The problem is here in the uk the people with warning triangles put them 3 ft from the rear of the car.

50 yards is usually a sensible start assuming the reflectors on the back of your car work.

I've seen advice of 3 car lengths, which is probably more useful. On the country roads with lots of bends, just beyond the bend you're sat after is usually a good idea too

Edited 31 August, 201213 yr by cheezemonkhai

Emma Jane firstly kick the better have in the cashew nuts then try and purchase all that you can or scrounge ,family came back from st jean du monts on the vandee and got caught with a lot of stuff that he should have been on board but forgot it all in blighty, he got a massive fine, police did say that since April this year it's a priority and they are stepping up there stops, hopefully we will get it here so we can do tit for tat enjoy your holiday

And a partridge in a pear tree also.

Holly crap - spare glasses too. You pretty much wont have room for luggage by the time you pack in all the crap they expect you to carry. Pretty ridiculous TBH and will probably only get worse.

Typical arrogant Brit attitude. We expect foreigners to abide by our laws, why shouldn't we abide by theirs when we're in their countries?

Just realised I don't have hi-vis jackets.

Thought I did.

Will need to nip and grab a couple to night as we're heading off in the morning.

Got everything else we need.

Phil

The most worrying part now is the fact the other half whom drives a lot aboard failed to tell me about my v5 and insurance docs :/

you def need those when driving abroad, if you don't get stopped you will be fine, if you do you will be in quite a bit of grief....

Probably checked on this occasion to try and prevent stolen vehicles from leaving the EU.

When going between most EU countries the borders are usually pretty relaxed.

Phil

But we we stopped and documents checked going into Lithuania, which is in the EU?

Also, would a stolen RHD car be any good in a country where they drive on the right?

You will be surprised how many stolen RHD cars find there way to countries where LHD is the norm. A TV program took a UK police tracker scanner to one common destination, and flying around in a helicopter the scanner was constantly alerting them to stolen cars below.

You will be surprised how many stolen RHD cars find there way to countries where LHD is the norm. A TV program took a UK police tracker scanner to one common destination, and flying around in a helicopter the scanner was constantly alerting them to stolen cars below.

Yes, now I think about it a lot of stolen cars are stripped for parts, so the engine, gearbox, etc are all just as good in LHD countries. On the Lithuanian and Belarus borders, they wanted to look at the chassis and engine numbers, but I had no idea where they are! We got through eventually though. Next time, I'll make sure I know where to look!

Cyprus is over run with high end beemers and Mercs etc.

There is little dodgy car sales at the side of the road with about £500,000 worth of "stock"!

Mmmm.... Wonder where they get them..?

No, the plates should be UK style,

which does not need GB on it. OK if it does have,

(or Sco, Eng, etc.)

The Car needs the GB Sticker on it.

george

Only UK or GB are valid on plates.

SCO or ENG aren't EU countries

Countries & Nations & they got an arrangement with the EU.

Flags & Identifiers, UK Number plates.

We get to do this and also Wear a GB Sticker.

http://www.direct.go...lates/DG_181503

Update on the need to carry breath test kits in France:

Indefinite delay on breath tests

THE government has delayed the full introduction of the controversial breath-test law, which would have penalised them for not carrying an unused kit in their vehicle.

Interior Minister Manuel Valls has postponed “sine die” – indefinitely – the start of €11 fines for not carrying the tests. He had already delayed the start from November 1, 2012, until March 1 due to problems in supply and doubts about their effectiveness.

He says he will wait until the Conseil National de la Sécurité Routière (CNSR) has reported on what it sees as the best measures to cut drink-driving, which is a major cause of road deaths.

The news came as Valls announced an 8% drop in the numbers killed on France’s roads – falling to 3,645. He noted that there had been a 14.5% drop in the number of motorcyclists killed but said they still made up 23% of the road victims despite being just 3% of the traffic.

Cyclists were revealed as being more exposed to road dangers as the number killed rose 9.9%.

He said that for the general figures there was a definite sex and age trend, with three times the number of men being killed as women and 21% of the deaths being in the 18-24 age group.

Valls has previously announced his aim of cutting the road toll “in half” by 2020 and called for continuing efforts to improve road safety. Whether mandatory breath tests will play any role of may be known by mid-February when CNSR is due to give its initial views.

However, one committee member, road safety campaigner Chantal Perrichon, president of the Ligue Contre la Violence Routière, has already dismissed the tests as “just a gimmick”.

She told Connexion they had been a hastily-introduced measure which had been brought in at the end of the Sarkozy presidency “to be seen to be doing something”.

Mme Perrichon said that no proper testing had been done to evaluate the éthylotest and that Valls would have no choice but to delay full introduction.

There had also been controversy about their lack of availability across the country – and the soaring prices for the few kits available. Environmental campaigners had also attacked them as they used toxic chemicals and a consumer group test showed that they were not reliable.

Well me dear, you are the driver and should be aware of what you have to take with you, no good relying on others. Oh, and don't run out of fuel on a motorway you'll get fined in some countries, definitely Germany.

I've been driving my own / company car in mainland Europe for 15+ years, and not once have I had a problem with date bulbs, triangles etc. Speeding in Belgium though is an absolute no no, likewise on speed restricted autobahn. You can also pay a speeding fine with a credit card on the spot in Spain.

Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2

Typical arrogant Brit attitude. We expect foreigners to abide by our laws, why shouldn't we abide by theirs when we're in their countries?

Wise up you chocolate. i Have driven countless times across Europe. In 23 years of driving i have yet to be charged with a motoring offence while on holiday so know how to respect their laws. It may be the law but i can still have an opinion on it as to whether i think its OTT or not, and IMO it is.

By your daft logic there are no laws in existence in our or any other country that you feel is OTT. Of course there are, doesnt mean you would condone breaking these laws but you are entitled to have an opinion on them.

Plus i always class myself as a Scot especially when abroad as you tend to get treated better that way.

Edited 31 January, 201313 yr by Jockdooshbag

none of this changes the fact that you need to carry all the items mentioned previously in the thread, along with your documents, to go abroad without is a little naive to say the least and although the chances of getting stopped are slim (unless you speed a lot), none the less, get in an accident, or get stopped and a peage toll for a check (as i have several times) then you will be in the s*it!

none of this changes the fact that you need to carry all the items mentioned previously in the thread, along with your documents, to go abroad without is a little naive to say the least and although the chances of getting stopped are slim (unless you speed a lot), none the less, get in an accident, or get stopped and a peage toll for a check (as i have several times) then you will be in the s*it!

Agreed but none of this changes the fact thst i think its totally OTT so there was no need for the moral crusader attitude about being "arogant". Some 40mph speed limits in the uk are ridiculous, i think this but i will try and adhear to them. This does not make me a "typical arrogant Brit".

Ive been stopped at Tolls before and never had anything checked. Certainly they take a dim view of speeding but to be honest seing as its 80mph meaning close to 90mph legally then there is no real need to speed.

to be honest, i wasn't really commenting on you being arrogant, just that they are required items abroad (in terms of legality).

I drive more than the average person abroad, having family in france, italy and a house abroad, certain items are of use, and i carry most of that stuff in my car anyway, inc a fire extinguisher and a first aid kit, even here.

Beam benders, are needed, though many don't, on my return to the UK from Italy, i had my headlights checked last year near arras iirc, luckily i use them.

Spare bulb kit, useful anyway, but french motorways in large parts are unlight, so having as bst light as possible is a good idea, if you get stopped with a light out, you can change it there and then without getting a fine, so not a bad idea really.

High vis vest, needed again perhaps due to low visability at night on motorways, so not a bad idea, same with warning triangles, 2 are required for spain funnily enough. Can get vests at the poundshop, so not an expensive purchase by any means. Mine are left in the boot as they are needed for italy too.

So some of this stuff, isn't a bad idea really, its no big hassle to get it, and keep it in the boot of your car should you need it at the end of the day, none of it is expensive, unlike fines in italy and france and certainly switzerland which very much are expensive.

I agree with you about speeding, no real need in france, been there, done that and got the fine. Have seen motoring change over the years in europe, there is now much more police presence and tech to catch you out, i much prefer a nice leasurely drive. In the last few years I have seen pretty much everytime I go through france the gendarmerie hidden at the side of the road (in bushes or up a bank) with a respose unit further down the road waiting to take chase. In the Pas de calais they use a subaru imprezza. In other parts of france, like montpellier to marseille, they search cars as routine on the autoroute looking for drug and immigrant smuggling.

When it comes down to it, you take your chances by not taking it, and in reality, you probably will never get caught, but on that odd occasion that something goes wrong, it really can make a huge difference to the outcome.

Like not having your paperwork, and your licence on you at all times, means your car can and will (most likely) be impounded.

The law about carrying 2 breathalysers is stupid. We all know not to drink drive so having a breathalyser in the car wont make any difference as to whether you do it or not.

Lets say im tea total and dont drink alchcohol ever. Why the would i need 2 breathalysers?? Totally nonsense.

People who drive drunk generally do it because they dont give a **** not because they are unaware they are drunk.

Say you have a wee glass of wine or 2 the night before and then you use the breathalyser to double check your alchohol levels the next morning. You end up being fine but now you cant drive anyway as you only have 1 breathalyser left. Total and utter nonsense. Plus you cant drive to the shops to buy a new one so you have to walk to the shops. How exactly does this law make it safer on the roads??? Totally moronic law.

Hi vis vests and warning triangles and even spare bulbs kinda makes sense but not 2 breathalysers.

Why 2 anyway?? Use 1, oh still over the limit. An hour later use the 2nd one, oh im fine now. Right im on a motorway rest area after spending the night in my caravan and there are no shops about so what happens next? Maybe i should have carried 4 breathalysers but then what if i was still over the limit after the 2nd test? I should have carried 5 kits. Where does it end??

Hmmm replies 6 month later, shame the op as long since been banged up and enjoying quiet time with Monsieur Bubba in the Bastille

The law about carrying 2 breathalysers is stupid. We all know not to drink drive so having a breathalyser in the car wont make any difference as to whether you do it or not.

Lets say im tea total and dont drink alchcohol ever. Why the would i need 2 breathalysers?? Totally nonsense.

People who drive drunk generally do it because they dont give a **** not because they are unaware they are drunk.

Say you have a wee glass of wine or 2 the night before and then you use the breathalyser to double check your alchohol levels the next morning. You end up being fine but now you cant drive anyway as you only have 1 breathalyser left. Total and utter nonsense. Plus you cant drive to the shops to buy a new one so you have to walk to the shops. How exactly does this law make it safer on the roads??? Totally moronic law.

Hi vis vests and warning triangles and even spare bulbs kinda makes sense but not 2 breathalysers.

Why 2 anyway?? Use 1, oh still over the limit. An hour later use the 2nd one, oh im fine now. Right im on a motorway rest area after spending the night in my caravan and there are no shops about so what happens next? Maybe i should have carried 4 breathalysers but then what if i was still over the limit after the 2nd test? I should have carried 5 kits. Where does it end??

indeed it is a joke, and was a fix, i think the minister who pushed this through, had an interest in the company that produced these kits....typical!

the police should be doing their own job, with their own kit, whatever next...they will want to borrow our cars too? lol

I think there is an amnesty with these, and that they are not being enforced, not 100% but am pretty sure i heard that due to the above reasons.

Edited 4 February, 201313 yr by Oet

Plus i always class myself as a Scot especially when abroad as you tend to get treated better that way.

Not in England you dont :)