Driving Tip
Number 17
Friday 25th April
DRIVING ABROAD
With the summer beckoning, it’s good to think about any preparations you need to make if you are planning to drive abroad. The IAM (Institute of Advanced Motorists) has some simple guidelines to make your driving safe and more relaxing.
- In Europe, driving on the right hand side of the road will seem strange at first so concentrate all the time you are driving. Tiredness is always a problem on a long journey, but is a particular issue if you are not used to driving on the “other” side of the road.
- Say "Think Right - Look Left" to yourself every time you start to drive or approach a roundabout or road junction. This will put you in the right place on the road, travelling in the direction of the traffic flow and looking in the direction from where the first danger is most likely to come.
- Make sure you know the rules of the road in the country that you are in and obey them. Many rules and traffic regulations will be the same as in the UK, but some countries do have particular rules and regulations, and they may have changed since you were last there. For example, Germany now has Low Emission Zones which applies to cars as well as commercial vehicles. Make sure that you understand the meaning of all road signs and obey them. Most of them will be familiar to you, and the meaning of those that are not is usually fairly obvious. Remember the general rule: triangles warn, circles prohibit and rectangles inform. Check before you start your journey from the UK to make life easier for yourself.
- In most European countries, it is a legal requirement that drivers carry a red warning triangle in case of breakdown or accident. A recent article in Fleet News pointed out that some local officials in Spain demand a second warning triangle. Again, check before you go.
- Don’t fall into local habits if they are risky, such as following very close to vehicles in front at speed. It’s too easy to fall into “holiday mode” and stop paying attention.
- Overtaking is a difficult and potentially dangerous manoeuvre. You must always be sure overtaking is going to be safe. Driving a right-hand drive car on the "other" side of the road means you are not in the best position to see ahead. Always remember, the decision to overtake is yours: do not rely on the judgement of the passenger in the front seat.
ENDS
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NOTES TO EDITORS
1. Issued by the IAM Press Office, telephone 020 8996 9625.We have an ISDN line for interviews.
2. The IAM (Institute of Advanced Motorists) directly influences the driving and riding of more than 160,000 road users a year (full members, associates and commercial clients) in the UK and Ireland. Established in 1956, the IAM is today best known for the advanced driving test and the advanced driving course. The IAM has grown to become the UK’s leading road safety charity, dedicated to raising driving standards, engaging with the road-using public and influencing road safety policy. IAM Fleet, the corporate arm of the IAM, has two subsidiary companies, Drive & Survive and Fleet Ireland. It also operates IAM Pro-Drive.
3. A 2006 report by Brunel University, following an 18 month study, concluded that “advanced driver training produces safer drivers and lower accident involvement”, with measurable improvements in knowledge, skills and attitude. The “Driving Tips” provided by the IAM are part of our broader road safety mission and not intended as a substitute for the advanced driving course.
4. In January 2007, the IAM Motoring Trust was established as the research and advocacy arm of the IAM. The IAM Motoring Trust will undertake research, promote practical policies, act as an advocate for safer roads, safer drivers and safer vehicles and encourage responsible motoring through education and training
