Driving Abroad

Chris · July 25, 2010, 22:26

Wow, massive thread bump from the past!!

Just re-reading that section about illegal radar detectors in france - has the situation changed in the last 3 years, as presumably my snooper counts as a rader detector (i'm pretty sure it has a small radar/laser detector thingy in the front grill that leads back to the main unit in place of the ashtray. If the unit was unplugged at the time would that help if i ever got stopped?

Anonymous · July 26, 2010, 11:41

It's very easy to drive in France and you don't need any snoopers for radar etc just remember 1 easy thing.
In France don't speed!! The cops don't mess about and they also carry guns!! Nuff said s:lol: :lol: s:lol:

Anonymous · July 26, 2010, 11:54

Quote from: "Chris"Just re-reading that section about illegal radar detectors in france - has the situation changed in the last 3 years, as presumably my snooper counts as a rader detector (i'm pretty sure it has a small radar/laser detector thingy in the front grill that leads back to the main unit in place of the ashtray. If the unit was unplugged at the time would that help if i ever got stopped?

Nope, just having it in the car is the offence and it'll get taken and destroyed and you'll get a lovely big fine. And trust me, you don't want a fully armed gendarme escorting you to the cash point s;)

s;)

Jaik · July 26, 2010, 12:28

In most European countries you also need to have a hi-vis jacket/vest for everyone in the car, and they must be accessible from within the cabin (eg. not in the boot).

In most European countries, you should have a full set of spare bulbs.

In Spain, if you wear glasses, you must carry a spare pair in the car.

cclarke99 · July 27, 2010, 13:44

The set of a spare bulbs is a laugh as in a lot of (especially French) cars, you need a full set of tools to change them

aaronjb · July 27, 2010, 21:34

I just came back from driving around the Czech Republic for a couple of days (around Prague and then down to Klatovy and Klenova castle to send off the London->Mongolia Bataar Rally guys) .. the roads over there are so nice! All the construction in Prague really does confuse the sat nav, though...

Anonymous · January 20, 2011, 05:33

I traveled to Japan a few years ago and spotted a white Spyder outside of a restaurant me and my fellow travelers were visiting. I was giddy like a little school boy — even more so that a Ferrari was parked next to it s:bowdown: :bowdown: s:bowdown:

Anonymous · November 26, 2011, 19:48

Reading through this post, it appears that the minimums for driving to Belgium via France for a 1 day return trip are :-

1) GB Sticker
2) Spare Bulbs.
3) Warning Triangle
4) Hi-Vis Jacket

Do I need to adjut my lights ? If so how do you do that ?

TIA

Stephster · November 26, 2011, 20:00

You buy the necessary stick on beam deflectors on the ferry over, and follow the instructions. Easy peasy and only about £7.

Anonymous · November 26, 2011, 20:51

Briallnt, thanks

kerbut · May 5, 2012, 17:23

As from 1 July 2012 all cars in France must carry 2 breathalysers, Supermarkets , Pharmacies and petrol stations sell them, also if your triangle is over 5 years old it may be illegal ,all triangles must now carry a CE marking , the flic are very keen on this catching tourists with their Halfords triangle bought 15 years ago . How do I know ? I have recently returned here after 20 years of working / Living in France.

Anonymous · May 5, 2012, 18:11

Isn't it a shame our police force doesn't enforce the same dictatorial methods on foreigners visiting our shores, has anybody ever seen beam deflectors on ANY vehicle from abroad? s:roll: :roll: s:roll:

mrzwei · May 7, 2012, 23:17

Thats a bloody good point Les. I've spent ages sticking gaffa tape on headlights mostly to drive during the day and that does spiss piss spiss me off. But hey, maybe with the holland guy things will change s:lol: :lol: s:lol: I'll miss his wife though!

Mad Matt · September 4, 2012, 16:09

Never had my lights questioned driving a "foreign" car in the UK or visa versa here, or in any European country, although obviously it can happen. I think the list above needs adjusting:

1) GB Sticker
2) Spare Bulbs.
3) Warning Triangle
4) Hi-Vis Jacket (one for every person in the car and in reach of the occupants if driving in France)
5) Fire extinguisher)
6) First aid kit
7) Documents (passport/ID card, license, insurance, vehicle registration, MOT cert and proof of conformity). Technically they should be originals and you don't get seven days to go to a police station with them.
s8)

s8) Two breathalysers (France)

Wabbitkilla · September 4, 2012, 16:22

Proof of conformity?

Anonymous · September 4, 2012, 16:22

I was made aware (as i was planning to visit the Nurberg ring last year) that the plod park up and wait for us unsuspecting car modifiers to come off the boat from the uk INTENDING to tear our cars apart regarding any part without an EC mark? and lets face it, nearly all aftermarket especially tuning parts are certainly not marked 9 time out of 10 :/ anyone else heard this? Ive heard all sorts of scary stories regarding bodykits and spoilers etc..etc...

Mad Matt · September 5, 2012, 08:10

Quote from: "Wabbitkilla"Proof of conformity?

In Belgium (France too I think) you are required to have a certificate of conformity to the manufacturers specifications. I think the idea is that this is a statement from the manufacturer saying this is one of the vehicles that has been approved by the government. In other words Toyota submit a couple of MR2s for testing, get approval and then each MR2 which is sold gets a certificate saying it is an example of one which has been approved.

I've heard that it's possible to contact a manufacturer in the UK to get such a certificate but I've never heard of anyone from the UK being asked for one. I've only had my papers checked twice in many years, once at a police check and once after an accident (even though no other vehicles or people were involved). I think, but can't promise, that the police may overlook the lack of a certificate in a UK vehicle as they'll be more interested to see that you've got a license, insurance and are the owner of the car.

Belgium is stricter than the UK on car modifications but that is generally enforced at MOT time, unless the car actually appears dangerous. I think other European countries have to accept UK modified cars as long as they have been accepted in the UK. I've certainly had visitors with modified cars from the UK and no-one's ever had any trouble. On the other hand none of my visitors have been involved in a crash where the police are called so it hasn't been put to the test.

You are required to have a check to show you're car is ready for winter if you live in Luxembourg. Most people change to winter tyres as part of the check. However, they don't seem to apply that to people driving foreign cars.

As for France and modified cars...... You can imagine there's a lot which turn up at Le Mans and the only things I've seen are people being stopped for speeding, racing or later on having a car which is obviously overloaded with beer! In the past I've found the French police to be fairly reasonable. I was in a car which got stopped for speeding going into a small town. We were speaking English so the policeman was going to let us off with a warning (a town sign indicates a reduction in speed limit to 50km/h, unlike the UK where there's a speed limit sign too), he then checked my mates driving license, saw that he was Belgian (where the system works the same as in France) and gave us a ticket! That was rural France though.

One other thing, don't forget that there's priority to the right unless signed otherwise, even if you think you're on a "main" road.