Going driving round some parts of Europe

[Adam230K]

I have a set journey that I'm going to do, I'm going to go through (in no particular order), France - will set foot in Calais, Belgium, Holland and possibly Germany.

Question: Is there anything I need to know in terms of driving laws or any tips/advice you guys can give me?

I've never driven through Europe before, it will be my first time.

 

[Howard]

Don't get caught speeding or have an accident.

 

[Will]

Probably worth doing a bit of googling Adam - maybe AA/RAC sites etc. From the top of my head, in France at least you need to keep reflective vests in the car at all times (and in the cabin IIRC?), you mustn't have a speed camera detector on you, make sure your insurance company are okay with everything, etc.

Headlamp beam correctors?

Breakdown cover?

etc

Will

 

[A210AMG]

Hello

Have a great trip, done it so many times now I've forgotten but its still great driving in europe.

Main things its probably worth checking on the AA site or similar as to what is law in each country.

Such things as Yellow jackets (for everyone in car), Triangle, spare bulbs, light deflectors for beam.

Also stick to limits, its getting worse for cameras and police. Also get your 'green card' or insurance from your current insurance company that your taking your car abroad. If you go through switzerland and want to use the motorways you have to buy the tax (around £30).

Get a good map or tomtom, it does seem if you want to get places use the motorways or toll roads. The A roads are stop start with 30mph, 40mph 50mph zones and then the typical french tractors....you seem to get nowhere fast (you have to do this though)

probably loads of things I have forgotten but others will tell you stuff.

Any particular places to visit on your road trip? MB Museum ??

 

[st4]

Adam

I am in a similar position.

You need

1) Headlamp deflectors
2_ Hi Vis coats inside the car, take 5 as you have 5 seats then you are definately covered.
3_) spare bulbs
4) insurance and proof of it
5) I'd all my documents like full licence, V5C and MOT to be safe.

 

[Charles Morgan]

Drive on the right.

France - autoroutes great, not so easy to pay if you are on your own. Driving standards ok, speed traps proliferating, and do not drink drive (lower limit there).

Belgium - driving standards horrible, watch out for people swerving in front of you with little consideration. Cruise control not permitted on busy motorways. Easy to get through Belgium rapidly, as Germans have shown many times. Service stations uniformly horrible.

Holland - petrol prices horrendous, roads ok, service stations ok.

Germany - remember that unless a speed limit is posted on the autobahns it is unrestricted, and fast driving is great. However, this requires absolute discipline and concentration and you must pull over when you overtake, a German behind you will sit inches from your rear bumper at unfeasibly fast speeds if you don't. Braking at fast speeds requires a lot of alertness. Traffic levels can be heavy, and two lane autobahns can be a trial when busy.

Driving laws - check in a Michelin atlas or similar. Take a hi-vis vest, spare bulbs etc.

I do a lot of continental driving, and it can be great fun. Enjoy.

 

[renault12ts]

See here: General tips : European Travel - general advice from the AA - The AA

 

[Adam230K]

Some great advise here, thank you. That High-vis jacket one is the one I read about a while back and I was fishing for someone to re-iterate it to me - Guessing this is just in France, but I wont take the risk.

Do I need 'GB' badges or is that just overkill?

 

[renault12ts]

See my post above yours. It gives country by country advice.

 

[Charles Morgan]

You do need GB badges if there isn't a GB EU plate. It may seem silly, but if a French traffic cop wants to pull you over, don't give him cause.

Hi vis is throughout Europe.

 

[A210AMG]

00h also when its raining or foggy the speed limits are different.

Use your mirrors a LOT especially in germany, very few stretches are truely un limited, but beware you look once nothing....look again and some big de badged german office on wheels will be right up your chuff...

Look,Look signal look, pull out look, keep signal on look look look, as soon as past back in !!.... you will get the idea, otherwise they will and DO follow you very close, almost overtaking in the grit area between you rear offside and the barrier !!!

 

[NewMB]

Here's a very good link to the German Autobahn.

Brian's Guide to Getting Around Germany - The Autobahn

 

[renault12ts]

You do need GB badges if there isn't a GB EU plate. It may seem silly, but if a French traffic cop wants to pull you over, don't give him cause.

Hi vis is throughout Europe.

See post 7 for the variations though.

 

[BQF]

Heres my Euro driving tips:

1. Drive to Germany
2. Head for the Nurburgring
3. Buy 20 laps of the nurburgring
4. Renew tyres
5. Buy 20 more laps of the nurburging
6. Travel to Paris
7. Eat, take photos, and go shopping
8. Return home, via the nurburgring (see stage 3-5).

Simple!

Seriously though - the HiVis jacket thing must be in the car (not the boot) - you need a spare bulb kit for france and belgium, and a warning triangle in the boot. If you;re stopped in France and the police are being silly, they may ask if you have a first aid kit too (!). It's very rare to be stopped in France though, unless you are really giving it beans.

 

[James Rothwell]

I've been all over Europe and beyond in the car and I've never not once even had any of the stuff that has been mentioned. Just make sure you're car is serviceable and safe and use common sense and you'll be fine.

Most police forces around Europe are understandable and most speak English fine, and the ones that don't like when you get further East you can bribe your way out of a tricky situation. I paid a Romanian policeman the roughly £8 to guide me out of Brasov, I got 2 police cars on blue lights and sirens giving me an escort was hilarious!!

Have fun and stay safe, and as mentioned above check your mirrors in Germany, no matter how fast you are driving there is always someone going faster than you!

 

[Adam230K]

Brilliant. Thanks for the tips guys.

It seems I already have the jackets (my dad works in the airport, woop woop!), spare bulb kit is already in the 5-series (didnt realise this!!), same with the triangle, and the beam pattern can change just by simply pushing a lever down inside the headlight itself.

Documents all at the ready and I cant really think of anything else!! Yes I'm covered (insurance wise) in the countries that i'm visiting. So I think i'm all set!

 

[Druk]

Ditto all the above. And...

If you stop... don the high-vis before you get out the car. There has been instances of folk being 'done' for not.

Speed limits on the French motorways is 82mph (approx) 60 mph in the rain.

In small German towns there are increasingly more Truvelo type cameras (forward facing) and often the speed limit is nearer 20mph. Small black boxes on poles with a single eye. It's very easy to exceed 20mph.

On French N roads if you see a sign that indicates a radar trap it means it. Usually an anonymous grey box at the roadside a quarter or so mile ahead.

First aid kit and fire extinguiser are compulsory. Also spare glasses if you use them for driving

Have fun.

 

[st13phil]

Only five things to add:

1. Paying tolls using a credit card is much easier than faffing about looking for change
2. You must carry original documents (V5, Driver's Licence, MOT Certificate, Insurance Certificate), but it's useful to have photocopies of each that you can give to someone if they need it
3. Make sure you have European breakdown cover. Getting an immobile vehicle back is horrendously expensive otherwise
4. Get a European Accident Record Form from your insurers. You'll need it if you are unfortunate enough to have a bump
5. Petrol stations can be surprisingly far apart off the Autoroute network in some parts of France. If you're in the habit of waiting for the reserve light to come on before you start looking for one then chances are you will run out of fuel (which is an offence on a motorway in many countries)

Other than that, have a bucketload of fun, and by the time you get back you'll wonder why you bother driving in the UK

 

[Alps]

Adam, just let your insurance company know you are going anyway!

 

[splang]

AND let your Bank know you are going away so they don't decline your transactions!