subject: Driving In Europe- Have Fun But Be Safe [print this page] The weather may be improving but the weather in Southern Europe is certainly getting warmer and many of us will be thinking of taking a break there soon. If you want to take your car with you then you can and the great thing about Europe is that you can drive from country to country with great sights and scenery to be admired along the way.
Booze cruises are one example as many people travel to countries such as France to buy some drinks as they are considerably cheaper than they are in the UK. If you are your friends are planning a booze cruise then there are two main things to remember. The first thing is not to overload your car as you will be more susceptible to a breakdown if your car is not be able to handle the weight.
It is easy to damage the suspension, cause wear to the tyres and burn out the clutch when you car is carrying too much weight. A good thing to remember is that five cases of wine are roughly equivalent to an extra passenger so do not overload your car. You may end up spending more on repair costs than you saved on your shopping so be careful.
Satellite navigation systems are great to have and can help you find your way around the country. European maps can be brought for Sat Navs and you are advised to use them if you can as they will make your trip a lot easier. Trying to follow local maps and road signs can to be tricky if you do not speak the language. Please note though that satellite navigation systems that come with speed camera alerts are illegal in some countries (such as France) so if you have this then make sure you disable the feature as you could be fined.
Leaded petrol is no longer available in northern European countries and instead you need to look out for Lead Replacement Petrol (LRP). Sometimes you may find that LRP is not available at certain petrol stations and if this is the case then you can normally buy an anti-wear additive for treating non-leaded petrol should you need it.
When driving abroad make sure you take care and drive safely, after all you are in unfamiliar settings and accidents can easily happen. Have the emergency phone number for Europe in your mobile (112) so if you do have any problems you can call for assistance.
