Driving Abroad

With more than a million Brits planning to drive to their holiday destination abroad this summer, motorists are being warned to ensure that they and their vehicle comply with the law of the country they are visiting, rather than risk an on-the-spot fine, driving ban or even imprisonment.

It goes without saying that you need to have a valid UK driving licence, but did you know that in some European countries you need to be at least 18 to drive? In addition, you must carry a spare pair of spectacles if you wear them for driving and face imprisonment if you are found to be using a Sat Nav which shows the location of speed cameras. All good reasons to gen up on the specific requirements of the country you are visiting.

According to a poll of British adults by YouGov, commissioned by Auto Windscreens – the automotive glazing services company – over half surveyed needed glasses or contact lenses to drive. Those who do so and are planning on driving in Spain, Switzerland and Liechtenstein this summer will be breaking the law if they fail to carry a spare pair of glasses in their vehicle at all times.

Drivers from the UK who plan to avoid speed traps abroad by using a radar detector, which is still legal in this country, could find its use, or even ownership, is illegal in many European countries. Just owning a radar detector is illegal in nine European countries, including Belgium, France, Switzerland and Austria, and using one in a moving vehicle is not permitted in 16 countries including Spain, Germany, Denmark and The Netherlands. Penalties can include a fine, driving ban and even imprisonment.

Some countries now also prohibit the use of Sat Navs which have maps indicating the location of fixed speed cameras meaning that you must deactivate the ‘fixed speed camera PoI (Points of Interest)’ function.

And if you’re thinking of letting your teenager gain some European driving experience, make sure they’re at least 18 years old. Unlike the UK, where the legal driving age is 17, this is not the case in many countries throughout Europe. Most have a minimum driving age of 18, including Spain, Switzerland, France, Italy, Portugal, France, Germany and Belgium.

So remember, it’s not just speed limits and road signs that you have to be knowledgeable of when driving abroad. Motoring rules, laws and regulations differ widely from country to country and being ignorant of them could ruin your family’s summer getaway.

Other little-known driving laws that vary by country include the minimum age of a child allowed to travel in the front of a vehicle, the carrying of visibility vests and warning triangles and the compulsory requirement for headlamp converters.

Oh, and in case you hadn’t heard, following research by the Health Protection Agency, drivers are now being warned to top up their vehicle’s washer bottles with windscreen wash after it was found that windscreen wiper water may be the cause of 20 per cent of cases of Legionnaires’ Disease in England and Wales. Stagnant, warm water is a breeding ground for the Legionella bacterium, which when inhaled causes pneumonia. However, adding screenwash kills the bacteria and could save lives.

Happy motoring!