Driving to Mainland Europe - Headlights

[mjb]

Drive on the right side of the road and go the wrong way around roundabouts.

Yeah, that bit's hard when getting off the ferry - both sides of the water Thankfully I find keeping a close eye on the satnav (tomtom on an ipaq) helps a lot, especially at crossroad junctions, as it shows where you need to be/go almost down to the lane

Drive like the french and just dont care.

I've just got a nice shiny car - sod that

What are they like for speeding in .fr/.be? I know most of the locals in Holland seem to go down the motorway at over a ton but in Germany you DON'T dare step the wrong side of the boys in green with the guns...

[steve_earwig]

If you're waiting to turn left and a car's coming from that way you have to pull out on them, it's the law (apparently).

I once heard that you can get nicked for accelerating too quickly.

More from Alcoholics Anonymous.

I've just been reading the one for Croat land, very amusing.

Drinking and driving: Strictly forbidden. Nil percentage of alcohol allowed in driver’s blood. This is, of course, impossible, even fruit juice has some in it. Anyway, drinking and driving's a national pastime here.

Fines: The police officer will impose a fine on the spot. 400Kn seems to be the going rate for him to f*ck off back to propping up the bar.

It is forbidden to carry petrol in a can. So how the f*ck do you get it home? You stupid morons, am I supposed to push my lawn mower to the petrol station? Hey, I broke the law this very day! You'd think they would have said something

Lights: Driving with dipped headlights during the day compulsory, fine imposed for non-compliance. Really clever, a wonderful aid to invisibility on sunny days, especially for bikes. And I can't read half my dash.

Wearing of crash helmets compulsory for both the driver and passenger. Ha ha ha ha, ho ho ho. I like putting my head in a pressure cooker.

Motor insurance: Third-party compulsory. And all you can get without paying a fortune.

Yes, I've got a first aid kit. First aid's part of the driving test here. But not in the UK, so I wouldn't know what to do with it.

[mjb]

First aid's part of the driving test here. But not in the UK, so I wouldn't know what to do with it.

Nope, the reason I didn't get 100% in my theory test was because I don't know sh*t about the recovery position...

From the AA on Belgium:

Drinking and driving: Maximum permitted level of alcohol in the bloodstream is 0.049 per cent. If the level of alcohol in the bloodstream is between 0.05 and 0.08 per cent you will be banned from driving for a minimum of three hours an issued an on the spot fine of €137.50. If you refuse to pay the fine the public prosecutor will prosecute and impose a fine up to €2,750, 0.08 per cent or more an on the spot fine of up to €550 and a ban from driving for at least six hours; if prosecution (more than 0.15 per cent) fine up to €11,000 and a licence suspension up to five years.

I think that's brilliant. You get a hard slap on the wrists for being a bit over the limit (like the morning after!) and you get thoroughly screwed if you're actually drunk!

[Carpman]

Watch out for the French, I got a 100 euro on the spot fine last year because I was apparently speeding between Calais and Belgium. I didn't even see the f*ckers and I don't recon I was even speeding that much, but as I had been flashed a few times on that stretch and never heard anything, I didn't want to push my luck, especially as I didn't have my licence with me as well.

I think they just spotted me out because of the UK plates, it's amazing how all traffic cops/tax collectors act the same in no matter what nationality they are, jumped up traffic wardens who feel the have to lecture you whist extorting cash from you at the same time, their the ones that should be nicked thieving gits

Carpman

[Avgasandy]

When you buy any set of beam benders it will tell you how to fit them if you look at the clear plastic lens on the headlight you will see a small dot thats the point of contact for the beam bender.
When waiting at the docks in Dover i asked a bunch of coach drivers why they did not have beam benders on they said dont worry about them just dazzle the french c--ts they dont bother with them when they are over here.
Another chap who watched me start to put mine on said just fit one to n/s headlamp and dont bother with the o/s thats what i ended up doing.
Cheers
Avga