator and goes full force into the car as u-turn is in full flow and oncoming road has no traffic coming towards them. It is common to see people doing overtaking manoeuvres using these white stripe boxes as extra space so just wondering what the take on this might be for a u-turn as the extra piece of road is there to facilitate a pre or post crossing of the road

Del2005

datslife81 wrote: »

Hello,

I will be moving to Ireland shortly and I need to know if U-Turns are legal in Ireland under proceed with caution terms? Very difficult to see this online

Thanks.

I've been driving nearly 20 years and can count on 1 hand the amount of U turns I've done. I'd be more worried about the general standard of Irish driving than something that rarely happens.

antodeco

I genuinely see around 2 - 3 U turns a day in my travels. I have also done them. I have also seen many Garda cars doing it.

Chickenoregg

I see them many times a day too and am guilty of them also but what is an insurance company take on them though, if people are in accident following attempting a u-turn do they say they were attempting a u-turn or is that admitting liability?

savagethegoat

for a following car, there is no difference between a right turn and a U turn.

For a car coming the other way , it's much the same as a car joining the carriageway from the right.

It isn't really a problem.

Chickenoregg

In other words if the car behind you hits you when are attempting a right turn or a U-turn then you are not at fault?

savagethegoat

i'd agree with that

visual

I wouldn't agree as most people u Turing in one move drive as far as they can to the left then u turn while turning right. There is a reason your taught 3 point turn and not uturn.

While the manoeuvre in its self may not be illegal I doubt most doing it can complete it safely within rules of the road.

savagethegoat

even if one did as you say, the guy running into the back of them is still to blame.

visual

What if it was the side as in mid uturn .
Back of car isn't the only exposed part when it's u turning

savagethegoat

same applies, the U turn guy didn't run into anyone

frozenfrozen

U turns are on the motorcycle test, no way they are illegal

bonyn

Wait til you're driving here and you'll see that U-turns aren't usually possible or practical. (presence of continuous white lines at junctions, or the roads being too narrow to swiftly and safely perform one without forcing oncoming traffic to brake)

It's best to pull into a driveway to turn, or simply pull in to a parking space and when the road is clear in both directions perform a u-turn/multiple point turn then.

GM228

frozenfrozen wrote: »

U turns are on the motorcycle test, no way they are illegal

Correct, as already mentioned only illegal on a road with a solid white line or on a dual carriageway or other type of road which has a central reserve or traffic island AND a no u-turn sign, or on a lit traffic light.

This next but may surprise a few people, the no u-turn sign on it's own has no legal meaning under Irish law if it's on a road which isn't a dual carriageway or a road without a central reserve or an island bar two specific locations - namely Dublin and Cork Airports.

Esel

Chickenoregg wrote: »

Common spool of thought in accident situations as I drive for a living and I have seen cases of this where on roads with 2 lanes going both ways, i.e. slow lane, fast lane but not motorway or dual carriageway or roads where you might be single line traffic but you have slow and fast lane oncoming. It is actually common to see U-Turn attempts. The roads markings not a single white line but the line markings to signify a turn off just finishing or coming up to the start of a fast lane or or turn off where you must get ready to indicate to cross a road.

I would be interested to know the liability in these cases, car indicates right to do u-turn, car behind doesn't see indicator and goes full force into the car as u-turn is in full flow and oncoming road has no traffic coming towards them. It is common to see people doing overtaking manoeuvres using these white stripe boxes as extra space so just wondering what the take on this might be for a u-turn as the extra piece of road is there to facilitate a pre or post crossing of the road

What?

corglass

U turns are perfectly legally in Ireland unless signposted otherwise.

They are a fundamental driving skill and every driver should know to do it safely.

Narrow road blocked by an accident etc? U turn away

savagethegoat

Chickenoregg wrote: »

Common spool of thought in accident situations as I drive for a living and I have seen cases of this where on roads with 2 lanes going both ways, i.e. slow lane, fast lane but not motorway or dual carriageway or roads where you might be single line traffic but you have slow and fast lane oncoming. It is actually common to see U-Turn attempts. The roads markings not a single white line but the line markings to signify a turn off just finishing or coming up to the start of a fast lane or or turn off where you must get ready to indicate to cross a road.

I would be interested to know the liability in these cases, car indicates right to do u-turn, car behind doesn't see indicator and goes full force into the car as u-turn is in full flow and oncoming road has no traffic coming towards them. It is common to see people doing overtaking manoeuvres using these white stripe boxes as extra space so just wondering what the take on this might be for a u-turn as the extra piece of road is there to facilitate a pre or post crossing of the road

you may not enter hatched areas if they have a solid line around them. It is still the responsibity of others not to drive into you though even if what you are doing isn't legal.

corklad32

Hi guys

Can anyone give me definite advice on this place for a U-turn. It looks fine to me, there is hatch lines and a solid white in picture 1 but in picture 2 it's broken white and no hatch markings. It looks specifically designed this way to facilitate U-turns. There is no "no U-turn sign". In picture 2 though what does the sign mean I have highlighted in blue? The cops are parked here permanently for the next 6 weeks so I just want to know my rights when i will get stopped by them for turning in front of them. I have to go this way to work every morning and I have to do a U-turn at this location. The other option which i did this morning was go down to the traffic lights and do a U-turn there but they stopped me and advised me not to do that. I would have to go into the car park at the lights and come back out for it it be "legal".

bazz26

How did you even find this 5 year old thread?

corklad32

bazz26 wrote: »

How did you even find this 5 year old thread?

Just googled u-turns Ireland . Would a new post get more responses?