Dublin Marathon road closures and traffic advice for drivers

What if you do need to go out and about?

Ah, that’s a slightly different thing. Obviously, with all the road closures and traffic restrictions, getting around by car will be difficult this Sunday, 25 October. Alright, more difficult than it usually is.

What’s the best advice?

The best thing to do is to check the route beforehand. Road closures will affect areas from Leeson Street and Phoenix Park to Chapelizod, Crumlin, Terenure and Milltown, continuing towards Merrion Road until the early evening. It’s best to use a navigation app with live traffic updates, such as Google Maps or Waze, to help you avoid the closures and traffic hotspots.

Anything else?

Just be patient. There are going to be traffic delays, so if you have to be somewhere at a particular time, allow extra journey time. If you’re using roads you don’t know well, take care not to miss turnings and look out for road layouts you’re not familiar with.

Is there an insurance element to all this?

There can be. If you’re using roads you’re not used to, or roads with temporary barriers or roadworks, it can be easier than usual to pick up a scraped panel or a clipped wing mirror. So it’s a good idea to check your policy to make sure you know what you’re covered for.

Ian O’Reilly, Head of Personal Line Sales at online insurance broker Chill, advises: “Temporary road changes like diversions and unfamiliar routes can often catch drivers off guard. Increased congestion, last-minute lane changes, and reduced visibility all contribute to a higher risk of low-speed collisions or damage, which can affect your no-claims bonus and future premiums.”