Driving in Europe Safely (legal stuff)

Didi33

I'm planning a road trip this summer through Europe - France, Italy, Germany, Belgium - does anyone know where I can find out what the laws are? Are the speed limits the same in every country? Other stuff I wouldn't think to know about?

thanks!

waamo

This site is pretty useful http://www.theaa.com/driving-advice/driving-abroad

Speed limits are usually well signed in Km/h so just be aware. I've driven pretty extensively in Europe and never had any problems.

benjus

Try to learn what the standard speed limits are in each country. For example it's fairly common for urban speed limits (e.g. 50 km/h) to apply from the sign with the town's name as you enter it, until the sign indicating that you are leaving the town (rather like in the UK the 30mph limit applies in urban areas where there is street lighting unless there is a different limit signed) - so you may not see an actual speed limit sign announcing the limit.

And no, the speed limits are not the same in all countries.

peterbaker

If this is going to be your first ever experience of driving on the other side of the road to UK, and especially if you are taking your own right hand drive vehicle, then it may take a little getting used to.

Your ability to see ahead for overtaking may be severely impeded as may be your ability to see what is already on a roundabout that you have stopped at before entering. It may depend how tall you are and how flexible your neck is!

Each country has its own foibles - inner city driving e.g. in Paris or Rome can be crazier than central London so if you are of a nervous disposition, or generally not very experienced, it might be best not to try going into places like that.

Out of the cities, driving can be very pleasant and straightforward, but as with UK driving in unfamiliar places, if you aren't familiar with likelihood of being watched by police and how they might respond, then you do need to research speed limits carefully. In France for example I would expect a different speed limit in rain compared to dry roads. In Italy there are more police motorcyclists on patrol who can issue on the spot fines. Road junction design can often be less than intuitive for UK drivers in some parts of Europe. Road sign colours can also vary e.g. motorway signs and main trunk road signs may swap blue for green and vice versa.

The AA offer good advice as already mentioned, as do RAC e.g. see here for Italy: https://www.rac.co.uk/drive/travel/country/italy/

Once you have got the general hang of driving on "the wrong side", driving in Europe can be very enjoyable. Do your research on Google by simply typing in questions like "What things do I need to know about driving in Europe?" and doing a bit of reading there, and then take your time once you get through the tunnel or off the ferry and you'll soon relax. Don't forget to buy anti-dazzle deflectors / stickers for your headlamps if they are not the sort you can manually change to dip to the other side. And make sure you carry all the mandatory equipment e.g. GB sticker, spare bulb kit, warning triangle, hi-viz jacket, first aid kit, alcohol breath test kit, as required (can usually buy on the ferry if you forget), plus take all the vehicle and driving documents especially after a No Deal Brexit! (Green card for example!)

spiro

In France the hi-viz has to be cartried in the passenger compartment because you have to put it on before you exit the car if you breakdown on motorway. Also on motorway you must exit the car from the right hand side if you break down, easy if you are the driver of a UK car but harder if you are the passenger.

eAyeAddio

Also, just a small point, but if your rear number plate currently has one of those small EU style vertical 'GB' stickers then it won't be legal after we leave in April/March and you will need a regulation GB sticker (oval shape) black letters on a white background, to be fitted at the end of your license plate.


You might want to get into the habit known as the Dutch method of opening your car doors interior handle with your left hand. This makes for a much safer exit as it places your body in a better position to check for any overtaking traffic, cyclists etc.


Finally, make a point of always parking pointed in the right position for whichever side of the road you are driving on. Most accidents involving driving on the wrong side of the road happen as you pull away from rest.


Bon voyage !

Gloomendoom

As far as I am aware, the GB sticker can go anywhere on the back of the car. It doesn't have to go on the end of the number plate. If it is the correct size, it's unlikely to fit anyway.

The dimensions for oval stickers are stipulated within the UNECE Convention on Road Traffic, of 8 November 1968.

Annex 3 states (in part):

• The distinguishing sign... shall consist of one to three letters in capital Latin characters. The letters shall have a height of at least 0.08 m and their strokes a width of at least 0.01 m. The letters shall be painted in black on a white ground having the shape of an ellipse with the major axis horizontal.

• When the distinguishing sign consists of only one letter, the major axis of the ellipse may be vertical.

• On motor cycles and their trailers, the dimensions of the axes of the ellipse shall be at least 0.175 m and 0.115 m. On other motor vehicles and their trailers, the dimensions of the axes of the ellipse shall be at least:

(a) 0.24 m and 0.145 m if the distinguishing sign comprises three letters;
(b) 0.175 m and 0.115m if the distinguishing sign comprises less than three letters

Dean000000

What a refreshingly lovely post.

Polar opposite to some I have seen ‘I.e no body tile me I had t pay congestion charge within 24hrs’ or literally every thread in parking forum....

Well done you. Nice to see someone actually planning rather than moaning when things go wrong.

eamon

A useful Garmin sat nav feature is that it automatically changes your speed to kph from mph.

J_B

What about getting an international driving permit???

AlexMac

A bit off the point, but if you haven't already tried the website Viamichelin.com do have a look. I prefer it to others for its accurate drive time and cost estimates, which include tolls. You can also use the "options" feature to select different route styles; fastest, shortest, avoidi g tolls, "discovery" (scenic)... and they still highlight scenic roads in green like their paper maps always did.

We used to drive exactly your route and were really struck by differing national styles. Not necessarily good or bad, just different. For example even on a two lane German motorway, lane discipline was impeccable with no lane hogging or rage. Whereas immediately we entered italy we noticed a tendency to bumper hug, and a fairly loose approach to the concept of Right of Way- especially in cities. I got so used to it that I had to readjust to UK driving!

Have a great time; we love driving on the mainland where roads always seem better and quieter than our local ones here in the S E