Straight answers to practical questions about driving, travelling, parking and getting around Northern Ireland.
Before driving in snow, clear enough snow and ice to see properly through the windows, and make sure lights, mirrors and number plates are clear.
On a Northern Ireland motorway, leave at least a two-second gap in good dry conditions and increase it substantially in poor weather or visibility.
Lane hogging means remaining in a middle or right-hand motorway lane when the lane to the left is clear and there is no need to stay out for overtaking.
A driver may pass traffic on the left on a Northern Ireland motorway when congested lanes are moving at different speeds and you simply keep up with the traffic in your own lane.
Undertaking is not a separate named offence in itself, but deliberately moving left to pass another vehicle on a Northern Ireland motorway is contrary to the Highway Code and can amount to careless or dangerous driving.
On a Northern Ireland motorway, use the right-hand lane mainly for overtaking or when signs and traffic conditions require it; return to the left when the overtake is complete.
Blue signs on Northern Ireland motorways are generally used for motorway directions and information.
Motorway marker posts in Northern Ireland help identify your precise position and can also show the direction to the nearest emergency telephone.
Give emergency services the motorway number, direction of travel, nearest junction and any marker-post or emergency-phone reference you can see.
Motorway emergency roadside phones in Northern Ireland connect directly to police and are positioned so your location can be identified quickly.
Do not treat a Northern Ireland motorway hard shoulder as a normal place to refuel; running out of fuel is a breakdown situation and the priority is safety and recovery.
You should not attempt to change a tyre on a Northern Ireland motorway hard shoulder unless there is no safer option and you can do so without exposing yourself to live traffic.
Walking on a Northern Ireland motorway is prohibited except in an emergency, and even then movement should be limited to what is necessary to reach safety or an emergency telephone.
If your vehicle stops in a live motorway lane in Northern Ireland, switch on hazard lights immediately and call 999 or the police once it is safe to do so.
If you cannot safely leave a broken-down vehicle on a Northern Ireland motorway, keep hazard lights on, call emergency services or police and clearly explain that you are trapped in a live-traffic situation.
After a Northern Ireland motorway breakdown, passengers should wait well away from the carriageway and hard shoulder, preferably behind a barrier where safe and practical.
If you have reached the hard shoulder after a motorway breakdown in Northern Ireland, you should normally leave the vehicle when it is safe and wait well away from traffic.
If your car breaks down on a Northern Ireland motorway, leave at the next exit if possible; otherwise move onto the hard shoulder, stop as far left as possible and use hazard lights.
A Northern Ireland motorway hard shoulder may normally be used only for an emergency or breakdown, unless signs specifically open it as a running lane or bus lane under an authorised scheme.
No. You must not stop on a Northern Ireland motorway hard shoulder simply to make or receive a phone call.
Reversing on a Northern Ireland motorway is prohibited except in the most exceptional situation under the direction of police or authorised traffic control.
If you miss your exit on a Northern Ireland motorway, continue to the next exit and re-route.
No. Mopeds are not permitted on Northern Ireland motorways.
Agricultural tractors are generally not permitted on Northern Ireland motorways unless a specific class and legal exception allows motorway use.
A newly qualified Northern Ireland driver should plan lane discipline, joining, overtaking, following distance and breakdown procedure before their first motorway journey.
Motorways in Northern Ireland are restricted to permitted motor vehicles; pedestrians, cyclists, horse riders, mopeds and various slow or unsuitable vehicles are prohibited.
If roadworks debris or a road defect damages your vehicle in Northern Ireland, document the incident and report the problem; you can make a compensation claim where you believe DfI is legally responsible.
The organisation carrying out utility works is responsible for safe traffic management at the site, subject to Northern Ireland roads legislation and DfI oversight.
Yes. Northern Ireland roads can be temporarily closed for authorised events, parades, utility works and other activities as well as ordinary road construction.
Check TrafficWatchNI and the relevant DfI notice to see the expected duration of a Northern Ireland road closure.
