Brits driving abroad face heavy fines for breaking the rules
British motorists driving on the Continent this summer face heavy on-the-spot fines if they fail to follow the rules, according to a new study by Post Office Travel Money. In its annual report entitled Motoring on the Continent it was revealed that around one in five Brits who have driven on the continent have been stopped at least once by the police.
The most common crimes include using a sat nav device to track speed cameras, speeding and driving on the left. Using a sat nav or mobile phone to detect speed cameras carries an extremely heavy fine in countries such as Italy and France.
The Post Office said it had found that the majority of drivers admitted they were unsure about many of the rules concerning driving on the Continent. Around a third said they were not sure about speed limits and two thirds admitted to not knowing that the use of sat nav detectors was often illegal.
Post Office Travel Money’s Andrew Brown said it was vital that holidaymakers intending to drive while away brush up on the local rules and regulations especially as the police in many countries appear to be ramping up checks and strictly enforcing penalties.
He added that motorists should carry extra foreign currency and be aware that the fines for breaking the rules were often heavy and to be paid on-the-spot.
The most common crimes include using a sat nav device to track speed cameras, speeding and driving on the left. Using a sat nav or mobile phone to detect speed cameras carries an extremely heavy fine in countries such as Italy and France.
The Post Office said it had found that the majority of drivers admitted they were unsure about many of the rules concerning driving on the Continent. Around a third said they were not sure about speed limits and two thirds admitted to not knowing that the use of sat nav detectors was often illegal.
Post Office Travel Money’s Andrew Brown said it was vital that holidaymakers intending to drive while away brush up on the local rules and regulations especially as the police in many countries appear to be ramping up checks and strictly enforcing penalties.
He added that motorists should carry extra foreign currency and be aware that the fines for breaking the rules were often heavy and to be paid on-the-spot.