Driving Abroad
Posted: Mon Mar 21, 2011 2:05 pm
[quote author=dave21478 board=general thread=100343 post=1288511 time=1300536282]Easy enough, but needs a little concentration.
You must carry vehicle papers - v5, mot and insurance at all times. You must carry a warning triangle and a least 1 hi-viz vest that needs to be in the cabin, not the boot. You must not have any kind of radar or laser jammer or any other kind of speed trap countermeasures. Bulb kits, first aid kit and fire extinguisher are recommended but not obligatory.
Driving is fine - there is much less aggression, people are more chilled. There are a few quirks to be aware of, but 95% of the highway code is the same as UK.
Never, ever cross a solid white line in the middle of the road - either for overtaking or turning left. If you are allowed to turn left at a junction, the line will be broken, not solid. The only excepetion is for overtaking a vehicle travelling at less than 30kph- ie tractor or pushbike.
Some junctions - mostly in towns but not always - are "priorite a droit" which means that you must give way to cars coming from the right. Despite being on what you may think is the main road, if this is applicable, you must let cars out of side roads from the right. A yellow diamond sign with white border means you have priority on that road, if it has a slash through it, you do not have priority.These are not always visible though. If you approach a junction and the other road does not have a white line, giveway or stop sign, then be prepared to stop.
Lane discipline on motorways is excellent, with very little hogging although faster cars will tailgate you very closely if you hold them up in the overtaking lane until you let them past.
Toll motorways are fast ways to travel but there is always an acceptable non-toll alternative that will be a more interesting drive.
Roundabouts are scary. Whilst the law states that the lanes should be used as in UK, its pretty normal for everyone to just use the outer lane for any and all exits. Keep your eyes open.
The first 10 minutes are the worst, but you are likely to be following a pack of cars off the ferry and through the port, so just take your time and get a feel for things that way. A GPS with EU maps is a good way to take pressure off, not worrying about directions.
[/quote]
You must carry vehicle papers - v5, mot and insurance at all times. You must carry a warning triangle and a least 1 hi-viz vest that needs to be in the cabin, not the boot. You must not have any kind of radar or laser jammer or any other kind of speed trap countermeasures. Bulb kits, first aid kit and fire extinguisher are recommended but not obligatory.
Driving is fine - there is much less aggression, people are more chilled. There are a few quirks to be aware of, but 95% of the highway code is the same as UK.
Never, ever cross a solid white line in the middle of the road - either for overtaking or turning left. If you are allowed to turn left at a junction, the line will be broken, not solid. The only excepetion is for overtaking a vehicle travelling at less than 30kph- ie tractor or pushbike.
Some junctions - mostly in towns but not always - are "priorite a droit" which means that you must give way to cars coming from the right. Despite being on what you may think is the main road, if this is applicable, you must let cars out of side roads from the right. A yellow diamond sign with white border means you have priority on that road, if it has a slash through it, you do not have priority.These are not always visible though. If you approach a junction and the other road does not have a white line, giveway or stop sign, then be prepared to stop.
Lane discipline on motorways is excellent, with very little hogging although faster cars will tailgate you very closely if you hold them up in the overtaking lane until you let them past.
Toll motorways are fast ways to travel but there is always an acceptable non-toll alternative that will be a more interesting drive.
Roundabouts are scary. Whilst the law states that the lanes should be used as in UK, its pretty normal for everyone to just use the outer lane for any and all exits. Keep your eyes open.
The first 10 minutes are the worst, but you are likely to be following a pack of cars off the ferry and through the port, so just take your time and get a feel for things that way. A GPS with EU maps is a good way to take pressure off, not worrying about directions.
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