Guide to Driving On Holiday

If your idea of a great holiday is loading the car up, filling the tank, and heading off on a pan-European adventure, then read on.

Before you Leave
Be sure that you're driving safely in Europe, and have adequate car insurance

• Service your vehicle. At the very least, check the water and oil levels and the tread on the tyres, including any spares.
• Unless your car has new-style Euro plates, you must display a GB sticker. If in a non-EU country, you must display a GB sticker regardless of any Euro plates.
• Equip the car with a red warning triangle, a first aid kit, a reflective vest for each passenger, and a full set of spare bulbs.
• Check that your car is insured for continental driving (also ask whether you?ll need what?s known as a ?green card? as further proof of insurance) and breakdown, and consider taking out travel insurance.
• Take your full driving licence, registration, insurance documents and an authorisation letter if it?s a company car.
• Each passenger should carry a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), which covers some medical costs and has replaced the old E111 forms.
  

European Rules of the Road

• Unless driving in the UK, Ireland, Cyprus or Malta, the rule of the road in Europe is to drive on the right.
• All car passengers must wear seatbelts if fitted.
• There are strict laws governing the seating of children within cars, and more in-depth guidance can be found here. The general rules are: all children must be seated within approved baby, child or booster seats that are appropriate to their height and weight; adult seatbelts must be worn when appropriate; and if a child seat is used in the front of the car, passenger-side airbags must be deactivated.
• Motorcyclists must wear crash helmets (including passenger) and dip headlights during the day. In Holland, dipped headlights during the day are advised and crash helmets must be worn on bikes capable of over 25kmh. In Italy, a bike must be over 150cc to use the motorway.
• Most police forces in Europe now issue on-the-spot fines for motoring offences, so carry enough local cash just in case. Better yet ? don?t speed!
  

Here?s a lighting-fast drive through Europe, highlighting one or two rules of the road for particular countries. Bound for the continent? Be sure to be safe!

France
In rural France, the speed limit can drop from 90kmh to 50kmh with only the sign showing the name of the village as warning, so beware as speeding by 40kmh could lose you your licence; if your car?s parked on a single yellow line it could be towed away.

Spain
It?s illegal to use full-beam headlights in built-up areas.

Portugal
There?s an on-the-spot fine of around ?600 for using a mobile whilst driving, and if you can?t pay, the police may confiscate your car.

Belgium
You must use dipped headlights in poor daytime visibility; there?s a fine if caught on your mobile whilst driving (?hands free? OK).

Germany
Autobahns have no speed limit ? although you?re advised not to exceed 130kmh; road rage sufferers calm down ? you could get an on-the-spot fine for using ?derogatory signs?.

Italy
Dipped headlights must be used on main roads. Only use full-beam lights outside urban areas.

Scandinavia
In Finland, leave sidelights on if parked on a poorly lit street, give way to buses where the speed limit is 60kmh or less, and if caught drink-driving there is no upper limit to a fine. In Norway, vehicles travelling downhill have priority and all vehicles must dip their headlights during the day; In Sweden you must also dip headlights during the day.

Things to Remember

In mainland Europe it?s quite easy to drive for hours without seeing a filling station so keep an eye on the gauge.

Toll roads are far more established on the continent, but on the plus side, you may feel it?s worth the expense for the sheer driving pleasure of cruising motorways that are far less crowded than UK roads.

If your destination is several day?s drive away, don?t be tempted to break the trip into a series of mammoth driving legs ? if you get driver fatigue you?ll risk the safety of everyone in the car so take regular breaks.

If flashed by a speed camera the fine will outrun you. A Europe-wide agreement now allows police forces to chase offenders in their own countries.

Drive Safely

So whether you?re racing along autobahns, cruising Mediterranean promenades, traversing stark Scandinavian tundra, or idling through postcard medieval villages, keep your eye on the road, familiarise yourself with the law of the land, and above all ? drive safely!

Speed and alcohol limits for the more popular European driving destinations. Be sure to check out World Speed Limits