Driving around Europe can come with similarities but also many differences, depending on where exactly you are on this large continent. Here are some top tips when going through France, Spain, Germany and other countries you might be interested in visiting.
French Speed Limits
Speed limits in France can be confusing, as they are subject to change depending on what the weather is like, your vehicle and the type of road you are driving on. A good example could be that the speed limit on a toll motorway in dry weather is 80mph and when wet, they reduce it to 68 mph. While this is a safe rule and everyone can appreciate it, and you might even drive slower in the rain anyway, it’s good to know so you aren’t being charged for speeding.
The same goes with the UK (although not in the EU, people still correlate the two together). They now have smart motorways all around the UK that change the speed limit based on weather, congestion and other factors, so as soon as you see the speed limit changing, you must abide by it as soon as possible to prevent getting a ticket to your doorstep.
Parking in Spain
You will find in Spain that a lot of the streets are one-way; vehicles must be parked on the side of the road where houses bear odd numbers on odd days of the month and vice versa for even days and even house numbers. It’s an odd rule, pardon the pun but it’s very good to know so you aren’t being rude to the locals but also avoid a big fat fine.
It’s always best practice to research any little rules when heading to a new town.
Beware of Breakdowns
The main causes of breakdowns might be a flat battery, lost keys, damaged tyres or possible fuel problems. It’s important, especially when hiring a car or van, that you do everything possible to keep up with the wear and tear of driving around Europe.
Round a Bouts
When I last drove in Tenerife, there were little things I noticed, which was something we don’t do in the UK but they don’t use the middle lanes ever in Tenerife and instead, all use the outer lane. Whether it’s just for convenience or they don’t see the need to use it, I will never know, but when we did try to use them as we do in the UK, it was chaos and locals were beeping at us and we almost crashed, which was very dangerous.
Be sure to keep a close eye on how they drive and what their tweaks are to avoid any collisions.
Check Parking In Tourist Spots
No one wants to collect parking fines on holiday, so understanding the unique rules that come with every new destination is crucial. It’s important that you learn the road signs and take in your surroundings to see what everyone else is doing. For example, there will be many places for you not to enter or even be part of, so be careful when travelling to new tourist destinations that you are parking away from local places.
Right Driving
Especially when you are coming from the UK, Japan, Ireland or even Malta, where we all drive on the left, it’s important to know that the other countries around Europe drive on the right. This might take some getting used to but after a day or two, you should be fine.
Other little tips to remember:
- Roundabouts in the anti-clockwise direction.
- The oncoming is from the left.
- Left, turning across oncoming traffic
- The far-right late is slow traffic
It might be easier when you are driving in a slightly busy place. this way, you can just copy what everyone else is doing but doing your revision beforehand will take a lot of the pressure away.
Toll Roads
There are about 40 toll roads in Spain and about 90 in France to learn how to pay, whether its keeping coins in the car at all times or paying on the app, which a lot of people do nowadays. You don’t want to skip this, as it will result in a huge fine and put a downer on your whole trip around Europe.
Speed Limit in KPH
Something that took some getting used to is understanding what MPH is in kilometres. While this won’t be a problem if you are renting a car abroad, if you are bringing one from home, you better get used to understanding what 100 kph is in miles per hour.
Final Thoughts
There are always little quirks in areas so trying to learn them as soon as possible is crucial. Just remember to be respectful on the road, like you would be putting a hijabs on to enter a mosque. You need to remember that you are a guest and should act accordingly, but that is not to show that some people are just irresponsible drivers, so be sure you are going slow, steady and very safely.
