S.I. No. 433/2025 - Road Traffic (Traffic Signs) Regulations 2025

Type Statutory Instrument
Publication 2025-09-26
Last updated 2026-05-15
State In force superseded text
Text As published
articles 92

This is the act as published. Later amendments are not folded into the text below: each one is a separate act in this repository and an entry in this law's history.

1 amending act · 2026-05-15, S.I. No. 205/2026 - Road Traffic (Traffic Signs) (Amendment) Regulations 2026

Reform history JSON API

Notice of the making of this Statutory Instrument was published in

“Iris Oifigiúil” of 26th September, 2025.

CONTENTS

Part 1
Preliminary and General
Regulation
1. Citation
2. Interpretation
3. Revocation
Part 2
Mandatory Signs
4. Mandatory signs
5. With-flow cycle track sign
6. Shared track for use by pedestrians, pedal cyclists, e-moped and electric scooter drivers sign
7. Cycle Streets
8. Contra-flow cycle track sign
9. Contra-flow cycling on a one-way street sign
10. Bus lanes
11. Bus stop sign
12. Mini-roundabout ahead
13. Shared zone
Part 3
Prohibitory and Restrictive Signs
14. Prohibitory signs
15. Prohibited vehicles
16. Prohibition on use by prohibited vehicles of traffic lane on right-hand side of carriageway in road tunnel
17. Prohibition on pedal cycles, e-mopeds and electric scooters
18. Prohibition on animals
19. Prohibition on animal-drawn vehicles
20. Prohibition on vehicles carrying explosive material (road tunnel)
21. Restriction on parking sign — specified events
22. Restrictive traffic signs
23. Vehicle height restriction
24. Prohibition on entry to vehicles
25. Maximum vehicle length
26. Maximum vehicle width
27. Maximum design gross vehicle weight (safety)
28. Maximum vehicle axle loading weight
29. Yield and stop signs
30. School warden sign
31. School street sign
32. Manual control of traffic where road works are being carried out (stop and go signs)
Part 4
Speed Limit Signs
33. Speed limit sign
34. Periodic special speed limits
35. Speed limit sign - road tunnel
36. Electronic speed limit sign
Part 5
Traffic Lane Control Sign
37. Traffic lane control sign
Part 6
Traffic Signals
38. Traffic lights
39. Temporary traffic lights
40. Traffic lights — directional arrows, bus or U-turn display
41. Traffic lights — 4 lamps including directional green arrow or bus display
42. Traffic lights — 5 lamps including directional green arrow and bus display
43. Traffic lights — 5 lamps including a directional green arrow and additional amber lamp
44. Directive traffic lights
45. Traffic lights for pedal cyclists and e-moped and electric scooter drivers
46. Level crossings
Part 7
Pedestrian Crossings
47. Zebra pedestrian crossing
48. Parallel zebra crossing
49. Zebra pedestrian crossing without belisha beacons
50. Parallel zebra crossing without belisha beacons
51. Zebra pedestrian crossing of cycle track
52. Zebra pedestrian crossings – black stripes alternative
53. Combined zebra crossing
54. Combined zebra crossing without belisha beacons
55. Combined zebra crossings – black stripes alternative
56. Pedestrian crossing complex
57. Pedestrian crossing signals
Part 8
Roadway Markings
58. Centre of roadway
59. Traffic lane
60. Directions arrow
61. Temporary use of orange-coloured roadway markings at roadworks
62. Single yellow line
63. Double yellow lines
64. Loading bay
65. School entrance
66. Parking bays
67. Disabled persons’ parking bay
68. Pay parking area
69. Stop line
70. Yield line
71. No entry line
72. Yellow box roadway marking
73. Merging and diverging marking
74. Cycle track
75. Bus lane
76. Edge of roadway
77. Left edge of motorway
78. Right edge of motorway
79. Access or exit lane on motorway
80. Taxi stand
81. Bus stop markings
82. Mini-roundabout — roadway marking
83. Car share vehicle parking bay
84. Car share electrically powered vehicle parking and recharging bay
85. Electrically powered vehicle recharging bay
Part 9
Tram Signals
86. Tram signals
87. Speed limit sign for light rail vehicles
88. Light rail vehicle stop sign and stop line
89. Light rail vehicle yield sign
90. Tram lane
Part 10
Portable Garda traffic signs and school warden uniform
91. Portable traffic signs for use by Gardaí
92. School wardens uniform
Schedule 1
Mandatory Traffic Signs
Schedule 2
Prohibitory and Restrictive Traffic Signs
Schedule 3
Speed Limit Signs
Schedule 4
Traffic Lane Control Signs
Schedule 5
Pedestrian Crossings
Schedule 6
Roadway Markings
Schedule 7
Tram Signals

I, DARRAGH O’BRIEN, Minister for Transport, in exercise of the powers conferred on me by sections 5 , 95 and 96 of the Road Traffic Act 1961 (No. 24 of 1961) (as adapted by the Transport, Tourism and Sport (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 2020 ( S.I. No. 351 of 2020 )), and to give effect to Directive 2004/54/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 20041 in respect of signing for road tunnels, hereby make the following regulations:

Part 1 Preliminary and General

Citation

1.

1.

These Regulations may be cited as the Road Traffic (Traffic Signs) Regulations 2025.

Interpretation

2.

2.

(1) In these Regulations—

“Act of 1968” means Road Traffic Act 1968 (No. 25 of 1968);

“Act of 1993” means Roads Act 1993 (No. 14 of 1993);

“Act of 1994” means Road Traffic Act 1994 (No. 7 of 1994);

“Act of 2001” means Transport (Railway Infrastructure) Act 2001 (No. 55 of 2001);

“Act of 2004” means Road Traffic Act 2004 (No. 44 of 2004);

“Act of 2010” means Road Traffic Act 2010 (No. 25 of 2010);

“access” means entry or exit by vehicles to or from premises adjacent to or accessible only from a road and includes stopping a vehicle on a roadway solely for the purposes of loading or unloading goods on to or from such vehicle from or to such premises;

“authorised person” means a person authorised by or behalf of a road authority or person -

“buffer area” means an area between two parking bays;

“bus stop sign” means a sign to indicate a stopping place or stand for large public service vehicles or omnibuses provided under section 35 of the Act of 1994;

“car share” means a car share scheme or car club, licensed or authorised by a road authority under bye-laws made under section 199 of the Local Government Act 2001 , for the purpose of the sharing of mechanically propelled vehicles by members of the scheme or club renting or using the vehicles for short periods, such as by the hour or day;

“county council” and “city council” have the meanings assigned to them, respectively, in section 11 of the Local Government Act 2001 (No. 37 of 2001);

“cycle track” means part of a road, including part of a footway or part of a roadway, which is provided primarily for the use of pedal cycles, e-mopeds and electric scooters;

“design” when used in relation to a sign means the layout of the sign and includes the relative size and position of any symbols, figures, letters, or other markings shown thereon;

“design gross vehicle weight” has the meaning assigned to it by Regulation 2(1) of the Road Traffic (Construction and Use of Vehicles) Regulations 2003 ( S.I. No. 5 of 2003 );

“disabled persons’ parking bay” means a space intended for the parking of a mechanically propelled vehicle in which is displayed a disabled persons’ parking permit;

“disabled persons’ parking permit” means a permit granted in accordance with Regulations made under section 35 of the Act of 1994;

“disc parking place” means a place on a public road where the parking of vehicles is subject to the exhibition of a document or other format in accordance with bye-laws made under section 36 of the Act of 1994;

“dual carriageway” means a road, the roadway of which is divided centrally so as to provide two separate carriageways, on each of which traffic is required by a road regulation to proceed in one direction only;

“electric scooter” means a type of powered personal transporter with a maximum continuous rated power of 0.40 kW, a maximum design speed of 20km/h, a maximum weight unladen of 25 kilograms, and which is self-balancing, with a footboard mounted on two or more axles and a long steering handle, and not fitted with a seat;

“e-moped” means a pedal-assisted mechanically propelled vehicle that is a bicycle or tricycle capable of propulsion solely by the physical exertions of a person or persons seated on it, and equipped with an auxiliary electric motor—

“goods vehicle” means a vehicle used exclusively for carrying goods and taxed for commercial purposes;

“left” and “right” shall be construed with reference to the direction in which traffic is facing;

“left-hand side” and “right-hand side” are determined by facing in the direction of traffic flow;

“light rail vehicle” has the meaning assigned to it by section 2 (1) of the Act of 2001;

“light railway” has the meaning assigned to it by section 2 (1) of the Act of 2001;

“loading bay” means that portion of a road indicated by means of a traffic sign on which, at certain times, a vehicle, other than a goods vehicle being used for loading or unloading, shall not be parked;

“m” appearing on any sign represents one metre;

“meter parking place” means a place on a public road where the parking of vehicles is subject to the payment of fees by means of parking meters or other modes of pay and display;

“one-way roadway” means a roadway, the traffic on which is for the time being required by a road regulation to proceed in one direction only;

“parking bay” means a space in a meter parking place or a disc parking place, or any other place on a public road, intended for the parking of a mechanically propelled vehicle;

“pedestrian crossing” means a portion of the roadway specially marked for use by pedestrians crossing the road;

“Principal Act” means Road Traffic Act 1961 (No. 24 of 1961);

“prohibited vehicle” means a mechanically propelled vehicle, other than a vehicle which is designed and constructed for the carriage of passengers, where the total number of axles is equal to or greater than the figure specified on, as the case may be, sign RUS 046 or RUS 047;

“regulatory sign” means a sign which indicates the existence of a road regulation or implements such a regulation, or both, or indicates the existence of a provision in an enactment relating to road traffic;

“road”, “national road” and “motorway” have the meanings assigned to them by section 2 (1) of the Act of 1993;

“roadworks” means roadworks (within the meaning of section 101D) and includes emergency roadworks (within the meaning of that section);

“road tunnel speed limit sign” means a traffic sign indicating a road regulation in respect of a speed limit under Part 2 of the Act of 2004 applying to a road in a road tunnel;

“roadway markings” means markings placed on the surface of the roadway;

“section 101D” means section 101D (inserted by section 9 of the Dublin Transport Authority (Dissolution) Act 1987 (No. 34 of 1987)) of the Principal Act;

“speed limit sign” means a traffic sign indicating a road regulation in respect of a speed limit under Part 2 of the Act of 2004;

“t” appearing on any sign represents one tonne;

“total number of axles” in relation to a mechanically propelled vehicle, means that all the wheels of the vehicle, the centres of which lie in a vertical plane extending across the full width of the vehicle at right angles to its longitudinal axis is to be regarded as forming a single axle and in determining the total number of axles, any axle attached to a vehicle or attached to any trailer drawn by the vehicle which is capable of transmitting any part of the weight of the vehicle or trailer to the surface of a road is included in the total;

“traffic” does not include pedestrians;

“traffic refuge” means a refuge for pedestrians on a roadway provided by a raised pavement, guard posts or similar means.

Revocation

3.

3.

The following are revoked:

Part 2 Mandatory Signs

Mandatory signs

4.

4.

(1) Subject to paragraph (3), a mandatory traffic sign shall consist of a blue disc with a white border and appropriate symbols shown in white on the disc, and shall indicate—

With-flow cycle track sign

5.

5.

(1) Traffic sign number RUS 009 (with-flow cycle track sign) shall, when provided in association with traffic sign number RRM 036 (cycle track symbol) or traffic sign number RRM 022 (continuous white line sign) or traffic sign number RRM 023 (broken white line sign) or traffic sign number RRM 038 (elephant’s footprint markings) —

Shared track for use by pedestrians, pedal cyclists and e-moped and electric scooter drivers sign

6.

6.

(1) Traffic sign number RUS 058 (shared track for use by pedestrians, pedal cyclists and e-moped and electric scooter drivers sign) shall, when provided in association with traffic sign number RRM 036 (cycle track symbol) or traffic sign number RRM 037 (non-segregated shared track symbol) -

Cycle Streets

7.

7.

(1) Traffic sign number RUS 068 (cycle street) shall indicate a cycle street.

Contra-flow cycle track sign

8.

8.

(1) Traffic sign number RUS 059 (contra-flow cycle track sign) shall, when provided in association with traffic sign number RRM 036 (cycle track symbol) or traffic sign number RRM 022 (continuous white line) or traffic sign number RRM 038 (elephant’s footprint markings) —

Contra-flow cycling on a one-way street sign

9.

9.

(1) Traffic sign number RUS 059A and RUS 059B (contra-flow cycling on a one-way street sign) shall—

Bus lanes

10.

10.

(1) Traffic sign numbers RUS 028 (nearside with-flow bus lane sign) or RUS 029 (offside with-flow bus lane sign) shall, in association with traffic sign number RRM 024 (bus lane sign), indicate a bus lane and traffic sign number RUS 030 (contra-flow bus lane sign) shall, in association with traffic sign number RRM 024, indicate a contra-flow bus lane.

Bus stop sign

11.

11.

(1) Traffic sign number RUS 031 (bus stop sign) shall indicate a stopping place or stand for large public service vehicles provided under section 35 of the Act of 1994.

Mini-roundabout ahead

12.

12.

(1) Traffic sign number RUS 049 (mini-roundabout sign) shall indicate a mini-roundabout ahead.

Shared Zone

13.

13.

(1) Traffic sign number RUS 070 (shared zone for use by pedestrians and vehicles sign) shall—

Part 3 Prohibitory and Restrictive Signs

Prohibitory signs

14.

14.

(1) In this Regulation “vehicle” includes a light rail vehicle.

or

Prohibited vehicles

15.

15.

(1) Traffic sign number RUS 046 (prohibited vehicles sign) shall, when provided on a public road, indicate that the driver of a prohibited vehicle shall not proceed beyond the sign.

Prohibition on use by prohibited vehicles of traffic lane on right-hand side of carriageway in road tunnel

16.

16.

(1) Traffic sign RUS 047 (prohibited axles in right hand lane (road tunnels) sign) shall, when provided at the entrance to a road tunnel with a two-lane carriageway—

and

Prohibition on pedal cycles, e-mopeds and electric scooters

17.

17.

(1) Traffic sign number RUS 055 (no pedal cycles, e-mopeds or electric scooters sign) shall, when provided on a public road—

Prohibition on animals

18.

18.

(1) Traffic sign number RUS 056 (no animals sign) shall indicate that a person who is riding, leading or driving a horse or animal, or who is in charge of a horse or animal, on the road shall not proceed beyond the sign.

Prohibition on animal-drawn vehicles

19.

19.

(1) Traffic sign number RUS 057 (no animal-drawn vehicles sign) shall indicate that a person driving or in charge of an animal-drawn vehicle shall not proceed beyond the sign.

Prohibition on vehicles carrying explosive material (road tunnel)

20.

20.

(1) Traffic sign number RUS 062 (no vehicles carrying explosive material (road tunnel) sign) shall, when provided at or near the entrance to a road tunnel, indicate that the driver of a vehicle or of any vehicle being drawn by a vehicle carrying explosive materials shall not proceed beyond the sign.

Restriction on parking sign — specified events

21.

21.

(1) Traffic sign number RUS 063 (restriction on parking sign — specified events sign) shall, when provided on a public road or on all public roads at the entrance to an area indicate to the drivers of mechanically propelled vehicles that bye-laws have been made under section 36A (inserted by section 12 of the Roads Act 2007 (No. 34 of 2007)) of the Act of 1994 (in this Regulation referred to as “section 36A bye-laws”) and apply a prohibition or restriction on the parking of vehicles on that public road or on all public roads within a specified area.

Restrictive traffic signs

22.

22.

(1) A restrictive traffic sign shall consist of a white disc with a red border, appropriate symbols, figures or letters shown in black on the disc, and shall indicate that a vehicle, or specified type or category of vehicle—

Vehicle height restriction

23.

23.

(1) Traffic sign number RUS 016 (vehicle height restriction sign) shall, when provided on or in the vicinity of a structure indicate the height of the structure for the purposes of Part 17 of the Railway Safety Act 2005 (No. 31 of 2005).

Prohibition on entry to vehicles

24.

24.

(1) Traffic sign number RUS 050 (no entry to vehicles sign) shall, when provided at the entrance to a road indicate that a driver of a vehicle shall not proceed beyond the sign.

Maximum vehicle length

25.

25.

(1) Traffic sign number RUS 051 (maximum vehicle length sign) shall indicate that the driver of a vehicle or combinations of vehicles, the overall length of which exceeds the length specified on the sign, shall not proceed beyond the sign.

Maximum vehicle width

26.

26.

(1) Traffic sign number RUS 052 (maximum vehicle width sign) shall indicate that the driver of a vehicle, the width of which exceeds the width specified on the sign shall not proceed beyond the sign.

Maximum design gross vehicle weight (safety)

27.

27.

(1) Traffic sign number RUS 053 (maximum design gross vehicle weight (safety) sign) shall indicate that the driver of a vehicle, the design gross vehicle weight of which exceeds the weight specified on the sign, shall not proceed beyond the sign.

Maximum vehicle axle loading weight

28.

28.

(1) Traffic sign number RUS 054 (maximum vehicle axle loading weight sign) shall indicate that the driver of a vehicle, the vehicle axle loading weight of which exceeds the weight specified on the sign, shall not proceed beyond the sign.

Yield and stop signs

29.

29.

(1) In this Regulation a reference to traffic does not include a reference to a light rail vehicle.

School warden sign

30.

30.

(1) Traffic sign number RUS 032 (school warden sign) shall be exhibited by a school warden to indicate that traffic must stop and remain stopped in accordance with section 96(2) (as amended by section 6 of the Act of 1968) of the Principal Act.

School street sign

31.

31.

(1) Traffic sign number RUS 032A (school street sign) shall indicate that the driver of a mechanically propelled vehicle shall not proceed beyond the sign.

Manual control of traffic where road works are being carried out (stop and go signs)

32.

32.

(1) Traffic sign number RUS 060 (Stop and Go Disc – STOP sign) shall, when exhibited facing the stream of traffic that it is intended to control at a place on a public road where roadworks are being carried out indicate that traffic must stop in advance of the sign and remain stopped so long as the sign is exhibited.

Part 4 Speed Limit Signs

Speed limit sign

33.

33.

(1) A speed limit sign, as set out in Part 1 of Schedule 3, shall consist of a white disc with a red border containing—

Periodic special speed limits

34.

34.

(1) A special speed limit sign, in accordance with paragraph (2), may be provided by a county council or a city council or the National Roads Authority to indicate where a special speed limit made for any of the purposes of section 9(5) or 9A(5) of the Act of 2004 applies.

White letters “km/h” beneath the figure of special speed limit applying may be included for display.

Road tunnel speed limit sign

35.

35.

(1) A road tunnel speed limit sign, traffic sign number RVMS 100 (road tunnel speed limit sign) shall, when provided at the entrance to or a road in a road tunnel, indicate that the speed limit displayed on the sign is the speed limit that applies to the road in the tunnel for the purposes of Part 2 of the Act of 2004.

Electronic speed limit sign

36.

36.

(1) An electronic speed limit sign, traffic sign number RVMS 102 (electronic speed limit sign), when provided on a road or any part, carriageway or lane of a road shall indicate that the speed limit displayed on the sign is the speed limit that applies to the road or that part, carriageway or lane of the road.

Part 5 Traffic Lane Control Sign

Traffic lane control sign

37.

37.

(1) Traffic sign number RVMS 101 (traffic lane control sign) shall, when provided, indicate to traffic in the traffic lane either that traffic must stop or the direction in which traffic must proceed. Traffic sign number RVMS 101 shall be either:

shall proceed to move into the adjacent traffic lane in the direction indicated by the arrow.

Part 6 Traffic Signals

Traffic lights

38.

38.

Traffic sign number RTS 001 shall consist of a set of 3 lamps which shall comply with the following conditions:

Temporary traffic lights

39.

39.

Where traffic sign number RTS 001 is provided at a place where roadworks are being carried out or, for other temporary traffic management purposes, it shall consist of a set of 3 lamps which shall comply with the conditions set out in paragraphs (a) to (g) of Regulation 38 and the lower edge of the lowest lamp shall not be less than 1.1 metres and not more than 3.05 metres above the surface of the ground in the immediate vicinity.

Traffic lights — directional arrows, bus or U-Turn display

40.

40.

Traffic sign number RTS 002 shall consist of a set of 3 lamps which shall—

Traffic lights — 4 lamps including directional green arrow, flashing amber arrow, or bus display

41.

41.

Traffic sign number RTS 003 shall consist of a set of 4 lamps, 3 of which shall comply with the conditions set out in Regulation 38 or Regulation 40(c)(i), and the fourth of which shall—

and the lower edge of the lowest lamp shall not be less than 2.1 metres and not more than 3.05 metres above the surface of the ground in the immediate vicinity.

Traffic lights — 5 lamps including directional green arrow and bus display

42.

42.

Traffic sign number RTS 013 shall consist of a set of 5 lamps which shall comply with the conditions set out in paragraphs (a), (b), (d) and (e) of Regulation 38 and with the following conditions:

Traffic lights — 5 lamps including a directional green arrow and additional amber lamp

43.

43.

Traffic sign number RTS 015 shall consist of a set of 5 lamps, 3 of which shall comply with the conditions set out in Regulation 38—

Directive traffic lights

44.

44.

Traffic sign number RTS 004 shall consist of a set of 3 lamps which shall comply with the conditions set out in paragraphs (a), (d), (f) and (g) of Regulation 38 and with the following conditions:

Traffic lights for pedal cyclists and for e-moped and electric scooter drivers

45.

45.

(1) Traffic sign numbers RTS 006 and RTS 007 shall, by electrical means, control the movement of pedal cyclists and e-moped and electric scooter drivers.

Level crossings

46.

46.

(1) Traffic sign number RTS 005 shall be used to control traffic and pedestrians at railway level crossings and at swing or lifting bridges.

Part 7 Pedestrian Crossings

Zebra pedestrian crossing

47.

47.

(1) Traffic sign number RPC 001 (zebra pedestrian crossing) shall indicate a zebra pedestrian crossing.

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