This page aims to give a non-technical guide to the different types of signs used to advise drivers of an upcoming motorway service area on the Irish motorway network.
The National Roads Authority (now TII) laid down its official policy for motorway service areas in 2014. This covered everything including sites they had developed, qualifying sites which were developed privately and the possibility of future, smaller, 'rest areas'. The road signs policy was revised in spring 2017, and again in July 2023.
Common Signs
Advance Information Sign
This sign is usually placed near the start of a motorway. It lists the available online services in reverse-order, their distance, and a sample of the facilities available (badly patched in this example).
If there are no online services available, the sign will explain this and list the junctions where any offline facilities are available. To reduce clutter, the Irish and English text would then be displayed on separate signs. The M11, which has online and offline services, simply says "services ahead at" and gives the junction numbers for them all.
TII has the final say on what qualifies to appear on this sign, and TII is expected to review each sign regularly.
Services ahead
In 2018 all Irish motorway services gained this 5km advance warning sign for official, online services. It uses white-on-blue symbols.
Symbols available on this and the subsequent signs are fuel, garage repairs, telephone, public toilets, refreshments, restaurant, picnic area, accommodation and information point - up to a maximum of six.
The main purpose of the sign is to remind drivers of the distance to the next one, which is often larger than you might expect in the rest of Europe.
Tiredness Kills
Also in 2018 a 'tiredness kills' sign was placed about 3km away from each online service area (5km from an offline one). It was inspired by the similar English signs. Away from motorways, green versions of this sign are used.
The remark has been made that this sign is identical in format to the signs used when entering a town, giving the impression that there are a lot of towns called 'Tiredness Kills'.
Online services
Online motorway service areas use white-on-blue signs. There are no online (as in, "official") non-primary service areas, but they would have white-on-green signs.
Advance Direction Sign
One of the older signs added when motorway services first opened was the 1km sign. It uses black-on-white symbols and has space for a reminder about the distance to the next service area.
Curiously, the sample drawing for this and the 500m sign uses Gorey, despite it not opening until many years after the signs were drawn.
Fuel Prices
The following sign should provide information on the petrol facilities available and their prices. It is remotely updated and normally placed 750m from the exit.
The fuel prices sign is a legal requirement for online service areas. It may show the name of the fuel provider and six related logos, but no logos that aren't related to fuel.
500m Sign
The final verge-side sign is at 500m, reminding drivers of the facilities available.
Entry Gantry
In common with other Irish motorways, above the start of the off ramp is a final reminder of the facilities available, displayed on a gantry. It is backed up by a sign in the split.
Beyond this, directions to the actual facilities may be provided in white-on-blue until the end of motorway sign, and then in black-on-white beyond that.
Offline services
The distinction between everyday facilities ("services") and an actual service area available offline appears to be vague, but in essence parking, fuel and a shop must be available 24 hours a day, less than 500 metres from the end of the furthest off-ramp (and from the start of the furthest on-ramp).
Standard facilities ("services") have signs directing people off the motorway and towards them, like you would expect from information for visitors. Official, offline services have exactly the same signs but with the heading "Services". The sign is normally placed 5km, 1500m and 750m from the exit (but varied to suit) and has space for five symbols, plus a note that the petrol station is open 24 hours. The 5km sign now includes the distance to the next service area.
Offline service areas can also have a fuel prices sign, where space permits, so long as there is only one filling station at the exit.
Once off the motorway, white-on-brown signs should continue to direct motorists to the facilities.
Internal signs
See also: UK Internal Signs
Signs within a service area should always follow the Traffic Signs Manual. That may sound obvious, but the British service areas are able to follow all-sorts of wild and crazy ideas, so it's good to stress that this doesn't apply here.