22 June 2012

Motorists urged to consider European driving regulations this Summer

If you're heading on holiday this year, you might want to consider hiring a car and seeing the sights.

When taking out holiday car rental, travellers might have visions of scenic long drives with the wind in their hair and sun on their back. However, there are a number of other things they might wish to consider.

Driving in a foreign country can be exciting yet dangerous if you are not aware of the rules and regulations. If driving overseas, it could be worth planning a route in advance and investigating your destination country's driving regulations.

Simon Elstow, a driving training specialist at IAM Drive & Survive, said: "Driving from London to Rome takes an exhausting 20 hours so preparing yourself and your car is essential. Check all of your lights are working and that your tyres have enough tread, aren't damaged and have the right pressure. Plan your journey to include rest stops, and if you're tired, stop for a sleep.

"To get to Italy you may have to drive through France. Don't forget that from 1 July, all drivers and motorcyclists need to carry a breathalyser kit, with two disposable breathalysers. The breathalyser must carry the NF certification.”

Here are a few top tips to consider when driving in Italy:

Always carry your driving licence with you. You might even need to keep your vehicle registration document (V5) and insurance certificates with you in case they are required. It is always a good idea to keep photocopies of important documents when travelling.

Be aware of the drink-driving limit of your destination country. For example, in Italy, the limit is significantly lower than in the UK. You cannot have more than 50 mg per 100ml blood compared to 80mg in the UK.