davemc1
Journeyman Pro
As title, im off on a road trip. Other than driving on the right side of the road, any tips?
Much obliged :thup:
Much obliged :thup:
Driving on the continent tips
- Thread starter davemc1
- Start date
Hacker Khan
Yurt Dwelling, Yoghurt Knitter
Depends on where you are going?
If going to or through France, make sure you have hi-viz vests easily accessible, and also carry a set of spare bulbs and breathalyser kits, as required by law. If you are using the Autoroutes, take plenty of cash or a credit card to pay the tolls. For anywhere in Europe fit anti-dazzle headlight converters, and if you don't have a UK or England number plate you must fit a GB plate. Carry your insurance cover note with you.
P.S. Just remembered that you must also carry a warning triangle.
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Will someone else be in the car with you? When we go on holiday we often hire a car in Europe at the other end. My wife takes care of directions 100%, I drive. This takes the pressure off as she takes all of the direction pressure off me so I can purely concentrate on the actual driving. If you can get that type of help it is really useful. It's like being a learner again but it works.
If you are on a motorway, overtake and then get back in immediately. Don't hang around in the outside lane. They expect you to get out of the way sharpish and will drive right up you, flash lights, beep the horn etc. The full works. Excellent overtaking manners are required but once you know that it works brilliantly.
On the whole, drive uber carefully for the first 15-30 minutes and after that you will get the hang of it. Go into calm mode, that helps as well.
If you are on a motorway, overtake and then get back in immediately. Don't hang around in the outside lane. They expect you to get out of the way sharpish and will drive right up you, flash lights, beep the horn etc. The full works. Excellent overtaking manners are required but once you know that it works brilliantly.
On the whole, drive uber carefully for the first 15-30 minutes and after that you will get the hang of it. Go into calm mode, that helps as well.
D
Deleted member 1740
Guest
SocketRocket
Ryder Cup Winner
If driving a RH Drive then I always think of keeping the driver on the kerb side. It helps at junctions and cross roads.
I usually get used to driving on the right within a couple of days, when it starts to feel natural. You are most likely to drive off on the wrong side when setting off first thing in the morning, so put something on your steering wheel to remind you to drive on the right. In France all towns and villages have an automatic 50kph speed limit, which is usually not signed unless it is something else, so beware of that. In Spain it is compulsory to indicate when changing lanes on a motorway.
upsidedown
Tour Winner
Driving in France is a breeze 
love it.
love it.
G
guest100718
Guest
I drove to france last year, its pretty easy and after a few days it becomes 2 nature.
You have a wife who can navigate! You are truly blessed!
Hosel Fade
Tour Rookie
Watch out at traffic lights especially if turning right as often the pedestrian crossing will be green and bikes will fly accross the junction on the inside of you. This is in Germany, might also be the case elsewhere.
Three
Tour Rookie
Some countries, eg Czech, require you purchase a vignette before you drive on any motorway, it's in lieu of tolls and there are instant fines if you are caught without one. You need to stick it in your windscreen in view of the motorway cameras and cops.
As previously said, warning triangle, high vis vest and self breathalyser kit, also be aware that it's compulsory headlights on 24/7 in some countries.
As previously said, warning triangle, high vis vest and self breathalyser kit, also be aware that it's compulsory headlights on 24/7 in some countries.
Also worth remembering that many EU countries have lower drink drive alcohol limits than we do, typically 50mg/100ml of blood, so if you go out for an evening meal or something, it's better if the driver stays on the wagon.
Liverbirdie
Ryder Cup Winner
Dave the AA do a kit with all the bumph ion for about £30, possibly through ebay but well worth it.
It includes the triangle,GB (or scouse , not English)sticker, other stuff but most importantly the stickers that go over your headlamps, that the bizzies will pull you on if you havent got them (deffo).
Make sure your co-driver says "give way to the left" on all roundabouts - this is the biggest one for me.
We drove to Sion years ago and is a good drive, but plan for swaps every four hours and you'll be ok.
The fuel is much, much cheaper in France than the UK, so fill up as much as you can in France (dunno about the Swiss, but would think that they are expensive, also).
Get some Euros for tolls, and Swiss money also, as the Swiss cain you on exchange rates for Euros, if paying that way.
No robbing trainees, or trackies - its not the eighties anymore.
See you for a bevvy with Stu when you get there, mate.:thup:
It includes the triangle,GB (or scouse , not English)
sticker, other stuff but most importantly the stickers that go over your headlamps, that the bizzies will pull you on if you havent got them (deffo).Make sure your co-driver says "give way to the left" on all roundabouts - this is the biggest one for me.
We drove to Sion years ago and is a good drive, but plan for swaps every four hours and you'll be ok.
The fuel is much, much cheaper in France than the UK, so fill up as much as you can in France (dunno about the Swiss, but would think that they are expensive, also).
Get some Euros for tolls, and Swiss money also, as the Swiss cain you on exchange rates for Euros, if paying that way.
No robbing trainees, or trackies - its not the eighties anymore.
See you for a bevvy with Stu when you get there, mate.:thup:
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Smiffy
Grand Slam Winner
I love driving in France as the roads are generally in much better condition, and French drivers seem to be much better educated, especially on motorways. I always find the knob drivers over there tend to have either GB or D stickers on their back bumpers!!
One thing to think about though... you are likely to make a cock up if you are on a quiet stretch of road and are pulling out from a shop or a petrol station or something like that.
Without other drivers around you it is very easy to forget you are abroad and the first time you realise you've made a mistake is when you go around a corner and find another car heading straight for you!!
One thing to think about though... you are likely to make a cock up if you are on a quiet stretch of road and are pulling out from a shop or a petrol station or something like that.
Without other drivers around you it is very easy to forget you are abroad and the first time you realise you've made a mistake is when you go around a corner and find another car heading straight for you!!
Don't fall for the thieving French police who insist on cash if caught speeding, I wouldn't give them anything so they took my passport off me, luckily in those days it was just the 1 year jobby so I hope they enjoyed it, they got nowt off me :smirk:
Smiffy
Grand Slam Winner
If they'd had a pile of Galvin Green in the boot they would have had though.....
bobmac
Major Champion
Is a first aid kit not a requirement any more?
Smiffy
Grand Slam Winner
Think so. But breathalyser kits are not mandatory yet.
Also, when driving through France, don't forget to turn speed camera warnings "off" on your SatNav.
They'll have you for it.....
USER1999
Grand Slam Winner
I've always found I'm most likely to get it wrong after things like U turns, as I'm concentrating on getting back on track, and not on driving.
