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Driving Abroad

Speed limits, road signs, unique laws and general tips

ContentsDriving in Italy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

Driving in Spain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

Driving in the USA . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

Driving in Portugal . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

Driving in France . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

Driving in Germany . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

Driving in Austria . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

Driving in the Canary Islands . .10

Driving in Ireland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Driving in the UAE . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

www.skyscanner.net/carhire

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ItalyDriving in

National speed limits

Common road signs

Driving laws & tips

Type of road

Motorways

Dual Carriageways

In town

Country Roads

Speed limit

130km/h or 110km/h in rain and icy conditions

110km/h or 90km/h in rain and icy conditions

50km/h

90km/h

Snow chains compulsory

Level crossing without barrier

Multiple level crossing ahead

Stop and pay a toll

• In cities you must park your car on the same side of the road that you’re driving on.

• Radardetectorsarebannedandcanresultinafineofover€3,000,aswellasconfiscation.

• Be decisive. Italian drivers manoeuvre quickly. If you commit to a decision, follow through with it. Dithering can be dangerous.

Newlyqualifieddrivers(3yearsorlesssincepassingtheirtest)mustdrive under90km/hondualcarriagewaysandunder100km/honmotorways).


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Common road signs

Driving laws & tips

Type of road

Motorways / Dual Carriageways

*Can legally overtake at 110km/h

Country Roads

In town

Speed limit

120km/h

90km/h*

50km/h

• Drivers who wear glasses are required to carry a spare pair.

• Radar detectors are banned and can result in a hugefine.

• In some cities, cars parking on one way streets are required to abide by the following rule: on even days of the month, park on the side with even numbers. On odd days, park on the side bearing odd numbers. A variation on this is streets which require motoriststoparkononesideforthefirsthalfof the month, and the other for the second.

• It’sgoodetiquettetoflashyourlightstowarnthedriver ahead if you’re planning to overtake.

Crossroads with priority to the right


Accident ahead

SpainDriving in


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Type of road

Motorways

*Varies by state. For more info visit www.dot.gov

Dual Carriageways

In town

Country Roads

Speed limit*

65 – 80mph

45 – 70mph

10 – 55mph

35 – 70mph

Driving laws & tips• It’s illegal to pass a stopped school bus, whichever

direction you’re travelling in. • There’sa‘firstcome,firstserved’ruleatfour-

waystopsignsandfailedtrafficlights.Basically,whichevervehiclearrivesfirstgetspriority.

• Inmoststates(apartfromNewYork)it’soktoturnright on a red signal: as long as the path is clear of pedestriansandtraffic,andtherearenorestrictionsin place. These will be signposted clearly, either with a panel saying “no right turn on red” or via a redfilterarrowonthetrafficlight.

• Youneedtopaybeforefillingupinmostpetrolstations;someoffera(small)cashdiscount,soitmight be worth going inside instead of swiping your card at the pump.

• Theonlytimeit’sacceptabletoflashyourheadlightsis if you’re reminding someone coming in the opposite direction to turn theirs on. Flashing other cars to communicate(e.g.encouragingthemtoovertake)canbe seen as road rage behaviour and is frowned upon.

Common road signs

Give Way

Farm vehicle crossing

Truck rollover warning

Hitch-hiking/ picking up hitchers

is illegal

Level crossing ahead

USADriving in the


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Driving laws & tips

• Dashboard cameras and radar detectors are illegal.

• In cities cars must be parked facing the direction of travel.

• Thefollowingmotorwaysoperateonanauto-tollbasis(i.e.nobooths):A2,A4,A17,A22,A23,A24, A25, A28, A29, A41 and A42. There are three payment options:

•HireaTemporaryElectronicTollDevice(DEM)whichcharges your credit card when you pass through a toll

•Buyathreeorfivedaypre-paidpassfromanyPortuguesepostoffice.Manypetrolstationsonthemotorway also sell these.

•Payinthepostofficebetween48hoursandfivedays after your journey: this only works for cars with Portuguese license plates, i.e. hire cars.

• It’s illegal to run out of fuel on Lisbon’s famous 25 deAbrilbridge,sofillupbeforemaking your journey.

• Drive defensively: Portuguese drivers are notoriously reckless. Indicators are used rarely, people often pull out of parking spaces before checking that it’s safe.


Type of road

Motorways

Dual Carriageways

In town

Country Roads

Speed limit

120km/h

100km/h

50km/h

90km/h

Common road signs

Electronic toll

PortugalDriving in


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Type of road

Motorways

Dual Carriageways

In town

Country Roads

Speed limit

130 km/h*

110 km/h**

50 km/h

90 km/h**

Driving laws & tips• It’scompulsorytocarryacertifiedbreathalyserin

thecar(showingan‘NF’number).However,therearenofinesforfailingtocomply:thesehavebeensuspended‘indefinitely’.

• It’s illegal to overtake trams when passengers are getting on or off.

• Radardetectorsareillegal:thisincludessat-navsystems with maps that indicate the location of fixedspeedcameras.

• The priorité a droite is an old rule which gives priority to cars coming from the right: even if you’re on a main road and they’re pulling out from a junction. It’s being phased out, however some motorists still drive with the priorité in mind, even on roundabouts, so be careful.

• Mosttrafficlightsgostraightfromredtogreenwith no amber.

Common road signs

Give Way

Level crossing ahead

Accident ahead

End of priority road: priorité a

droite may apply

FranceDriving in

*20km/h less in rain. **10km/h less in rain.


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Common road signs

Driving laws & tips

Type of road


*50km/h speed limit applies if wearing snow chains or if visibility is below 50m.

Country Roads

In town

Speed limitNo limit*

100km/h*

50km/h

Give priority to rail

Bus stop Parking disk required

Use hard shoulder as a lane

• Radar detectors are banned: this includes sat nav systems that indicate stationary speed cameras.

• It’s illegal to drive whilst wearing headphones.

• Driving during winter conditions with summer tyres is prohibited: ensure your car already has winter tyres installed.

• Intrafficjamsthenormalrightofwayis forgotten in favour of the Reißverschluss (or‘zipperrule’)wherecarsfeedinoneatatimefrom alternating directions.

• Trafficcomingfromtherighthaspriorityatjunctions and crossroads.

GermanyDriving in

130km/h recommended


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Type of road


Country Roads

In town

Speed limit

130km/h

100km/h

50km/h*

*30km/h in residential neighbourhoods.

Driving laws & tips

• Between 1st November and 15th April all cars must befittedwithwintertyres.

• Cars driving on the motorway must display a Vignette (tollsticker):thesecanbepurchasedinmostpetrolstationsandlastforoneyear(€82.70),twomonths(€24.20),ortendays(€8.20).Failuretodosocanresultinafineofupto€3,000.

• It’s illegal to overtake a school bus that has stopped andisdisplayingaflashinglight,ifyou’retravellingin the same direction as the bus.

• Duringtrafficjamsit’salegalrequirementtocreatea corridor for emergency vehicles. Drivers in the left lane must drive as close to the left as possible, and cars in the right must stick to the far right.

Common road signs

Approaching a level crossing:

80m, 160m and 240m warnings

No parking on ‘odd’ days

No parking on ‘even’ days

Motorists driving againsttrafficon

motorway

Toll coming up

AustriaDriving in


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Type of road


Country Roads

In town

Speed limit

120km/h

90km/h

50km/h

Road rules in the Canary Islands are the same as mainland Spain, with very few differences.

Common road signs

Accident ahead

Driving laws & tips

• Drivers who wear glasses are required to carry a spare pair.

• Radar detectors are banned and can result in a hugefine.

• Don’tparkinfrontofstreet-bins:theseareemptied24 hours a day and cars will be towed if they’re in the way. There often aren’t any signs warning of this.

Canary IslandsDriving in the

Crossroads with priority to the right



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Type of road

Motorways

Dual Carriageways

Country roads

In town

Speed limit

120km/h

100km/h

80km/h

50km/h

Driving laws & tips

• Radar detectors are prohibited, and can be confiscatedbythegarda(police).

• Cars coming from the right have right of way at junctions and crossroads.

• The M50 in Dublin has electronic tolls which must be paid within 24 hours. There are three payment options:

• Online at www.eflow.ie

• By telephone: 1890 50 10 50

•InstoreataPayzoneoutlet:thesecanbefoundnationwide, there’s a map online at www.payzone.ie

• Some level crossings have manual gates: drivers mustgetoutofthecarandopenthem(aslongasit’ssafetodoso)andclosebehindthemselves.

Common road signs

Give way

Cross roads at dual carriageway ahead

T-junctionatdualcarriageway ahead

Parking permitted

IrelandDriving in


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(United Arab Emirates)


Type of road


Country Roads

In town

Speed limit

100-140km/h

100-140km/h

50-60km/h

Driving laws & tips

• If you park on an unlit street, or in poor visibility, you must use a warning triangle or spotlights to alert other drivers to your vehicle’s position.

• Drivers in the UAE have a reputation for being impatient and will often overtake on the inside lane, drive the wrong way down one way streets, ortakeshort-cutsbygoingthewrongwayaroundroundabouts. Stay alert, and always check your blind spot before manoeuvring.

• Watch out for camels wandering along rural roads: if you hit a camel you may have to pay compensation to the beast’s owner.

• While an International Driving Permit is not required for UK driving license holders, it’s recommended to get one as it will make things run smoother in case of an accident.

• Dubai operates an electronic toll system known as Salik, paid through a tag in the vehicle. All hire cars come with Salik tags included, however it is worth checking your supplier’s policy as you can either bechargedaprepaidfixsumorforeverytollusedwhen returning the car. Each toll point costs 4AED (about60p).

Common road signs

Give way to pedestrians

City centre direction

UAEDriving in the

driving abroad - amazon s3€¦ · driving in national speed limits common road signs driving laws...

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