UK Ferry Tickets

The UK is undoubtedly a great place to come from. We have everything we could possibly need at our disposal here and many of us enjoy life on our separate little continent. However, the UK hardly prepares us for travelling abroad. For starters, the weather leaves a lot to be desired and you can almost guarantee that you’ll have a cold when you get home, but that’s not the only thing that’s problematic. The fact that we drive on the opposite side of the road to most of the rest of the world is nothing short of lethal if you get it wrong!

You may be worried about driving on the wrong side of the road, or the right side depending on how you look at it, but killing yourself is the least of your problems. You’ll find that you become accustomed to driving on the right within a few miles of getting off the ferry. However, you may have problems with the rules of the road because they vary greatly from country to country. If you are driving from European country to European country then you may fall victim to confusion.

I’ve been on a self-drive holiday around Europe and it was one of the best travelling experiences of my life. I wouldn’t change it for the world. I drove from France to Belgium to The Netherlands to Germany to Austria to Italy and back to France again during the course of about six weeks and it was an experience that I would highly recommend to anyone interested in such a trip.  

I didn’t realise just how different the laws of the road were though.

There are some laws that all European countries have in common, such as always wearing a seatbelt regardless of whether you are the driver or a passenger, and reporting all accidents to the police. Some laws do differ though. For example, the blood alcohol limit varies from country to country. In Italy it is 0.051 but in France it’s 0.040. This isn’t the only one but it is the most obvious and law enforcement personnel tend to be fairly strict about the laws.

The last thing you want on holiday is a brush with the law so the tips below are designed to help you to avoid the confusion that could lead to trouble. They worked for me so they could work for you (I’m easily confused!): 

• Familiarise yourself with the laws of the road for every country you intend to visit during your trip. Having a look over them in advance made them easier to remember for me.
• Make a few notes on them before you leave home so you have something to refer to and then stop at the last rest stop before you cross into a different country to read them over.
• Plan your route. Getting lost = panic = breaking laws = a night in the cells. Not good!
• Don’t copy the locals! The locals are the worst example of driving in any given country you’ll ever visit. If you don’t believe me then answer one question – do you slow down just before a speed camera at home? And another one – would you smoke by the petrol pump as you’re filling up your car? The Italians do, which is the major reason why you shouldn’t copy them!
• If you’re not sure of anything, always ask. Your hotel or the local police will help you out if you need it. They’re usually happy to answer any questions you might have.
• Don’t drink any alcohol at all if you plan to drive. The alcohol limit varies from country to country so don’t take the chance. That way, if you are pulled over, you don’t have to stress out.

Take it slowly and always keep your concentration. That might be hard if you have two screaming kids in the back but it will pay off. Finding your footing on the road is important so don’t rush. Take your time. As long as you get to where you’re going in one piece then mission accomplished!

Guest Article by Louise Crowley

Tuesday, May 20th, 2008