Driving Abroad - is it easy?!

mystic_trev

I find driving on the Continent easier than at home. Two reasons - you tend to concentrate a bit more and the roads are less crowded!

LesD

mystic_trev wrote:

I find driving on the Continent easier than at home. Two reasons - you tend to concentrate a bit more and the roads are less crowded!

Absolutely right. It's so much nicer driving in Spain than in the UK. I would suggest, however, there are two things to think about:

1. Traffic laws are not the same as in the UK and the enforcement can also be different. For example, do not cross solid white (or yellow at road works) lines in the centre of the road. Do not park outside houses with a 'vado permanente' plaque. These are two examples where you can get on-the-spot fines - or, in the latter case, even get towed away!

2. The locals drive differently to us Brits!

morg_monster

if you're going to greece, watch out for the slow cars driving half on the hard shoulder - it is a bit wierd and you're expected to do the same if you aren't the fastest, but once you get used to it it does kind of make sense!

I personally think that in a way you're less likely to have an accident abroad because you're so focussed on the road and whats around you, since its all so new. While here in the UK so many drivers (me included) sometimes go around in a bit of a fug, assuming everything's fine, don't check in the mirrors as often as you should, etc. A bit like the difference between when you first start driving and then two years later!

Neil_Taylor

When you've stopped for petrol, or for food, think twice when you start off again. This is the time I forget to drive on the right!

It gets easier, so long as you don't change gear with the door handle!


Neil