Almost three-quarters of drivers lack confidence when driving
abroad, according to a survey of nearly 14,000* AA members.
As England and Scotland's elite footballers and GB athletes
prepare to compete in two major sporting events in mainland
Europe this summer (The UEFA European Championships in June and
July in Germany, and the Paris Olympics in July and August) many
fans from the UK are expected to show their support by making a
road trip onto the continent. A second survey** revealed that 38%
of those attending the Euros will be travelling by car and 24% to
the Olympics.
The survey showed less than one-third (30%) of drivers feel
confident about driving in Europe, dropping from more than 50%
six years ago. Only 17% (down from 41% six years ago) said they
found driving in Europe a pleasure, and a quarter (down from half
six years ago) said that they found roads in Europe to be in
better condition than those in the UK. Almost a third (30%) of
respondents said that they avoid driving abroad altogether.
Younger drivers (18-24) are less confident driving in Europe
(6%), with the figure rising to 33% in the 65+ category. This has
decreased in the last six years from 20% of younger drivers and
67% of those aged over 65.
Slightly more people said their confidence improved when driving
a hire car vs driving their own vehicle abroad (45% vs 48%),
probably because it's likely to be a left-hand drive car. The
survey also showed that men claimed to be more confident than the
opposite sex when it came to driving abroad.
Over four fifths (82%) said it was important to check local road
rules to avoid the risk of fines or an accident. This figure is
higher in younger drivers and decreases through the ages. These
figures have dropped from almost 100% ten years ago.
Comprehensive European Breakdown
Cover can offer peace of mind when venturing onto the
continent. It can save you money, time and hassle should you
experience issues with your vehicle. Of those to have experienced
a breakdown abroad, only half (52%) had some form of breakdown
cover in place.
If you do have car trouble while abroad, finding a reputable
garage can be hard enough let alone trying to talk to a mechanic
in a foreign language. The AA's European operational centre
in Lyon, France, has a 24-hour English-speaking helpline and full
translation service meaning they will liaise directly with
garages – on customers' behalf.
When driving abroad there are some documents you should carry
with you on your journey. Each country's requirements vary
slightly so be sure to check out The AA's advice page
if you're planning on attending The Euros in Germany or The
Olympics in France.
When driving abroad it's important to be familiar with local
driving laws – driving in Germany could be a whole new ball game
for some. Make sure you drive a safe distance from the vehicle in
front of you – whichever country you drive in, tailgating is
likely to rate highly as an annoying driving habit, leave plenty
of room between you and the car in front or risk being landed
with a hefty fine.
Other things to be aware of include the requirement to form an
emergency lane in the
event of a traffic jam to allow emergency service access to
incidents on a motorway where there isn't a continuous hard
shoulder.
Whilst driving your phone should be in a holder and then you can
only look at the screen for a short period of time – the same
rule applies to phones connected to a touch screen in your
vehicle.
Chris Wood, AA Patrol of the Year, said: “Before
any long journey it's important to check your car – it's always a
good idea to get your vehicle serviced before a long journey
especially to a foreign country. Check your tyres – many
countries have the same minimum tread depth as the UK (1.6mm) but
if yours are down to 3mm or less, consider having them changed as
they will wear quicker than normal due to the increased distances
being travelled. Check your route and make sure you know
where you able to refuel or recharge your vehicle. Also make sure
you're familiar with the driving rules in the country you're
travelling to as they may differ to the ones in the UK. For added
peace of mind don't forget to purchase European breakdown
cover. ”
ENDS
NOTES FOR EDITORS
The UEFA European Championships take place across Germany from
June 14th to July 14th.
The Paris Olympics are taking place from July 26th
until August 11th
* Yonder received 13,807 responses from AA members to its online
poll between the 15th to 23rd April 2024.
Yonder is a member of the British Polling Council and abides by
its rules.
** Yonder received 13469 responses from AA members to its online
poll between the 21st to 29th May 2024.
Yonder is a member of the British Polling Council and abides by
its rules.
Driving in Europe | AA
(theaa.com)
