Thinking about driving while abroad? Whether you’re taking your own car on holiday or thinking of hiring one when you get there, here’s what you need to know:
1. Check you’re on the right side of the road
First things first, find out what side of the road you’re meant to be driving on. Driving on the right-hand side of the road may be new to you, but this is what some countries do. This means that you’ll be going the opposite way around the roundabout, strange isn’t it! Put it this way, if you’ve never driven on the opposite side of the road before in a foreign country, then this will definitely be an experience for you. You’ll be going crackers when you return to your usual side.
2. Don’t act like your in the F1
As much as you might love putting your foot down, don’t forget that foreign countries still have speed limits. Driving laws can differ from country to country so it’s better to be safe than sorry and check the speed limits. It’s handy to know the driving laws of the country that you’re visiting.
3. Take time to get to know your new set of wheels
If you are in a country where you do have to drive on the opposite side, you’ll feel ever so weird when you get in and you’re sitting on the left-hand side. You’ll feel like you’re sat on the wrong side so this might take some getting used to, never mind having to change the gears too with the wrong hand!
4. You never know what’s around the corner
When you go abroad have you ever noticed how everybody drives like a mad man? It’s like everybody is in a rush and is driving 100mph just to get to where they need to be. It’s madness. It’s like nobody has a care in the world and all everybody is focused on is driving as fast as they can. And, it’s never just one person doing it either, it’s literally every person you see. It’s probably best to approach everything with caution and be careful of everybody.
5. Use your common sense
Just because you’re driving in a different country this shouldn’t mean that you shouldn’t play by the rules. Wearing your seatbelt while abroad is probably more important than ever. You’ve seen the way people drive so why you wouldn’t want to wear your seat belt is madness. Don’t get distracted whatever you do. Anything could happen so its best to be alert and focused at all times.
We hope that you’ve taken these top tips on board and you feel more prepared for braving the roads abroad. However, if you’ve been scarred for life by driving abroad and you’ve decided that you just can’t handle the roads anymore, you might be thinking of selling your car. If so, you can find out how much your car is worth here today. We’ll give you a free valuation and you don’t even have to enter your details. All you need is your registration number and you’ll be off.
