Not joined yet? Register for free and enjoy features such as alerts, private messaging and viewing latest posts and topics.
First Road Trip to Europe
-
Online
- Senior Member
- Posts: 1706
- Joined: Thu Apr 07, 2016 3:40 pm
First Road Trip to Europe
Next week I'm taking the Z on its first road trip to Europe. Our final resting spot will be Brussels. We're going from Dover to Dunkirk.
As I've never taken my own car out of the UK, I was wondering if anyone had any tips or advice for driving in Europe. I've already bought the mandatory breathalyser.
Also wondering if anyone has any tips for roads / routes based on where I'm landing and heading.
Thanks in advance!
As I've never taken my own car out of the UK, I was wondering if anyone had any tips or advice for driving in Europe. I've already bought the mandatory breathalyser.
Also wondering if anyone has any tips for roads / routes based on where I'm landing and heading.
Thanks in advance!
- buzyg
- Legend
- Posts: 26528
- Joined: Fri May 20, 2011 6:11 pm
- Location: Cornwall
First Road Trip to Europe
Can't really help out with routes. Been a few years since I was driving in Europe. Seem to recall all the good roads were the other side of Brussels to be honest. Hopefully someone will be along to refute that any minute. Have a great road trip.
- Chris_D
- Lifer
- Posts: 6615
- Joined: Thu Apr 21, 2016 11:41 pm
- Location: Mostly Holland. Sometimes UK.
First Road Trip to Europe
Belgian drivers suck bananas! ( apart from franzino if he's reading this )
Careful at intersections as right of way is for those emerging tfrom your right, even though you may be on a more major road. There will be white lines denoting give way junctions and if not, yield.
Careful at intersections as right of way is for those emerging tfrom your right, even though you may be on a more major road. There will be white lines denoting give way junctions and if not, yield.
E85 3.0i roadie (03) 'Benny'. E93 320d M-Sport Cabrio (11) 'Bob'.
'Always different, always the same.' John Peel on The Fall.
'Always different, always the same.' John Peel on The Fall.
- NickDE
- Senior Member
- Posts: 1170
- Joined: Sat Oct 01, 2016 12:21 pm
- Location: Newcastle upon Tyne
First Road Trip to Europe
There's a lot of good advice out on the internet. It's worth checking out the main 'Highway Code' rules of the countries you will drive in before you go. I have had many experiences of meeting a road sign or road markings that I initially had no clue how to interpret (like dragon's teeth in The Netherlands).
My favourite tips:
- If you have a TomTom/Garmin etc, reset it to display in KM - helps with distances, and much easier to control your speed than using the small kmh numbers on the speedo
- Remember to drive on the other side of the road. The locals appreciate your consideration.
- Enjoy the trip, you will have a great experience to remember
My favourite tips:
- If you have a TomTom/Garmin etc, reset it to display in KM - helps with distances, and much easier to control your speed than using the small kmh numbers on the speedo
- Remember to drive on the other side of the road. The locals appreciate your consideration.
- Enjoy the trip, you will have a great experience to remember
Darkness gone, go Darknes2, go Frozen, go Tronic
- Kingfisher
- Member
- Posts: 379
- Joined: Tue Nov 01, 2016 1:04 pm
- Location: South of France.
First Road Trip to Europe
Breathalysers aren't mandatory ... yellow waistcoats are. I think the priority right rule went out in the 60s.
Dec 2014 ... E89 35is sDrive M DCT ... Red ...
- Chris_D
- Lifer
- Posts: 6615
- Joined: Thu Apr 21, 2016 11:41 pm
- Location: Mostly Holland. Sometimes UK.
First Road Trip to Europe
try that theory out over here in Holland. i dare you.
E85 3.0i roadie (03) 'Benny'. E93 320d M-Sport Cabrio (11) 'Bob'.
'Always different, always the same.' John Peel on The Fall.
'Always different, always the same.' John Peel on The Fall.
- Kingfisher
- Member
- Posts: 379
- Joined: Tue Nov 01, 2016 1:04 pm
- Location: South of France.
First Road Trip to Europe
That must be for bicycles in Holland surely? ... ... slam your brakes on for someone coming in from the right in France and you'll get the back end written off ... tailgating is a national sport! ...
Dec 2014 ... E89 35is sDrive M DCT ... Red ...
- Chris_D
- Lifer
- Posts: 6615
- Joined: Thu Apr 21, 2016 11:41 pm
- Location: Mostly Holland. Sometimes UK.
First Road Trip to Europe
Nope, for everything. If theres no white lines on the road coming from the right then they have right of way. And people just pull out of a smaller road without even looking left. Bonkers. But that's the dutchies for ya! Noses in the air until tragedy strikesKingfisher wrote: ↑Sun Apr 02, 2017 4:51 pmThat must be for bicycles in Holland surely? ... ... slam your brakes on for someone coming in from the right in France and you'll get the back end written off ... tailgating is a national sport! ...
E85 3.0i roadie (03) 'Benny'. E93 320d M-Sport Cabrio (11) 'Bob'.
'Always different, always the same.' John Peel on The Fall.
'Always different, always the same.' John Peel on The Fall.
-
Online
- Senior Member
- Posts: 1706
- Joined: Thu Apr 07, 2016 3:40 pm
First Road Trip to Europe
Thanks for the heads up!Kingfisher wrote: ↑Sun Apr 02, 2017 9:44 am Breathalysers aren't mandatory ... yellow waistcoats are. I think the priority right rule went out in the 60s.
- Number5
- Lifer
- Posts: 6026
- Joined: Tue Sep 24, 2013 7:34 pm
- Location: Bristol M4/M5
First Road Trip to Europe
To simplify things;
- Carry a spare bulb kit
- Carry two breathylisers
- Carry a warning triangle
- Carry your V5, Insurance & MOT Cert (I take colour copies)
- Advise your insurance company of your travel dates
- Check on or add European breakdown cover (if you wish)
- The Hi-Viz waistcoat must be in the car, where you can reach it before exiting - not in the boot.
I believe you are subject to on the spot traffic fines, but speeding tickets by unmanned cameras dont come through later, as they do in the UK.
- Carry a spare bulb kit
- Carry two breathylisers
- Carry a warning triangle
- Carry your V5, Insurance & MOT Cert (I take colour copies)
- Advise your insurance company of your travel dates
- Check on or add European breakdown cover (if you wish)
- The Hi-Viz waistcoat must be in the car, where you can reach it before exiting - not in the boot.
I believe you are subject to on the spot traffic fines, but speeding tickets by unmanned cameras dont come through later, as they do in the UK.
Alpina Roadster #307
Porsche Boxster GTS
Previous Zs
Stratus E86
G29 30i
1x Imola Z4MR
Alpina #019
10x E85 Se/Si Roadsters
2x E89's
Roof Motor Relocations (Bristol)
Porsche Boxster GTS
Previous Zs
Stratus E86
G29 30i
1x Imola Z4MR
Alpina #019
10x E85 Se/Si Roadsters
2x E89's
Roof Motor Relocations (Bristol)
-
- Member
- Posts: 973
- Joined: Tue Apr 27, 2010 8:04 pm
- Location: Northants
First Road Trip to Europe
Spare bulbs are not mandatory.
-
Online
- Senior Member
- Posts: 1706
- Joined: Thu Apr 07, 2016 3:40 pm
First Road Trip to Europe
Handy checklist! Cheers!Number5 wrote: ↑Sun Apr 02, 2017 7:21 pm To simplify things;
- Carry a spare bulb kit
- Carry two breathylisers
- Carry a warning triangle
- Carry your V5, Insurance & MOT Cert (I take colour copies)
- Advise your insurance company of your travel dates
- Check on or add European breakdown cover (if you wish)
- The Hi-Viz waistcoat must be in the car, where you can reach it before exiting - not in the boot.
I believe you are subject to on the spot traffic fines, but speeding tickets by unmanned cameras dont come through later, as they do in the UK.
- NickDE
- Senior Member
- Posts: 1170
- Joined: Sat Oct 01, 2016 12:21 pm
- Location: Newcastle upon Tyne
First Road Trip to Europe
Bicycles in Holland live in a parallel universe when it comes to road laws or even customs. Very liberating if you're the cyclist, scary as a car driver.Kingfisher wrote: ↑Sun Apr 02, 2017 4:51 pmThat must be for bicycles in Holland surely? ... ... slam your brakes on for someone coming in from the right in France and you'll get the back end written off ... tailgating is a national sport! ...
Darkness gone, go Darknes2, go Frozen, go Tronic
- Pastry
- Senior Member
- Posts: 2288
- Joined: Wed May 25, 2016 5:01 pm
- Location: South East
First Road Trip to Europe
I'm pretty sure they are mandatory and carry a max fine of €80 if you don't carry them
991 Carrera 2S
Now gone:
2008 Z4MR Midnight Blue Metallic
2006 Z4 3.0si sport Ruby Black
2006 Z4 3.0si sport Titanium Silver
2010 Z4 23i Msport and a 3.0i
Now gone:
2008 Z4MR Midnight Blue Metallic
2006 Z4 3.0si sport Ruby Black
2006 Z4 3.0si sport Titanium Silver
2010 Z4 23i Msport and a 3.0i
-
- Member
- Posts: 973
- Joined: Tue Apr 27, 2010 8:04 pm
- Location: Northants
First Road Trip to Europe
They're not required, just something that seems to get repeated time and time again.
Here's a list of European requirements - https://www.theaa.com/~/media/the-aa/pd ... .pdf?la=en