I'm travelling from the UK to mainland Europe on Friday and was thinking of a checklist for my L&K (with dynamic light assist and traffic sign recognition) to switch to the right-hand traffic:

1. Car - Light - Travel Mode - Right-hand traffic (is this supposed to switch automatically?)

2. Menu - Settings - Time and date - Time zone

3. Menu - Settings - Units - Speed - set to km/h - do I have to do this to switch traffic sign recognition to km/h?

 

Have I missed anything? 

1) Yes, it switches automatically - at least it did on mine. It switched back on return too.

2) Mine didn't switch. Had to go into the time zone menu and select GMT+1. This was with time set to GPS. I have since used VCDS to switch Daylight Saving setting to Europe, but don't know yet if that will also enable auto-switching of time zone.

3) You don't need to switch to km/h for TSR but it will show the sign for what it is. So if the sign is a 100 km/h limit you will see the "100" speed limit sign on the Travel Assist display.

 

You might be interested in looking at my post in the 280 thread where I answered these and maybe even some other questions/concerns you might have.

First aid kit, warning triangle, bulb kit, safety jacket, breathalyser for France?

Make sure there is plenty of room underneath for illegal immigrants when coming back to the UK!! 

First aid kit, warning triangle, bulb kit, safety jacket, breathalyser for France?

First aid kit - check

Warning triangle - check

Safety jackets - check (special place for them in door pockets)

Breathalyser - check (probably expired though - purchased in 2013 - but there is no penalty for not having one... right?)

Bulb kit - check (though not for xenons - not practical anyway - does it matter?)

GB plates - check

First aid kit, warning triangle, bulb kit, safety jacket, breathalyser for France?

All the above, except the breathalyser which is not a requirement - the French government failed to get it passed into law thanks to the EU.

Safety jackets also need to be one per occupant kept in the passenger compartment, hence the specific slots for them in the doors.

All the above, except the breathalyser which is not a requirement - the French government failed to get it passed into law thanks to the EU.

Safety jackets also need to be one per occupant kept in the passenger compartment, hence the specific slots for them in the doors.

Has anyone been in trouble for having the bulb kit of the wrong type? The kit has H7 bulbs but the car has xenon headlights.

The original Skoda kit is 33 Euros: http://www.superskoda.com/Skoda/SUPERB-III/Superb-III-original-Skoda-spare-bulb-set-cars-WITH-front-fog-lights-and-with-xenon-headlights

My bulb kit costs are £1.50.. Go to your local Andy pages or Euro car parts and just buy a few cheap bulbs, put in a small box and leave in the boot somewhere. Jobs a good one.

It's a an old rule and hard to enforce.. As chances are you won't have the tools to don the job.

Edited 24 March, 201610 yr by RickTT

I think this applies to Spain only. If you wear prescription spectacles you need to carry a spare pair, and you need two warning triangles, one to be placed in front of the vehicle and one to the rear.

If involved in a breakdown or RTC, occupants need to be wearing the hi-vis vest/jacket before they get out of the vehicle.

With regards to the spectacle requirements, you effectively need to carry two spare pair as the spare and the spectacles you are wearing need to be fit for purpose. For instance, you break the pair you are wearing and use your spare, you effectively have not got a fit for purpose replacement pair. I just got two cheap sets on a 2 for offer. don't think I ever used them, but I didn't fancy having any issues with the Guardia Civil Traffico either!

Edited 24 March, 201610 yr by Guest

New Car = cheap holidays and I have done little driving in Europe so is there a book that details each countries requirements, country by country or a comprehensive list of things that means you will comply with EVERY country.

New Car = cheap holidays and I have done little driving in Europe so is there a book that details each countries requirements, country by country or a comprehensive list of things that means you will comply with EVERY country.

 

You could try looking here http://www.rac.co.uk/driving-abroad/germany

 

Germany is an example, just select your country from the dropdown box. 

New Car = cheap holidays and I have done little driving in Europe so is there a book that details each countries requirements, country by country or a comprehensive list of things that means you will comply with EVERY country.

Also in many countries winter tires are needed during "winter conditions" and sometimes chains are needed as well.

Has anyone been in trouble for having the bulb kit of the wrong type? The kit has H7 bulbs but the car has xenon headlights.

The original Skoda kit is 33 Euros: http://www.superskoda.com/Skoda/SUPERB-III/Superb-III-original-Skoda-spare-bulb-set-cars-WITH-front-fog-lights-and-with-xenon-headlights

 

On your L&K the only bulbs that are changeable (ignoring the Xenon’s) are the front fog lights (H8), rear indicators (PY21W) and reversing lights (BA15s) all the rest are LED’s.

 

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/393511-what-bulbs-are-fitted-to-the-s3-upgraded-bulb-recommendations/

New Car = cheap holidays and I have done little driving in Europe so is there a book that details each countries requirements, country by country or a comprehensive list of things that means you will comply with EVERY country.

You might also want to check the AA site which is far more comprehensive than the RAC and probably more useful for first time visitors. In addition to the legal requirements it contains driving advice and the meaning of some of the more obscure road signs you may encounter.

Each country has a PDF so you can download and print them if required.

Planing a long drive to the UK (through Denmark, Germany, Holland and possibly Belgium, France) in the summer which we are really looking forward to. Thanks for the tips about driving in mainland Europe. Have done this many times but it is worth getting updated. Shall be interesting to see how well our car automatically "picks up" that it is in the UK.

Planing a long drive to the UK (through Denmark, Germany, Holland and possibly Belgium, France) in the summer which we are really looking forward to. Thanks for the tips about driving in mainland Europe. Have done this many times but it is worth getting updated. Shall be interesting to see how well our car automatically "picks up" that it is in the UK.

If you want to go to the UK by car, I think your best option would be to quickly pass Belgium and get to the Calais to use the tunnel. Rather long trip though .

If you want to go to the UK by car, I think your best option would be to quickly pass Belgium and get to the Calais to use the tunnel. Rather long trip though .

 

Thank you sandervdw for the tip. The Calais route is on the table as an option but as you say it is a longer drive by about 2 hours compared to the ferry from Holland. I am also worried about the delays I have heard about in Calais. The journey time over to the UK would be quicker though.

Thank you sandervdw for the tip. The Calais route is on the table as an option but as you say it is a longer drive by about 2 hours compared to the ferry from Holland. I am also worried about the delays I have heard about in Calais. The journey time over to the UK would be quicker though.

Delays might indeed be a problem (Syrian fugitives trying to get to UK, and now extra border controls due to terrorist attacks here) and it's a 3h 20 min extra drive by the way. But on the positive side, you arrive closer to London. It's only 45 minutes when you're in the tunnel and you can get Belgian fries (and beer if you let anyone else drive!) on the way!

Try Amsterdam to Newcastle, short drive in Europe and arrive in the best part of the UK

Great tips. Thank you ukgnome and sandervdw. Have taken the Newcastle route before when DFDS left from Gothenburg, Sweden. Our last trip to Newcastle we drove up to Scotland.

 

This trip though we are planing to drive first to London and then further south into Cornwall. I am considering Hoek van Holland to Harwich. I think Stena Line does that route. Not sure if there are any better routes but it´s early days yet.

A good alternative to Calais is to use Dunkerke to Dover - DFDS. A small port and not congested like Calais. They have great ferries and you get a 2 hour break from the drive. No delays that I am aware of so though longer than using the tunnel could be more dependable.

A good alternative to Calais is to use Dunkerke to Dover - DFDS. A small port and not congested like Calais. They have great ferries and you get a 2 hour break from the drive. No delays that I am aware of so though longer than using the tunnel could be more dependable.

 

Thank you Montegue. I will check into that alternative also.

 

Just love the response from fellow Briskodians. Thank you.

With regards to the spectacle requirements, you effectively need to carry two spare pair as the spare and the spectacles you are wearing need to be fit for purpose. For instance, you break the pair you are wearing and use your spare, you effectively have not got a fit for purpose replacement pair. I just got two cheap sets on a 2 for offer. don't think I ever used them, but I didn't fancy having any issues with the Guardia Civil Traffico either! 

 

So what happens if you break the spare, surely you need to carry three pairs, but then what if you break the third pair? do you need to carry four pairs? but then what if..............this could run and run!

So what happens if you break the spare, surely you need to carry three pairs, but then what if you break the third pair? do you need to carry four pairs? but then what if..............this could run and run!

Fortunately, I also carried some Common Sense in the glovebox and drew the line at 2 spare pair. If any were to break, I'd get the broken pair repaired or replaced at the earliest opportunity. As I never broke any, I never had to put it in practice.

In that 30 month and approximately 40,000mile period of driving around Spain, I was stopped several times for random vehicle checks, so the expense of two spare pare of spectacles was a small price to pay to avoid being escorted by the Guardia Civil to the nearest ATM to pay an on the spot fine, which some of my colleagues had to endure.

Edited 26 March, 201610 yr by Guest

Just been checking my car for the warning triangle but cannot find it, does the car come with one or do you have to buy it as an extra (surely not!)