Driving abroad with rear window totally obstructed

[mike42]

Planning to drive across half of Europe including Slovakia/Austria/Germany/Belgium

Hatchback/crossover will be packed full of stuff so I won't be able to see anything in rear view mirror.

Pretty sure I checked this in the UK a couple of years ago and its fine here but what about in EU ? Couldn't fine anything online so far.

Any info gratefully received.

[Gunk]

Wouldn’t worry, when the kids were young, we did it loads of times

[Yellow Lizud]

Vans and lorries seem to manage it OK.

[Pica-Pica]

So OP, why do you think estate cars are built and used, instead of saloons only?

[SlackBladder]

Pica-Pica said:

So OP, why do you think estate cars are built and used, instead of saloons only?

Classic PH answer these days, completely irrelevant to the question and just a trolling retort.
No wonder your post count averages over 5 a day for more than 5 years on here. Do you have a life away from PH?

[generationx]

With your side (don't say "wing" for god's sake) mirrors present and clean you'll be grand.

[AyBee]

SlackBladder said:

Pica-Pica said:

So OP, why do you think estate cars are built and used, instead of saloons only?

Classic PH answer these days, completely irrelevant to the question and just a trolling retort.
No wonder your post count averages over 5 a day for more than 5 years on here. Do you have a life away from PH?

Is it? If you could only use the bottom half of the boot in an estate car so that you could see out the back, we'd all be driving saloons because you wouldn't be able to use the additional space in an estate.

[What The Deuces]

Our car is loaded to the gunnels every time we go on holiday, Uk or abroad

No issues as you have no less visibility than if you were driving a van etc.

Nothing to worry about unless you aren't confident without your rear view mirror

[Tyre Smoke]

I really question the IQ of some people these days.

[TwistingMyMelon]

Its a fair question to check , you never know what laws some countries have

Its an obvious answer but never hurts to check if you are unsure

[MikeM6]

TwistingMyMelon said:

Its a fair question to check , you never know what laws some countries have

Its an obvious answer but never hurts to check if you are unsure

Agreed, it's only obvious to those that already know. Better to ask than never know.

[Pica-Pica]

AyBee said:

SlackBladder said:

Pica-Pica said:

So OP, why do you think estate cars are built and used, instead of saloons only?

Classic PH answer these days, completely irrelevant to the question and just a trolling retort.
No wonder your post count averages over 5 a day for more than 5 years on here. Do you have a life away from PH?

Is it? If you could only use the bottom half of the boot in an estate car so that you could see out the back, we'd all be driving saloons because you wouldn't be able to use the additional space in an estate.

Exactly. But beware you maybe labelled a troll, rather than a logical responder!

[Pica-Pica]

The EU requirement is the same as the U.K. one (same origin).
Two (Left and right side) external rear view mirrors are compulsory.
An internal rear view mirror is mandatory, unless a mirror would not provide rearward vision.

DIRECTIVE 2003/97/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL

Note: worldwide, people have occasionally been stopped for an obscured rear window, whether goods, eg. clothing, tints, etc., all case have been rejected (over-zealous police, who do not understand their own laws).
Also the rear view would be somewhat obscured by three tall people occupying and using the three rear seats and seat belts.

ETA: my personal issue (and the legal issue) here, would be more about an insecure load.

Edited by Pica-Pica on Thursday 18th August 12:33

[mike42]

Thanks a lot for all the replies - given me confidence.

My twopenneth on the little dissagreement above. This forum is one of the most friendly I know of. Even if not super friendly I don't think that comment was trolling or deliberately written to annoy but I could see how it could be seen that way.

Good that other members are keeping an eye out for it though. Once a forum goes into full troll mode with all questions/comments ridiculed etc, there's no turning back. This forum is a million miles from that....