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Urgent warning to British holidaymakers who are planning on driving abroad this summer
Drivers who are planning summer holidays abroad are being urged to check their destination of choice’s road safety and traffic rulings before they depart, to avoid getting stung with heavy penalties and fines alike. Road rules differ from country to country, and you could be caught out massively if you don’t do your research beforehand – warns StressFreeCarRental.com.
The car rental comparison geniuses identified ten unusual road signs across Europe which people may not be too familiar with, to help educate road users with ambitions of driving abroad. And there are some trickier rules than driving on the other side of the road, let it be said.
For example, unsafe overtaking as well as violating road signs could see you stung with a €300 fine. Meanwhile, in France, you could see a penalty of €135 or even lose your licence for ignoring certain traffic signals.
Read more: The little-known number plate rules that could land drivers with fines of up to £1,000
The Mirror reports that last year alone, over 20,000 people were killed on European roads, with the European Commission announcing plans to increase road safety across the EU. This includes tougher punishments for offences committed by foreign drivers, traced back to their home address.
CEO of StressFreeCarRental.com, John Charnock, said: “Holidaymakers who are planning to travel around Europe this summer must understand all the road signs to keep them safe and reduce accidents. The EU is on a mission to improve road safety and will be penalising foreign drivers for mistakes, so visitors must familiarise themselves with traffic laws and signs to avoid hefty fines and penalties.”
Meanwhile, right here in the UK, a number of new driving laws came into place across the last month – with drivers told to brush up on their knowledge of the Highway Code. These brand-new changes include alterations to the code itself, as well as the introduction of new clean air zones, and parking fines for electric vehicles.
For instance, it is now illegal for drivers to use their phones, or any other electronic devices – like sat navs or tablets – while on the roads. Motorists who run out of fuel while driving and subsequently obstruct traffic can also face £100 fines and points on their licence.
Twelve councils across the UK have also been granted traffic powers, which could land in the next few weeks. Surrey Council is among these, who can now monitor yellow box junctions and dish out potential fines of up to £70 to offenders.
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