Travelling during Phase 2 of Ireland’s Reopening

Phase 2 of Ireland’s reopening after the coronavirus lockdown is in place from Mon 8th to Mon 29th June. While many more people are likely to be on the move in this phase, it’s important to note that some travel restrictions will still be in place. You should stay local and avoid unnecessary journeys where possible. Here’s a round-up of the travel-related changes, and things you may want to know if you’ll be hitting the road again during this phase.

How far from home can I go?

In this phase, the distance you can travel from home for a non-essential reason (exercise, brief social visits, shopping for non-vital supplies) is increasing: you can travel anywhere in your county and anywhere within 20km of your home; ie. if you live near the county bounds, you may travel into the neighbouring county as long as it’s still within a 20km radius of your home. You should still avoid unnecessary journeys as much as possible though, and practise social distancing when you’re out, by staying at least 2m away from anyone you don’t live with. You’re also advised to wear a face covering if possible in enclosed indoor public places like shops and on public transport.

You can still travel more than 20km beyond the county bounds if your journey is for a specified essential reason; ie. for work, providing vital care or accessing medical services.

Will public transport be running?

Yes, public transport has operated throughout the restrictions, but it still should be prioritised for essential journeys at the moment, because capacity is significantly reduced on many services to allow for social distancing.  If you’re travelling back to work in this phase, it might look different from the last time you used it, with seating restrictions in place. There have been some timetable changes – although most services returned to a full timetable from Monday 8th, there’s still a revised timetable for some Irish Rail, Bus Éireann and Dublin Bus services.  If you must use it, you’re advised to use contactless payment options such as a Leap Card (we have more advice on this here) and to wear a face covering if you can. Allow extra time for your journey the first day you use it, and we’ll have updates on any further changes or transport disruption over on our AA Roadwatch Newsroom.

I’m starting to commute again, what else do I need to know?

If you’re travelling into town or city centres for the first time in a while, you can expect some changes to road layouts. Some road configurations have changed to allow more space for pedestrians and/or cyclists as social distancing remains necessary. If you’re driving or cycling, watch out for new signage indicating extended footpaths and new cycle lanes, as well as outdoor queuing systems for businesses. And of course, drivers should be extra aware of pedestrians and cyclists, who could be further out from the side of the road to allow the necessary 2m between them. For further information on sharing the roads safely, see here.

If your car has been parked up, or has only been on very short journeys, it’s worth doing some safety checks before you first use it for a longer drive. Our blog post here has some tips for that. If your NCT was due to expire during the lockdown, it has been extended, but don’t forget your vehicle still has to be roadworthy to take it out. We have more information on the NCT and driving licence situation here.

Don’t forget that normal parking rules still apply – be considerate of others on the roads and leave space for emergency services to get by.

Will the traffic be heavier now?

You can certainly expect some more traffic on the roads during Phase 2 as more people get back to work. The volume of vehicle journeys on the national routes rose significantly during Phase 1, to almost two-thirds of the usual June levels. There are also more people walking and cycling, particularly in towns. We’ll be keeping an eye on any delays or disruption to routes over at http://www.TheAA.ie/Newsroom.