THE NORTH

An introduction to how things differ up in Northern Ireland.

What do you notice when you cross the border?

Well, these days there are big signs to let you know that speed limits are in miles per hour north of the border (they are in kilometres per hour in the south). A big giveaway as well is the triangular hazard warning signs, as opposed to the diamond ones used in the south. Road signs are lacking in Irish, and distances are in miles, not kilometres.

Something present in Northern Ireland, not usually found down south, is road sign illumination. Particularly on main routes, road signs either have lights above them to shine light on them, or else are themselves illuminated.

What about the route numbering?

Well, unlike in the Republic, the route number doesn't intuitively match the importance of the road. There are A roads and B roads; by and large A roads are more important, but only some of them are in fact on a trunk route (the A2 for example winds around the periphery of the North). Also motorways are numbered separately, using some of the same numbers but with an M prefix.

Do you have any more information?

I hope to add more information here, particularly on the North's roads from a southern perspective. But for more detailed information about Northern Ireland's road network I refer you to Wesley Johnson's Northern Ireland Roads Site.