Any info or advice for Driving on the Continent

ShayK1

Hey guys,

I thought you might be interested in this and possibly may offer some advice that I haven't thought of.

Myself and my g/f are planning on driving to Rosslare to get a ferry to Fishgard. Due to arrive around half 12. We're driving across England to get onto the Eurotunnel later that evening, about half 8.
Then we switch over to the other side of the road and we've roughly a 90 minute drive to our destination in Belgium.
4 nights there and then we set of again.
The route this time is from Ghent in Belgium to Suttgart in Germany, about a 6 hr drive.
Another 4 night stay and then we're off again.
Another 6 hr drive back up through France into Calais. We're staying 1 night in Calais before we get back on the Eurotunnel and re-enter the UK.
We'll drive across the UK that afternoon and get the Ferry back to Rosslare in the early hours of the morning.

I'm both looking forward to it and very nervous at the same time.
I've driven in Germany before, lots of times.... but I had a LHD car. This will be my first time driving on the wrong side of the car (If you know what I mean)

I've read a few different threads and I know I have to bring the following:

Drivers Licence (mine and her's)
Passpost (mine and her's)
Travel itenary
VLC
Insurance Details
Hi-Vis jacket (to be kept in the car, not in the boot)
Spare bulbs
Warning triangle
A Can of Tyre inflating stuff
Beam deflectors (to be attached when waiting to board the eurotunnel, I guess)
and the all important Sat Nav complete with European Maps.

Am I missing or forgetting anything?

Thanks
ShayK1

CiniO

ShayK1 wrote: »

Hey guys,

I thought you might be interested in this and possibly may offer some advice that I haven't thought of.

On Tuesday July 6th myself and my g/f are driving to Rosslare to get a ferry to Fishgard. Due to arrive around half 12. We're driving across England to get onto the Eurotunnel later that evening, about half 8.
Then we switch over to the other side of the road and we've roughly a 90 minute drive to our destination in Belgium.
4 nights there and then we set of again.
The route this time is from Ghent in Belgium to Suttgart in Germany, about a 6 hr drive.
Another 4 night stay and then we're off again.
Another 6 hr drive back up through France into Calais. We're staying 1 night in Calais before we get back on the Eurotunnel on Thursday 14th and re-enter the UK.
We'll drive across the UK Thursday afternoon and get the Ferry back to Rosslare in the early hours of Friday morning.

I'm both looking forward to it and very nervous at the same time.
I've driven in Germany before, lots of times.... but I had a LHD car. This will be my first time driving on the wrong side of the car (If you know what I mean)

You are unnecesserly nervous.
Driving on the wrong side of the car is not a big deal.
I assume that most of the way through Continent, you'll go through motorway. And to be honest, while driving on motorway it doesn't make any difference if you're driving LHD or RHD. Just remember to look in the mirros before changin lanes and stick to the right.
Also in Germany remember to double check (or triple check) in the mirrors before you start overtaking, as there might be cars aproaching from behind way over 200km/h or even more than 300km/h. Doesn't happen very often, but sometimes it happens.
Anyway, you said that you've driven in Germany, so you probably know all this.
Also while driving in the towns and cities, doesn't really make any diffenece if it's LHD or RHD.
Only where you have to be more carefull is normal roads (not motorways), where it's not that easy to overtake. Just remember to keep bigger distance before car in the front, even if you don't intend to overtake. Otherwise if the car slows down or stops, you can't really see anything if you can pass him or not.

I'd say for the first half an hour of driving RHD car i right hand traffic might require you to focus a bit more, but after an hour you'll definitely get used to it, and you'll fell like you were driving that combination all your life.

I've read a few different threads and I know I have to bring the following:

Drivers Licence (mine and her's)
Passpost (mine and her's)
Travel itenary
VLC
Insurance Details
Hi-Vis jacket (to be kept in the car, not in the boot)
Spare bulbs
Warning triangle
A Can of Tyre inflating stuff
Beam deflectors (to be attached when waiting to board the eurotunnel, I guess)
and the all important Sat Nav complete with European Maps.

Am I missing or forgetting anything?

Thanks
ShayK1

Well...

Driving licence - yours definitely, your girlfriend's - only if she intends to drive.
Passports - definitely
Travel itinerery - it's up to you. If you car remember where you have to go, then you don't need it
VLC - what's this?
Insurance Details - just take you insurance certificate (disc on the windscreen might be not enough) - police might ask you to show this. Also phone numer to you insurance company in case of any accident will be handy.
Hi-Vis jackets - some countries require them, some don't.
Spare bulbs, warning triangle - this is all handy stuff, but they (local police) can't require from you to have it. They also can't give you any penalty for not having it. It's written in Vienna convention about international motor traffic, that every car while in international traffic, has to be equipped according to requirements in country of registration. As in Ireland all this is not required, you are not required to have it, while abroad.
On the other hand, that stuff might be actually really handy, so there's no harm to have it.
Can of tyre inflating stuff - what would you need it for? Don't you have a spare wheel?
Beam deflectors - hmm. You can read in many articles they are required. But to be honest, there's lot of cars from continent in Ireland and UK which don't have them, as well as lot's of Irish and UK cars on the continent, without them.
I've driven for over 2 months over Europe without them, and no one complained. Even more, I made some test with friends, and they said there were not dazzled at all by my dipped headlight.
Only if your headlights are properly adjusted, you shouldn't dazzle anyone. Because on the other hand it you put them on, your lights usually start giving worse light on the road, as it's almost imposible to put them on perfectly.
Only what you are risking without them, is that police might ask you to put them on your car. But wouldn't worry to much about it, as most of policemans wouldn't even know such thing as beam deflectors exist.

What else... Hmmm
Your registration certificate - you'll definitely need this as a proof that you own the car. If the car is registered on someone else's name, then you also need a written agreement signed by this person, that you can use the car.
It also applys to your girlfriend.
Let's say (if the car is registered at your name) while being there you give her a car to go to town for shopping.
Make sure she takes with her registration cert, insurance cert, and little letter stating that she's allowed to use the car signed by you (car owner).
If she is stopped without any of this, car can be easily impounded, and then you'll have to pay a fee to get it back.

Also make sure, that you don't have any radar detection devices, as they are legal in UK, but definitely not legal in France or Germany.

corktina

stick to your original plan, some countries DEFINATELY require you to carry spare bulbs etc...be careful overtaking lorries on a single carriageway is the only real problem.

CiniO

corktina wrote: »

stick to your original plan, some countries DEFINATELY require you to carry spare bulbs etc...

As I said before - they can't require you to have them.
It's against the law.

johnos1984

France requires all passengers to have a hi vis vest.

They also don't take kindly to speeding

Del2005

If any driver wears glasses they need a spare pair.

pepaaa

They can require to have the basic stuff - it's part of compulsory equipment in the car. Depending on the country, most important in hi-vis jacket in the car and first aid kit (complete and not expired).

Also my experience:
-No. 1 rule: **Always** keep right ("slow" lane) on the motorway / autobahn unless overtaking.
-Do not speed - take your time to get to your destination.
-French drivers can be quite aggresive, especially in the cities and roundabouts
-German drivers will pull in front of you from side streets in the cities/villages so just drive slow.

But as someone else said, don't worry too much about driving on the continent. Take it easy and enjoy your travels!

Joe

ianobrien

One other thing - Carry a Clutch cable. The RHD and LHD versions of the same car have different clutch cables and if one snaps, you'll be waiting to get one sent from Ireland.

We have friends who have had one go in their Peugeot in France, and were waiting three days to get it sent from Dublin.

All other mechanical parts are no problem

What about AA 5star European Recovery, or some similar european breakdown, and don't forget your EHIC cards

ShayK1

ianobrien wrote: »

One other thing - Carry a Clutch cable. The RHD and LHD versions of the same car have different clutch cables and if one snaps, you'll be waiting to get one sent from Ireland.

We have friends who have had one go in their Peugeot in France, and were waiting three days to get it sent from Dublin.

All other mechanical parts are no problem

What about AA 5star European Recovery, or some similar european breakdown, and don't forget your EHIC cards

I don't want to jinx myself here but I'm driving a 2008 diesel car so I don't think I'm going to have car trouble. She's been very reliable so far and I hope the same will continue for awhile yet.

ShayK1

Driving licence - yours definitely, your girlfriend's - only if she intends to drive.
She does.


VLC - what's this?
Vehichle Licencing Certificate

peasant

just a practical hint:

make sure all your mirrors are properly adjusted for driving on "the other side"

mightn't do any harm to get one of those cheapo blind spot stick on thingies for your left side mirror either

L1011

Del2005 wrote: »

If any driver wears glasses they need a spare pair.

And sunglasses don't count, even if prescription.

Find this the most obscure French rule, I drive ~100000km/year and I've never had my glasses go wonky when driving. Bulbs have blown, I've needed to use a hi-viz vest, I've even had a situation where the warning triangle got deployed (blow out just around a bad bend) but never any glasses issues!

Eric Cartman

MYOB wrote: »

And sunglasses don't count, even if prescription.

Find this the most obscure French rule, I drive ~100000km/year and I've never had my glasses go wonky when driving. Bulbs have blown, I've needed to use a hi-viz vest, I've even had a situation where the warning triangle got deployed (blow out just around a bad bend) but never any glasses issues!

maybee french glasses are built like french head gaskets , in which case youd need 5 or so

Tordelback

Can I suggest a spare set of beam deflectors? They can easily come off in the heat, and from experience it's a serious pain trying to find them anywhere but in the ferry ports (and sometimes even there).

Also, if driving in rural France beware the dreaded priorité a droit. Cars entering a larger road from the right (the side you're driving on) have priority unless otherwise stated. It's a fading custom, and only really an issue in small country places, but it's still a hell of a shock when a tractor pulls out of a village laneway right in front of you.

As others have said, the RHD driving itself won't be an issue after the first 10 minutes.

L1011

Tordelback wrote: »

As others have said, the RHD driving itself won't be an issue after the first 10 minutes.

Other than remember after a prolonged period out of the seat (mornings, after a break, whatever). I nearly went wrong way back on to the motorway after a rather large dinner in a Belgian MSA

CiniO

Del2005 wrote: »

If any driver wears glasses they need a spare pair.

Not in France, neither Germany or Belgium.
Only country that I know requires it from driver is Spain.
Maybe few more coutries that I know, but definitly not France, Belgium or Germany.

CiniO

pepaaa wrote: »

They can require to have the basic stuff - it's part of compulsory equipment in the car. Depending on the country, most important in hi-vis jacket in the car and first aid kit (complete and not expired).

That's true what you said. It's part of the compulsory equipment of the car.
But, as the car which we're talking about is registered in Ireland, it needs to have compulsory equipment required in Ireland (which doesn't include any of mentioned bulbs, triangles, first aid kits, extinguishers, etc).

-German drivers will pull in front of you from side streets in the cities/villages so just drive slow.


Joe

Maybe it's on equal importance junctions.
On that kind of junctions you give right of way to drivers coming from the right.

CiniO

ianobrien wrote: »

One other thing - Carry a Clutch cable. The RHD and LHD versions of the same car have different clutch cables and if one snaps, you'll be waiting to get one sent from Ireland.

We have friends who have had one go in their Peugeot in France, and were waiting three days to get it sent from Dublin.

All other mechanical parts are no problem

What about AA 5star European Recovery, or some similar european breakdown, and don't forget your EHIC cards

First of all, most modern cars don't use clutch cables, but they have hydraulic clutch.

Second thing - I tell you a little story.
Last December I drove to Poland (with my Irish car).
I had it serviced there, and mechanic said, the accelerator pedal cable was tiny bit cracked, so mechanic said, that it need to be replaced in nearest future, as otherwise it might snap. He said that original one (from main dealer) I would have to wait about 5 days to deliver from Germany (Ford factory). But he said, that he can get me easily a second hand one, from car dismantlers who break cars from UK. That this could be even for tomorrow.
Anyway I didn't get it as I was very busy for next 3 day, and then I took of for journey to Ireland.
Journey went no problem.
After I arrived, no more than a week after, in the middle of the night in the middle of Connemara, my accelerator cable snaped.
I managed to get the car back home with few tricks, and I called Ford dealer in Claremorris next morning.
Thay said they don't have cable in stock and it'll be in 3 day, as they have to order it.
After 3 days, I gave them a ring, and they said they couldn't get it, as there's none in the stock in Ireland, and they'll have to get it from UK - another 4 days.
After this 4 days, they rang, that they are very sorry, but there's none in stock in UK, so they have to wait for delivery from factory in Germany.
Finally i waited for my cable almost 2 weeks in Ireland, as in Poland i could get it on the next day secondhand, or after 5 days original from the dealer.

And the car that I'm talking about is Mondeo, which is one of the most popular models on Irish roads.

CiniO

ShayK1 wrote: »

Driving licence - yours definitely, your girlfriend's - only if she intends to drive.
She does.


VLC - what's this?
Vehichle Licencing Certificate

Oh yea, right.
So called logbook, in real Vehicle registration certificate.

make sure you have it with you (in your wallet the best) always while driving.
Don't leave it in the car, as then you might have huge problem if someone stole the car with the cert in it.

CiniO

peasant wrote: »

just a practical hint:

make sure all your mirrors are properly adjusted for driving on "the other side"

What's the difference in mirror adjustment for right hand drive or left hand drive traffic?

peasant

CiniO wrote: »

What's the difference in mirror adjustment for right hand drive or left hand drive traffic?

Driving a RHD car on the right, your mirrors set up for RHD driving won't show you much at all.
The interior mirror will show mostly the side of the road and the left wing mirror usually lots of your own car and not much else. So both these mirrors need a tilt to the left (and the wing mirror usually a bit up as well) to keep an eye on overtaking traffic on the autobahn.
Also keep in mind that the over the shoulder glance to the left before overtaking will offer less of a view than normal (pillars in the way, windows further away), so take extra care.

ShayK1

CiniO wrote: »

Oh yea, right.
So called logbook, in real Vehicle registration certificate.

make sure you have it with you (in your wallet the best) always while driving.
Don't leave it in the car, as then you might have huge problem if someone stole the car with the cert in it.

yeah I was aware that leaving the VLC in the car would be pretty stupid.
Thanks for the info btw, I very much appreciate it.

CiniO

peasant wrote: »

Driving a RHD car on the right, your mirrors set up for RHD driving won't show you much at all.
The interior mirror will show mostly the side of the road and the left wing mirror usually lots of your own car and not much else. So both these mirrors need a tilt to the left (and the wing mirror usually a bit up as well) to keep an eye on overtaking traffic on the autobahn.
Also keep in mind that the over the shoulder glance to the left before overtaking will offer less of a view than normal (pillars in the way, windows further away), so take extra care.

I really don't know how do you adjust your mirrors, but I adjust them, so in my interior mirror I can see exactly what's behind the car, and on both side mirrors, I can see a tiny bit of car body, and further what on the sides of the car and behind it.

This adjustment it the same good for right hand traffic as left hand traffic.

Turner

Contact your insurance company and they will send you out a "green card" insurance cert.

This shows the cover you have and what countries you have it in. It is a internationally recognised insurance document and is what Gardai demand off foreign drivers over here.

Most insurance company's will send it out for free and will save any problems with any foreign police.


here is an example but it is in a different language.

CiniO

Chief--- wrote: »

Contact your insurance company and they will send you out a "green card" insurance cert.

You need green card, if you're travelling outside EU.
Within EU green card has no use at all.

Turner

CiniO wrote: »

You need green card, if you're travelling outside EU.
Within EU green card has no use at all.

I know that, but its a lot better to hand over to foreign police than a certificate from FBD, Allianz, 123.ie or tesco insurnace.

Companies they have never heard of before.

It is an internationally recognised document that is accepted by the authorities of all countries in which the Green Card is valid.

See here http://www.cobx.org/

And it is free to get form your insurance company.

corktina

CiniO wrote: »

I really don't know how do you adjust your mirrors, but I adjust them, so in my interior mirror I can see exactly what's behind the car, and on both side mirrors, I can see a tiny bit of car body, and further what on the sides of the car and behind it.

This adjustment it the same good for right hand traffic as left hand traffic.

yes I agree...i dont see any other way to have the mirrors Left or right hand driving....

(you need to look over your shoulder more BTW....)

rugbyman

Tordelback wrote: »

Can I suggest a spare set of beam deflectors? They can easily come off in the heat, and from experience it's a serious pain trying to find them anywhere but in the ferry ports (and sometimes even there).

Also, if driving in rural France beware the dreaded priorité a droit. Cars entering a larger road from the right (the side you're driving on) have priority unless otherwise stated. It's a fading custom, and only really an issue in small country places, but it's still a hell of a shock when a tractor pulls out of a village laneway right in front of you.

As others have said, the RHD driving itself won't be an issue after the first 10 minutes.

Tordlback
I have driven in Europe for thirty years, high mileages as a truck driver and in later years as a car driver. If I had read of the "priorite a droit"
up to afew years ago, I would have strongly denied its existence.

I have come across it ,in only one city,and in only one location, but is is wierd! There seems to be green strips on the road where it applies.

From most peoples point of view it is unlikely they will encounter such a situation.

Rugbyman

peasant

corktina wrote: »

yes I agree...i dont see any other way to have the mirrors Left or right hand driving....

(you need to look over your shoulder more BTW....)

You can indeed set your internal mirror in such a way that you can see a bit through the left rear side window as well (depending on the car of course) and then adjust your wing mirror in such a way that its field of vision starts where the interior mirror ends.
This means that you probably won't see the edge of your car in the side mirror any more, but a lot more of what's going on on your left hand side, if you use both mirrors combined ...and as Tesco says: every little helps

ShayK1

Chief--- wrote: »

Contact your insurance company and they will send you out a "green card" insurance cert.

This shows the cover you have and what countries you have it in. It is a internationally recognised insurance document and is what Gardai demand off foreign drivers over here.

Most insurance company's will send it out for free and will save any problems with any foreign police.


here is an example but it is in a different language.

There's a green card on the way but my understanding of it was that it contained the relevant emergency numbers and contact numbers for different countries.
My g/f is picking it up on Monday.

L1011

Chief--- wrote: »

I know that, but its a lot better to hand over to foreign police than a certificate from FBD, Allianz, 123.ie or tesco insurnace.

Companies they have never heard of before.

It is an internationally recognised document that is accepted by the authorities of all countries in which the Green Card is valid.

See here http://www.cobx.org/

And it is free to get form your insurance company.

Allianz are massive in Europe, a 123 cert is issued by Travelers who are well known everywhere, and so on.

The Green Card is a waste of your own time if only staying within the EU.

Carawaystick

put some tape on the right had side of the dash or wear yer watch on your right hand or do something to remind you to drive on the right. especially first thing in the morning, or reversing out onto a road or coming of a rab onto a single carriageway road after cruising on motorway.

Priorite a droit is common in France, Luxemburg and Germany. where you see the X sign in a warning triangle it usually means you have to yield ti trafic pulling out in front of you.
In Lux it will ne signed,
in France anywhere with a 30kmh limit the rule applies
I don't know about germany, but fairly sure it applies in urban areas.

you don't need a green card any more in the EU
I'd learn the dutch and german words for tax and insurance though. and point to the disks first

I always have a hi-vis vest in the door pocket and a warning triangle. I'd be fairly sure my car won't break down but if you happen on an accident, they'l be usefull, no matter what country you're in.

Fishtits

Why don't just you fly in and rent a car?

ShayK1

Fishtits wrote: »

Why don't just you fly in and rent a car?

Because of the cost involved.

Max_Damage

Man, I drove in France before (in a 1990 Micra of all cars!) and never had any issues, nor did I go into all of the precautions listed here.

Just stick to the right side of the road and you'll be grand.

CiniO

Carawaystick wrote: »

Priorite a droit is common in France, Luxemburg and Germany. where you see the X sign in a warning triangle it usually means you have to yield ti trafic pulling out in front of you.
In Lux it will ne signed,
in France anywhere with a 30kmh limit the rule applies
I don't know about germany, but fairly sure it applies in urban areas.

X sign in a warning triangle, means it's a junctions of road of equal importance.
And it means, that you have to yield to the drivers coming from the right.

Sometimes it might happen, that these kind of junctions will not be signed - usually in slow traffic areas.

In short words.
If you are approaching a junction, and get a yield or stop sign, then you have to yield to the traffic on the main road (you are coming from secondary road).
If you approach the junction, and don't get any sign, it might mean that you are on the main road (and have right of way) or it might mean, that you are approaching equal importance junction, and have to yield to the right. Only way to know which of these two is the one, is just look at the sign earlier. Main roads are signed by special sign, and very often this sign is not repeated before every junction.
Just if you are on the main road, you should remember this.



Other thing is - in Ireland there is also the same rule of yielding to the driver from the right side, while on junctions of roads of equal importance. That's what rules of the road say. But in real, I never seen such a junction.

Marlow

Tordelback wrote: »

Can I suggest a spare set of beam deflectors?

Check the manual for your car, if you at all need beam deflectors. My '99 BMW 5-series for example has a switch inside the lights, where I can change them from driving on the left side of the road (Ireland) to driving on the right hand side of the road (continental Europe). No deflectors needed and no damaging the plastic in front of the lights.

/M

bazzachazza

Green card is not needed. An insurance cert is an insurance cert. Would you recognise some of the German/Swiss/Danish Insurance companies ?

I was told many years ago to get an International drivers licence so off I went to the AA paid up my money for the bloke to simply write my licence number in a small book that simply said Licence in about 20-30 languages. This turned out to be a waste of money as the car hire woman gave it back and asked for my drivers licence.

Saab Ed

I've just driven to Vienna over the weekend and to be honest I brought nothing I wouldnt bring on any normal long journey. Didnt see a cop in any country untill I was about an hour from the end of my journey.

OP , I'd say the best advice I could give you is leave yourself lots of time.

ShayK1

just thought I'd update this thread.

Arrived back this morning with no problems.
We drove all the way from Ireland, across Wales, England, Belgium, Luxembourg and Germany without hitting a toll bridge or even having to show a passport. It was only when we came back into France that the tolls began and by jaysis did they make up for it.
We drove for about 7hrs in France and it cost €50 on tolls alone. The first time we showed passports or any form of ID was boarding the Euro Tunnel to re-enter the UK.

If I was doing it again, I'd avoid France as much as possible and drive through Germany, Luxembourg and Belgium to get back to the Tunnel. It'd only be an extra half hour or so.

All in all, great trip, great experience and very stress free.
Thanks to everyone that offered any advice.