Driving in Sweden
Discussion
I'm a regular visitor to Gothenburg and Trollhättan (well worth a mooch round if you get the chance).
No issues driving there at all. One of the more civilised places to drive actually.
I wouldn't say they are any more or less hot on speeding than the UK. The only difference is that the fixed cameras are not as obvious.
The one thing to watch is drinking and driving. Their limit is (IIRC) around 40% that of the UK and one of the most restrictive in Europe. At home, you might consider a glass of wine with dinner and a pint later would be OK, and it probably would but in Sweden you'd be over the limit. If you're having a drink, leave the car at the hotel.
No issues driving there at all. One of the more civilised places to drive actually.
I wouldn't say they are any more or less hot on speeding than the UK. The only difference is that the fixed cameras are not as obvious.
The one thing to watch is drinking and driving. Their limit is (IIRC) around 40% that of the UK and one of the most restrictive in Europe. At home, you might consider a glass of wine with dinner and a pint later would be OK, and it probably would but in Sweden you'd be over the limit. If you're having a drink, leave the car at the hotel.
I live in sunny Sweden.
Most of the roads are well kept, better than the UK I suspect.
Speed cameras are signposted, but you only have metres before your speed needs to be in touch.
As per above, drink driving is dealt with very severely, you can end up in prison very easily.
Most Swedes do not know about indicators, especially on roundabouts and in Sweden expect the traffic on roundabouts to come to a grinding halt as there are pedestrian crossings bang on the junctions!
Otherwise, outside of the towns, it's a dream with nice open roads, beautiful countryside and no real traffic.
Most of the roads are well kept, better than the UK I suspect.
Speed cameras are signposted, but you only have metres before your speed needs to be in touch.
As per above, drink driving is dealt with very severely, you can end up in prison very easily.
Most Swedes do not know about indicators, especially on roundabouts and in Sweden expect the traffic on roundabouts to come to a grinding halt as there are pedestrian crossings bang on the junctions!
Otherwise, outside of the towns, it's a dream with nice open roads, beautiful countryside and no real traffic.
Traffic said:
I live in sunny Sweden.
Most of the roads are well kept, better than the UK I suspect.
Speed cameras are signposted, but you only have metres before your speed needs to be in touch.
As per above, drink driving is dealt with very severely, you can end up in prison very easily.
Most Swedes do not know about indicators, especially on roundabouts and in Sweden expect the traffic on roundabouts to come to a grinding halt as there are pedestrian crossings bang on the junctions!
Otherwise, outside of the towns, it's a dream with nice open roads, beautiful countryside and no real traffic.
Whereabouts do you live? When I lived in Lilla Edet the non E roads were absolutely atrocious and made me laugh when thinking about people moaning about British roads Most of the roads are well kept, better than the UK I suspect.
Speed cameras are signposted, but you only have metres before your speed needs to be in touch.
As per above, drink driving is dealt with very severely, you can end up in prison very easily.
Most Swedes do not know about indicators, especially on roundabouts and in Sweden expect the traffic on roundabouts to come to a grinding halt as there are pedestrian crossings bang on the junctions!
Otherwise, outside of the towns, it's a dream with nice open roads, beautiful countryside and no real traffic.
But the drink driving thing is no joke, I twice got breathalysed at a road block coming out of town on my way to Gothenburg..!BrabusMog said:
Whereabouts do you live? When I lived in Lilla Edet the non E roads were absolutely atrocious and made me laugh when thinking about people moaning about British roads But the drink driving thing is no joke, I twice got breathalysed at a road block coming out of town on my way to Gothenburg..!
I live in the countryside between Kungsbacka and Varberg... you still in Sweden? But the drink driving thing is no joke, I twice got breathalysed at a road block coming out of town on my way to Gothenburg..!aizvara said:
There's much less traffic than in the UK!
Keep your headlights turned on when driving.
That's true. I only travel around Stockholm and even there the roads don't seem to get too busy. This might just be a Stockholm thing but the roads aren't in as good condition as they used to be, as recently as 5 years ago. Still not as bad as London though.Keep your headlights turned on when driving.
One thing to watch in spring is that on busy trunk roads you can get very shallow ruts worn by the spiked winter tyres.
In heavy rain these fill with water and you can get some aquaplaning. Position off a little bit so you avoid that.
Other than that Swedes are getting the hang of roundabouts now. Recall when the first one was built in our local place, the traffic just stopped in a wtf is this moment?
Check situation with the congestion charge and tolls, when I was there foreign and military reg vehicles were exempt from Stockholm congestion charge but not tolls. This is no longer the case, today foreign registered vehicles pay via EPASS.
https://www.transportstyrelsen.se/en/road/road-tol...
https://www.epass24.com/
In heavy rain these fill with water and you can get some aquaplaning. Position off a little bit so you avoid that.
Other than that Swedes are getting the hang of roundabouts now. Recall when the first one was built in our local place, the traffic just stopped in a wtf is this moment?
Check situation with the congestion charge and tolls, when I was there foreign and military reg vehicles were exempt from Stockholm congestion charge but not tolls. This is no longer the case, today foreign registered vehicles pay via EPASS.
https://www.transportstyrelsen.se/en/road/road-tol...
https://www.epass24.com/
FiF said:
One thing to watch in spring is that on busy trunk roads you can get very shallow ruts worn by the spiked winter tyres.
In heavy rain these fill with water and you can get some aquaplaning. Position off a little bit so you avoid that.
Other than that Swedes are getting the hang of roundabouts now. Recall when the first one was built in our local place, the traffic just stopped in a wtf is this moment?
Check situation with the congestion charge and tolls, when I was there foreign and military reg vehicles were exempt from Stockholm congestion charge but not tolls. This is no longer the case, today foreign registered vehicles pay via EPASS.
https://www.transportstyrelsen.se/en/road/road-tol...
https://www.epass24.com/
Thank you In heavy rain these fill with water and you can get some aquaplaning. Position off a little bit so you avoid that.
Other than that Swedes are getting the hang of roundabouts now. Recall when the first one was built in our local place, the traffic just stopped in a wtf is this moment?
Check situation with the congestion charge and tolls, when I was there foreign and military reg vehicles were exempt from Stockholm congestion charge but not tolls. This is no longer the case, today foreign registered vehicles pay via EPASS.
https://www.transportstyrelsen.se/en/road/road-tol...
https://www.epass24.com/
Looking forward to my trip now
Traffic said:
I live in the countryside between Kungsbacka and Varberg... you still in Sweden?
Traffic said:
I live in the countryside between Kungsbacka and Varberg... you still in Sweden?
I used to go to an annual bowling Tournament in Kungsbacka.....in December! God it was bleak but loved the area.I've driven in Sweden, we went through a speed camera and never got any response, this is knocking on 15 years ago though now!
Enjoy the drive it'll be nice driving over the Oresund OR are you getting a ferry from Helsingborg which is a nice town.
aizvara said:
There's much less traffic than in the UK!
Keep your headlights turned on when driving.
My wife and I chant "Svetla!" whenever we get in the car in a headlights-required country. Partly it's to remind each other, partly it's to amuse ourselves about the time when the Slovakian police told us off for forgetting to swtich on our Svetlas.Keep your headlights turned on when driving.
Also, Swedes seem to love classic American cars, so keep an eye out for all kinds of interesting land yachts.
Kawasicki said:
Maybe try Norway? I drove from Gothenburg into Norway and then followed the coast north for a couple of thousand kms in January. Roads were rough at times, but scenery was great. Lots of ferries.
I'm obsessed with Norway. If I ever won the lottery that would be my ideal place. Somewhere around Tromso I think!Might be next years trip
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