BillB
Well-Known Member
- Messages
- 633
- Location
- Luxembourg
- Type of diabetes
- Type 2
- Treatment type
- Tablets (oral)
- Dislikes
- Impolite people, yobbish behaviour, pretentious people.
With the holiday season fast approaching I thought it would be useful to give forum members some information on driving in Europe, gleaned from experience.
Three countries charge a fee in advance to use their motorways: Austria, Switzerland and the Czech Republic. You have to display a sticker fixed to the inside of the windscreen. They can be bought in advance from your national automobile club or when you arrive at the border.
Some other countries have toll roads where you pay as you drive: France, Spain and Italy. Toll stations are signposted in advance. In France you can pay by cash or credit card. The toll booths which accept credit cards have the letters “cb” over them, those accepting cash have an ideogram of some coins. If you travel often in France it may be worthwhile setting up an account with Sanef who will provide you with a badge that sticks on the inside of the windscreen and allows you to use the gates dedicated to badgeholders only. The advantage is that these lanes are usually less frequented so you get through quicker, avoiding the long queues that build up, especially in the summer months. These lanes can be identified by the lower case “t” (télépéage) over the tollbooth. They are usually found on the left hand side of the approach. You will also find them occasionally on the extreme right, although these are usually used by trucks. It’s easy to set up an account if you have a credit card, which can be done at the website www.sanef.com/en
When you approach the gate at the toll station you simply drive slowly forward towards the barrier, there will be a quiet “ting” from your badge and the barrier will rise. You then drive through and the toll will be calculated when you leave the motorway and added to your credit card bill at the end of the month.
On the motorways in France you will often see a series of information signs giving you the price of fuel at the next three motorway petrol stations and how far away they are. Keep your eyes open for them as they can save you money on long journeys.
The maximum speed limit varies: in Austria, Italy, France and Luxembourg it is 130 kph, while in Belgium, the Netherlands, and Spain it is 120 kph. In Germany there is no speed limit on the Autobahn, in principal, except where a limit is posted, either because of roadworks or approaching an accident black spot. There are, however, recommended speed limits and these are signposted in blue. They are not binding, simply what they say – recommended.
In the event of breakdown on the autoroute or autobahn the procedure is the same as in the UK – pull over onto the hard shoulder, don a high visibility jacket, put all your passengers behind the Armco barrier and put out your red triangle a hundred yards behind your car. The emergency telephone number throughout the EU is 112, and your mobile phone will operate on this number. If you break down in Germany you will notice that the black and white posts at the side of the road have an arrow at the top. This will point to the nearest emergency telephone, either ahead of you or behind you.
Continental motorway stations are usually smaller and more pleasant than the ghastly ones I’ve experienced in the UK. In France I once discovered a waiter service restaurant serving roast guinea fowl at the Tavel rest stop. There was also a self-service cafeteria next door.
At the time of writing, in the westernmost Continental countries, fuel is cheapest in Luxembourg, followed by Spain, Switzerland, Austria, France, Germany, Belgium, Italy and Holland, in that order. And as in Britain the motorway petrol stations are more expensive than those on national roads.
In France, remember that it is illegal to overtake in a village.
If you are driving through a town in France and are not sure of the way, you’ll find the signs that read “Toutes directions” a Godsend. Keep following these signs and you will sooner or later, come to a sign for the road or destination you are looking for. It’s almost as good as a GPS.
If you are looking for an overnight stop and wish to avoid the high prices charged by hotels, the sign to look for in German-speaking countries is “Fremdenzimmer”; in French-speaking parts the phrase is “Chambres d’hotes”. What they mean is the good old-fashioned bed and breakfast. They are invariably spotlessly clean and reasonably priced.
I’m sure that others here will have their own tips so don’t be shy, share them with everyone.
Three countries charge a fee in advance to use their motorways: Austria, Switzerland and the Czech Republic. You have to display a sticker fixed to the inside of the windscreen. They can be bought in advance from your national automobile club or when you arrive at the border.
Some other countries have toll roads where you pay as you drive: France, Spain and Italy. Toll stations are signposted in advance. In France you can pay by cash or credit card. The toll booths which accept credit cards have the letters “cb” over them, those accepting cash have an ideogram of some coins. If you travel often in France it may be worthwhile setting up an account with Sanef who will provide you with a badge that sticks on the inside of the windscreen and allows you to use the gates dedicated to badgeholders only. The advantage is that these lanes are usually less frequented so you get through quicker, avoiding the long queues that build up, especially in the summer months. These lanes can be identified by the lower case “t” (télépéage) over the tollbooth. They are usually found on the left hand side of the approach. You will also find them occasionally on the extreme right, although these are usually used by trucks. It’s easy to set up an account if you have a credit card, which can be done at the website www.sanef.com/en
When you approach the gate at the toll station you simply drive slowly forward towards the barrier, there will be a quiet “ting” from your badge and the barrier will rise. You then drive through and the toll will be calculated when you leave the motorway and added to your credit card bill at the end of the month.
On the motorways in France you will often see a series of information signs giving you the price of fuel at the next three motorway petrol stations and how far away they are. Keep your eyes open for them as they can save you money on long journeys.
The maximum speed limit varies: in Austria, Italy, France and Luxembourg it is 130 kph, while in Belgium, the Netherlands, and Spain it is 120 kph. In Germany there is no speed limit on the Autobahn, in principal, except where a limit is posted, either because of roadworks or approaching an accident black spot. There are, however, recommended speed limits and these are signposted in blue. They are not binding, simply what they say – recommended.
In the event of breakdown on the autoroute or autobahn the procedure is the same as in the UK – pull over onto the hard shoulder, don a high visibility jacket, put all your passengers behind the Armco barrier and put out your red triangle a hundred yards behind your car. The emergency telephone number throughout the EU is 112, and your mobile phone will operate on this number. If you break down in Germany you will notice that the black and white posts at the side of the road have an arrow at the top. This will point to the nearest emergency telephone, either ahead of you or behind you.
Continental motorway stations are usually smaller and more pleasant than the ghastly ones I’ve experienced in the UK. In France I once discovered a waiter service restaurant serving roast guinea fowl at the Tavel rest stop. There was also a self-service cafeteria next door.
At the time of writing, in the westernmost Continental countries, fuel is cheapest in Luxembourg, followed by Spain, Switzerland, Austria, France, Germany, Belgium, Italy and Holland, in that order. And as in Britain the motorway petrol stations are more expensive than those on national roads.
In France, remember that it is illegal to overtake in a village.
If you are driving through a town in France and are not sure of the way, you’ll find the signs that read “Toutes directions” a Godsend. Keep following these signs and you will sooner or later, come to a sign for the road or destination you are looking for. It’s almost as good as a GPS.
If you are looking for an overnight stop and wish to avoid the high prices charged by hotels, the sign to look for in German-speaking countries is “Fremdenzimmer”; in French-speaking parts the phrase is “Chambres d’hotes”. What they mean is the good old-fashioned bed and breakfast. They are invariably spotlessly clean and reasonably priced.
I’m sure that others here will have their own tips so don’t be shy, share them with everyone.
