Summer vacation may value you £21,000 in fines if you happen to don’t observe this EU driving legislation
Brits driving in Europe are being warned they could face huge fines for little-known rules – including dashcams being illegal where repeat offenders can face penalties of up to £21,000
Drivers need to be aware of the rules(Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
As the school holidays commence, an estimated 14 million drivers are planning a getaway this summer, with many of them likely to head abroad.
Road laws vary across the EU, so drivers need to be aware of the rules for their chosen holiday destination or risk hefty fines.
Tim Rodie, driving expert at leading retailer of nearly new and used cars, Motorpoint, said: “Driving in the EU means following the local rules of the road, just as you would at home in the UK. Many road laws are familiar, but understanding the rules of the road in your destination can help you avoid problems.
An estimated 14 million drivers are planning a getaway this summer(Image: Getty Images)
“Cross-border enforcement of traffic fines between the UK and most EU countries is limited, but some penalties might be pursued. If you receive a fine, don’t ignore it, as additional fees can quickly build on top of the amount owed.”
To help motorists planning to drive abroad this summer avoid unwanted fines, Tim has shared eight of the most unusual driving laws across Europe:
Parking in Spain could land you a £500 fine
When parking in Spain, some streets only allow you to park on one side of the road for half of the month. To avoid a fine between €100 and €600 (£85 and £515), look out for coloured signs.
Blue and red signs marked 1-15 signify it is legal to park there in the first half of the month, with 16-31 meaning parking is permitted in the area in the second half of the month. In some Spanish towns, access to non-residents is also forbidden, and parking regulations can change throughout the week from city to city.
So, make sure you do your research on the area in advance to avoid having to pay a fine.
City centres are off limits in Italy
Thinking of cruising through a bustling Italian city centre? You might have to rethink your route.
Many cities in Italy with historic town centres feature restricted areas called ZTLs. These zones are closed to everyone other than residents during certain hours.
Consider getting public transport instead, or you could be fined around €100 (£85) each time you enter and exit a ZTL zone. Your car must carry these three essential items in Greece.
Road laws vary across the EU(Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
Every vehicle driving on Greek roads must carry a fully certified and in-date fire extinguisher, a warning triangle and a first-aid kit. If you don’t have these items in your car, rental or not, you could face an on-the-spot fine averaging €60 (£51) per missing item.
The updated Greek Road Traffic Code (KOK) has specific requirements for these items, so make sure they fit the necessary criteria before getting on the road.
Keep your headlights on in Scandinavia
If you’re visiting any Nordic countries this summer, remember to keep your headlights on. Drivers are legally required to keep them on at all times in 12 countries, including Finland, Denmark, Sweden and Norway, due to fast-changing weather conditions.
If you don’t have your headlights on and you’re caught, local police can dish out on the spot fines starting at €100 (£85).
Had a drink? Sit in the back seat in Macedonia
If you’ve been drinking in Macedonia, make sure you sit in the back seat to avoid your designated driver facing a fine upwards of €45 (£38). Here, it’s illegal for anyone under the influence of alcohol to sit in the passenger seat of a vehicle, with the driver taking full legal responsibility for the seating arrangement.
So, be sure to arrange your passengers responsibly before setting off.
Stick to the speakers in France and Spain
Using any kind of headphones or in-ear Bluetooth device when driving is explicitly banned in France and Spain and can result in a fine of €135 in France and €200 in Spain (£115 and £171 respectively). Across both countries, all calls must come through an external speaker and microphones or hands-free sets without earphones.
Keep a lid on road rage in Germany
Most drivers have let out their frustrations at others on the road at some point, but you could face harsh penalties if you don’t keep your cool on German roads. Road rage here is treated as a criminal offence rather than a traffic violation.
Shouting insults or making offensive gestures to members of the public or the police could land you with huge fines of up to €4,000 (£3,418) and even a prison sentence of up to one year.
Remove your dashcam in these countries
When driving in Portugal, Luxembourg and Austria, it’s forbidden to operate a dashcam as they’re deemed as an invasion of privacy and carry hefty fines. Dashcams are popular among UK drivers as they can save you thousands of pounds in insurance claims.
But they could set you back an eye-watering €25,000 (£21,300) fine for repeat offenders in Austria.
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