A quarter of British motorists flout foreign driving laws when they’re on
holiday according to a recent survey – but even a forgotten GB sticker can
lead to an on-the-spot fine.
The survey by Economy Car Hire found that holidaymakers frequently risk fines
and even arrest for offences such as drink driving or forgetting to carry
the right kit in their car.
Headlamp beam converters and warning triangles are required or recommended in
most European countries, then there’s the fluorescent jacket, spare driving
glasses and the paperwork... but for some people even the simplest things
are forgotten.
Brian Rees, spokesman for P&O Ferries, which carries some 10 million
passengers a year, says he’s seen it all – a couple arguing on the Dover
quayside over who forgot to attach the caravan before they left home, or the
man who diligently micro-chipped and vaccinated his dog, then left it in the
garden at home.
He says passports are also often left behind – because many people think they
can travel anywhere in the EU without one.
In our video guide to driving on the continent above, AA Patrol of the Year
Andy Taylor, runs through the equipment you need to take abroad, but there’s
paperwork to remember too.
If you’re driving in Europe you should take your driving licence and paper
counterpart, an international driving permit where it’s necessary, plus the
vehicle registration document and insurance certificate if you're taking
your own car.
If you're hiring a car, it might not necessarily come with the kit you need -
so it's worth checking with the car rental company before you book.
Not carrying the required equipment can mean a fine of hundreds of pounds, and
you can no longer hope a foreign number plate will mean you escape penalty.
The European Commission has drawn up a directive to allow foreign police
forces to request the details of British drivers from the DVLA. The details
of the new legislation are not clear at this stage but it could become law
in the autumn, meaning British drivers will be pursued for driving offences
on the continent.
It’s also worth familiarising yourself with the motoring laws before driving
in an unfamiliar country – for example, in France a 50km/hour limit applies
in many villages, even though it may not be signposted, while in Malta it is
illegal to overtake a stationary school bus while children are disembarking.
While you can't learn the law verse and chapter, knowing the basics can help -
and with the European Commission cracking down on driving offences abroad,
staying the right side of the law means keeping your record clean. A
speeding offence in Spain isn't only an unwanted souvenir - it could also
raise your insurance premium, making your Costa holiday a memorable one for
all the wrong reasons.
Need to know
For a full guide to driving abroad, the AA has a comprehensive
section on its website about driving in Europe plus there’s advice on
the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website’s Driving
Abroad section.
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Dear Mr Miller,
I'm trying to guess what you mean by "generic gentleman". You advocate bribing law enforecement personel and by refering to "playground" you advocate breaking the law. Apparently, your "gentleman" is an average English criminal crook.
Chris, Ottawa,
Be VERY careful of the new speeding fines in Switzerland. My son was given an on the spot fine of 900 pounds last week in Gstaad for doing 20kph (12mph) over the limit on the edge of town. A summary fine. No appeal. The judge on the phone said " I do not negotiate with criminals".
julian harston, Laayoune, western Sahara
That's the problem with Europe. Too civilised, too many regulations. A well-placed 20-dollar bill will not secure a second opinion in your favour. Europe: Nice people, nice countries, shame about the governments. Try third-world Asia; last playground of the English gentleman (generic).
Andrew Milner, Karuizawa, Japan