The Easter break is nearly upon us, and many people will be setting off on a Spring getaway for a chance to unwind. But with airports reporting cancellations and lengthy delays, will you be choosing to take the car? Getting behind the wheel for the first time overseas can be a daunting experience. Fortunately, IAM RoadSmart is here to help you get through the hard parts and make your trip one to remember\u2026 for the right reasons!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Being on the opposite side of the road (and car if you choose to hire one<\/em>) as well as different rules and regulations means there\u2019s a lot to contend with. Make sure you are familiar with these safe motoring tips from IAM RoadSmart\u2019s Head of Driving and Riding Standards, Richard Gladman, before you set off on that getaway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n POWDERY checks<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Is your vehicle prepped and ready for the adventure ahead? Carrying out POWDERY checks on your vehicle is key to staying safe on the road so remember to check the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Find out more about the POWDERY checklist\u00a0here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Familiarise yourself<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Driving laws vary widely across Europe, even between neighbouring countries. For example, in France the maximum motorway speed limit is reduced from 130kph (80mph) to 110kph (68mph) when the road is wet, and there\u2019s no speed limit on some parts of Germany\u2019s motorway network. Remember your speedometer will be reading in mph but many newer cars will have the facility to alter the display to kph so it\u2019s worth checking before you set off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Paperwork<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Before you leave, it\u2019s important that you\u2019ve checked what paperwork you need to drive abroad; remember to include your:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Did you know\u2026?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Were you already aware that a hi-viz vest for all car occupants is mandatory in most European countries and must be carried in the car, and not the boot? At least one warning triangle is also required by most countries, and a bail bond is recommended when travelling in Spain. It\u2019s important you ensure you have up-to-date travel information and the correct kit for your vehicle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s not normally necessary to obtain an international driving permit to drive in Europe, although in some circumstances it may be required.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You will be required to display a UK sticker on your vehicle; this replaces the old GB sticker. It can be incorporated into your number plate, but older GB versions will no longer be valid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If your destination is a French city, you may well need a vignette for the CRIT\u2019Air scheme. It\u2019s always worth doing your research beforehand and purchase it ahead of travelling. Similarly, a pass must be purchased for Swiss and Austrian motorway use, and an extra one for the caravan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A useful guide on the government website can be found here.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Towing your trailer or caravan abroad<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Before towing your trailer abroad, check if you need to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Refresh your skills<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Refresh the skills you gained while preparing for your advanced test to make travelling easier. All that observation, anticipation, planning, positioning and systematic decision making will help you cope with unfamiliar situations. Don\u2019t be shy to remind the family that you need to concentrate at roundabouts and junctions to get it right, and pulling out of fuel stops and shopping areas can leave you on the ‘wrong’ side of the road if you are not concentrating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Right move<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n It sounds obvious, but you will likely be driving or riding on the right, and there will be different road customs. You may already have a way of reminding yourself to be on the right when you start off or turn out of a shopping complex on a quiet road, and remember you\u2019ll be cutting across the traffic in this manoeuvre, so give way to oncoming vehicles \u2013 just like a right turn in the UK. Don\u2019t cut the corner when turning into a side road either.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you must overtake another vehicle, take extra care as it\u2019s not easy in a left-hand drive car and will be safer when you reach a stretch of dual carriageway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Respect the locals<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s important to drive carefully and cautiously and increase your observation. If you\u2019re exploring the area for the scenery, remember tourist destinations also have local road-users going about their day-to-day lives. They need you to let them past, so pay attention to your driving as well as the sight-seeing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Collisions<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n If you are unfortunate enough to find yourself involved in a collision, it\u2019s important you contact your insurer immediately and call the police. Collect the other driver\u2019s full details and the names and contact details of any witnesses at the scene. It\u2019s always a good idea to take photographs of the damage to your vehicle \u2013 it could come in handy if you are required to provide evidence. Make sure before you travel that your recovery service extends to Europe and discover how they would bring your vehicle back to the UK in the event of a crash.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Richard Gladman, Head of Driving and Riding Standards at IAM RoadSmart, said:<\/strong> \u201cDriving holidays in Europe can be enjoyable for the entire family, while allowing you to get off the beaten track. Make sure you plan extra breaks into the journey as the concentration required when driving abroad in an unfamiliar environment may bring on fatigue. If you are indulging in a glass or two of wine in the evenings make sure you plan your onward journey the following day to take this into account.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n For further information, visit the Foreign Office<\/a> for more advice on driving abroad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n IAM RoadSmart videos:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The Easter break is nearly upon us, and many people will be setting off on a Spring getaway for a chance to unwind. But with airports reporting cancellations and lengthy delays, will you be choosing to take the car? Getting… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":17,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_crdt_document":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[20],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2093","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/guildford-iam.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2093","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/guildford-iam.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/guildford-iam.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/guildford-iam.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/17"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/guildford-iam.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2093"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/guildford-iam.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2093\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/guildford-iam.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2093"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/guildford-iam.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2093"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/guildford-iam.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2093"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}\n
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