Straight answers to practical questions about driving, travelling, parking and getting around Northern Ireland.
Permanent closures or prohibitions on public roads are normally authorised by DfI through the appropriate statutory road or traffic order.
If signs are missing or unclear, do not guess from sat-nav data; use the road type, street-lighting rules and DfI information to establish the legal limit.
An advisory speed sign is guidance rather than a separate statutory speed limit, but ignoring it can still be unsafe and relevant to careless or dangerous driving.
In Northern Ireland, a road with a system of street lighting will usually be subject to a 30 mph limit unless signs show another limit.
You can ask DfI Roads to review a speed limit, but a request does not automatically mean the limit will change.
The Department for Infrastructure sets statutory speed limits on Northern Ireland roads through road traffic legislation and speed-limit orders.
Use TrafficWatchNI for live Northern Ireland traffic disruption and combine it with official weather warnings during severe weather.
If high winds make driving unsafe, reduce speed, increase space, avoid exposed routes where possible and postpone the journey if necessary.
Yes. Ignoring an official road-closure sign or lawful traffic direction can result in enforcement, and it can also expose you and rescuers to serious danger.
Do not drive past an official road-closed sign or barrier because of flooding; use the signed diversion or another safe route.
Check official Northern Ireland flood-warning information and weather warnings before driving into an area at risk.
Use the official DfI/nidirect road-reporting service to report an ice or snow problem on a Northern Ireland road.
Roads can refreeze after gritting because salt does not work instantly or indefinitely, and fresh rain or showers can dilute or wash away the treatment.
No. Salting reduces the risk of ice but does not guarantee a road will be ice-free.
DfI publishes winter-service and gritting information so drivers can see the priority road network treated during cold weather.
Check TrafficWatchNI and current weather warnings before setting off in winter conditions.
Snow chains can be used only where conditions make them appropriate and they must not be used in a way that damages the road or makes the vehicle unsafe.
No. Winter tyres are not generally a legal requirement for ordinary cars in Northern Ireland.
nidirect recommends carrying items such as de-icer, an ice scraper, torch, warm clothing and boots, a first-aid kit, jump leads, a shovel, a warm drink and emergency food.
The NI Highway Code advises avoiding unnecessary journeys in snow and ice and, if travel is essential, driving slowly with very gentle steering, braking and acceleration.
On ice, stopping distances can be many times greater than on a dry road; the Highway Code warns they may be up to ten times longer.
In wet weather, stopping distances can be at least double those on a dry road, so your following gap should increase accordingly.
If steering becomes unresponsive in standing water, ease off the accelerator and slow down gradually.
In heavy rain, use headlights appropriate to the reduced visibility; dipped headlights are normally the correct choice.
Normally, do not drive continuously with hazard warning lights on simply because rain is heavy.
Fog lights should be switched off when visibility improves because they can dazzle other road users and obscure brake lights.
You must use headlights when visibility is seriously reduced, generally when you cannot see for more than about 100 metres.
Leaving an engine running while a vehicle is unattended can breach road-traffic rules and creates obvious security and environmental risks.
No. Clearing only a small “letterbox” area of the windscreen is not consistent with the Highway Code requirement to be able to see properly.
You must have a clear view to drive safely; in winter that means clearing the windows you need for proper all-round visibility rather than leaving them obscured by ice.
