How much trouble can you get into driving in Europe?
Discussion
This might belong in holidays, but...
I'm honeymooning in Italy in September and will be driving down and making a grand tour of it.
I know British plates were pretty much immune back in the days before data sharing but I imagine things are different now.
How much trouble can I get into in France, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy and Monaco, assuming cameras rather than actually being stopped by the police?
I'm thinking speeding fines, parking fines, bus lanes, that sort of thing. What can I safely ignore and what ought I to pay?
Not that I intend to drive like a loon, but what might be normal 'making progress', or a perfectly acceptable manoeuvre in one country might not be in another. I'd quite like to not spoil my holiday.
I'm honeymooning in Italy in September and will be driving down and making a grand tour of it.
I know British plates were pretty much immune back in the days before data sharing but I imagine things are different now.
How much trouble can I get into in France, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy and Monaco, assuming cameras rather than actually being stopped by the police?
I'm thinking speeding fines, parking fines, bus lanes, that sort of thing. What can I safely ignore and what ought I to pay?
Not that I intend to drive like a loon, but what might be normal 'making progress', or a perfectly acceptable manoeuvre in one country might not be in another. I'd quite like to not spoil my holiday.
Edited by londonbabe on Tuesday 30th May 09:04
Some weird ones to look out for :
(1) Austria does not allow dash-cams. Use one and you are a major criminal which will draw in a large fine.
(2) Luxembourg also does not allow dash-cams. Using one will make you one of the nations most wanted and carries a jail sentence!
(3) Warning triangles and hi-vis vests must be carried in the car.
(4) Germany now has 'green' zones around numerous cities and even some certain towns spotted up and down the country. You will need an environment sticker to legally enter any of these areas. (All of which are monitored by camera).
(5) Entering Austria on a certain type of road without a vignette will land you a hefty fine - again you'll be a major criminal. (the key word is "entering" - even if there is a shop within sight over the border - the offence will have been committed already by crossing the border)
(6) Entering Switzerland without a 'vignette' will also brand you a major criminal - you'll get a hefty fine for your custom.
(1) Austria does not allow dash-cams. Use one and you are a major criminal which will draw in a large fine.
(2) Luxembourg also does not allow dash-cams. Using one will make you one of the nations most wanted and carries a jail sentence!
(3) Warning triangles and hi-vis vests must be carried in the car.
(4) Germany now has 'green' zones around numerous cities and even some certain towns spotted up and down the country. You will need an environment sticker to legally enter any of these areas. (All of which are monitored by camera).
(5) Entering Austria on a certain type of road without a vignette will land you a hefty fine - again you'll be a major criminal. (the key word is "entering" - even if there is a shop within sight over the border - the offence will have been committed already by crossing the border)
(6) Entering Switzerland without a 'vignette' will also brand you a major criminal - you'll get a hefty fine for your custom.
londonbabe said:
I'm thinking speeding fines, parking fines, bus lanes, that sort of thing. What can I safely ignore and what ought I to pay?
None and all of them respectively. How would you feel about foreign drivers coming over here and driving like d
heads? Just obey the rules and enjoy the trip, no need to behave like a knob just because you might be able to get away with it.France: les poulets are notoriously strict, beware of travelling at speeds higher than 160km/h as that's instant and on the spot bye byes to your licence
Belgium: similar to the French although the threshold is higher IIRC at 180 km/h. Got caught at such speeds once and they semi "closed an eye" and just had to pay a ~150 euro fine
Switzerland: don't even think about it
Italy: Anything goes! Sustained stretches at 150-160 may be possible without high risk of repercussions, as long as you don't get caught by Trafpol. You will never receive fines from fixed (or otherwise) speed cameras
Belgium: similar to the French although the threshold is higher IIRC at 180 km/h. Got caught at such speeds once and they semi "closed an eye" and just had to pay a ~150 euro fine
Switzerland: don't even think about it
Italy: Anything goes! Sustained stretches at 150-160 may be possible without high risk of repercussions, as long as you don't get caught by Trafpol. You will never receive fines from fixed (or otherwise) speed cameras
TurboHatchback said:
None and all of them respectively. How would you feel about foreign drivers coming over here and driving like dheads? Just obey the rules and enjoy the trip, no need to behave like a knob just because you might be able to get away with it.
Be nice if we had the system of "on the spot fines" like they do in the EU and switzerland. heads? Just obey the rules and enjoy the trip, no need to behave like a knob just because you might be able to get away with it.
As we don't there are plenty of foreign drivers who drive like pr1cks.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/05/05/british...
(p.s. not taking anything away from your comments - just adding to them)
Edited by Atomic12C on Tuesday 23 May 14:04
Atomic12C said:
Be nice if we had the system of "on the spot fines" like they do in the EU and switzerland.
As we don't there are plenty of foreign drivers who drive like pr1cks.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/05/05/british...
Thank God for Brexit As we don't there are plenty of foreign drivers who drive like pr1cks.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/05/05/british...
lucido grigio said:
The "green zone" or Umwelt sticker mentioned above ,is it strictly applied ?
I have driven through a few Umwelt zones, Essen and Stuttgart and never had a problem.
From my experience and from what I hear, its a bit hit and miss.I have driven through a few Umwelt zones, Essen and Stuttgart and never had a problem.
Some say that if you get two strikes or more then a fine is on its way. I think they are regionally policed rather than a national computer database, but I could be wrong about that!
(1) German Autobahns are only derestricted in some areas, and you can hit a speed limit suddenly and have a camera there.
(2) There are derestricted stretches where there is al limit of 120km/h when wet ( bei Nasse I think)...
(3) Entering traffic has right of way on an autobahn.
(4) Left lane is for passing not for staying.
(2) There are derestricted stretches where there is al limit of 120km/h when wet ( bei Nasse I think)...
(3) Entering traffic has right of way on an autobahn.
(4) Left lane is for passing not for staying.
French drivers are aggressive pains in the ass with the driving standards of a hamster and permanent red mist - they will aim for you... That's when you're in a French car. With British plates... Good luck.
However, as much as they will hate you, they hate the police more. When they flash you, it usually means there are cops around the corner so beware.
If you have British plates the cops will stop you at their "random" stops, every single time. They will not speak English with you and if your French grammar is anything less than perfect prepare for a very long spell in high security prison. Make sure you have all your paperwork, high-vis jacket, spare bulbs, etc.
Also if you park a British car in a city centre, even if you follow all the rules and pay & display, you will get ticketed every day. 10 years ago the correct course of action was to deposit the ticket in a bin. I'm not sure if this still applies today or if they have any way to track you down.
Also - roundabouts have no rules. Don't treat them like you do in the UK or you'll crash. Embrace the madness - any lane can go to any exit and you can use any lane to do as many loops of the roundabout as you wish. You must check over your shoulder before exiting and be prepared for a car to be there 50% of the time.
In Germany, just follow the rules carefully and you'll be fine. Stick to speed limits, don't sit in overtaking lanes, don't hesitate. Driving standards are decent but they don't tolerate mistakes. If you encounter traffic on the autobahn, the outside lane must stick as close to the central barrier as possible and the lane next to it must be as far the other way as possible. This creates an emergency lane for police, etc.
Don't go to Austria. Not because of the driving - that's fine. Just don't go because nothing good ever happens in Austria.
Switzerland - DO NOT BREAK ANY RULES. If you're having any fun in the car, you're doing it wrong and loss of your life savings is imminent.
Italy - Do what you want, have fun, expect others to do what they want too. Lane markings are only there for artistic impression, they serve no other purpose. If someone crashes into you, the normal course of action is to shout at each other for a while and then get back in your car and go about your business.
Monaco - very tight, busy streets. You won't get a chance to speed. It's really just somewhere you drive into and then go on foot.
However, as much as they will hate you, they hate the police more. When they flash you, it usually means there are cops around the corner so beware.
If you have British plates the cops will stop you at their "random" stops, every single time. They will not speak English with you and if your French grammar is anything less than perfect prepare for a very long spell in high security prison. Make sure you have all your paperwork, high-vis jacket, spare bulbs, etc.
Also if you park a British car in a city centre, even if you follow all the rules and pay & display, you will get ticketed every day. 10 years ago the correct course of action was to deposit the ticket in a bin. I'm not sure if this still applies today or if they have any way to track you down.
Also - roundabouts have no rules. Don't treat them like you do in the UK or you'll crash. Embrace the madness - any lane can go to any exit and you can use any lane to do as many loops of the roundabout as you wish. You must check over your shoulder before exiting and be prepared for a car to be there 50% of the time.
In Germany, just follow the rules carefully and you'll be fine. Stick to speed limits, don't sit in overtaking lanes, don't hesitate. Driving standards are decent but they don't tolerate mistakes. If you encounter traffic on the autobahn, the outside lane must stick as close to the central barrier as possible and the lane next to it must be as far the other way as possible. This creates an emergency lane for police, etc.
Don't go to Austria. Not because of the driving - that's fine. Just don't go because nothing good ever happens in Austria.
Switzerland - DO NOT BREAK ANY RULES. If you're having any fun in the car, you're doing it wrong and loss of your life savings is imminent.
Italy - Do what you want, have fun, expect others to do what they want too. Lane markings are only there for artistic impression, they serve no other purpose. If someone crashes into you, the normal course of action is to shout at each other for a while and then get back in your car and go about your business.
Monaco - very tight, busy streets. You won't get a chance to speed. It's really just somewhere you drive into and then go on foot.
londonbabe said:
This might belong in holidays, but...
I'm honeymooning in Italy in September and will be driving down and making a grand tour of it.
I know British plates were pretty much immune back in the days before data sharing but I imagine things are different now.
How much trouble can I get into in France, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy and Monaco, assuming cameras rather than actually being stopped by the police?
I'm thinking speeding fines, parking fines, bus lanes, that sort of thing. What can I safely ignore and what ought I to pay?
I'll be heading around Italy (lake Garda and Pauda) around that time. if you see a Purple M3 give us a wave!I'm honeymooning in Italy in September and will be driving down and making a grand tour of it.
I know British plates were pretty much immune back in the days before data sharing but I imagine things are different now.
How much trouble can I get into in France, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy and Monaco, assuming cameras rather than actually being stopped by the police?
I'm thinking speeding fines, parking fines, bus lanes, that sort of thing. What can I safely ignore and what ought I to pay?
I would avoid Switzerland because they are a bunch of squares, if you don't then be careful as the punishments are so out of proportion to the offence you'll probably never come to terms with it.
All the others I'd carry on as normal, mostly, and pay the fines if stopped. No points, hoorah.
All the others I'd carry on as normal, mostly, and pay the fines if stopped. No points, hoorah.
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