18 replies to this topic

[maieth]

Trip to Paris planned for a couple of months time, my first drive over the channel.
have picked up lots of useful info on European regulations but have a couple of questions left if anyone has much experience driving abroad?

1.) Headlamps. I know converters for the lenses on main lamps are legally required, but not sure if a mini needs them with such an old design? If so, can these be purchased or is it a gaffer tape job? And if the latter, anyone know where to put the tape??
2.) Replacement Bulb kit. again, a legal requirement, but what do I need - one of each bulb on the car? or one for every lamp?

Naturally, any other tips really welcome. Sure some people must have interesting pieces of advice from IMM trips and other tours.

Thanks in advance folks

[shorty]

id go with one bulb for every lamp just to be on the safe side.

if you look on ebay you can often find some original lucas clip on yellow lense converters...or could always just go with the sticky tape jobby

[Dan]

Yes of course the Mini needs beam converters. Universal stick-on converters can be bought at any Halfords or motor factor, or on the ferry. They fit any headlamp, Mini does not have special small headlamps. It uses 7" round headlamps that were standard on hundreds of different cars in the past and are still used on many models. If you do wish to just use electrical tape, you need to cover the triangular section of the pattern in the lens. The 'base line' of this starts just to the left of the centre and runs diagonally down toward the lower left edge of the lamp, the top edge of the triangle is horizontal. Cover this whole triangle but not the square in the centre of the lens. Remember that both lamps dip the same way, many people make the mistake of covering a symetrical pattern on their two lamps. Both lamps dip the same way so the section that must be masked is the same on both lamps, not one on the left and one on the right.

As for a bulb kit, many people will tell you that it is a legal requirement but I don't believe it actually is. There is something written down about being in a 'position to be able to replace a lamp' and many people understand that to mean that you must have a bulb kit but that isn't actually written down anywhere. It's probably best to carry one but also remember that you will need a screwdriver or two to be able to change many bulbs on a Mini.

Other things you need to know are that in France you MUST carry a reflective hi-vis jacket inside the car NOT IN THE BOOT. If you have to leave the car on a motorway you must put the jacket on before you get out so if it's in the boot you're in trouble. In France I believe you are only required to carry one jacket, if you go through Belgium you need one for each passenger too. You will need a hazard warning triangle. If you go through Belgium you will need a fire extinguisher and a first aid kit. Well technically you won't because that law only refers to locally registered vehicles but local Police may fine you anyway if you don't have them. The jacket law applies to all vehicles wherever they are from. There are many other requirements that are country specific so what you need depends on where exactly you end up (and when, snow chains, winter tyres and daytime headlamps are required at different times in some areas). Visit the AA website for full information on all countries and a list of what documents and equipment you need.

It is important to know that radar detectors are completely illegal in most European countries. Even owning one is a crime. If one is found in your car you will get a huge on the spot fine, whether it was turned on at the time or not. If your sat-nav system tracks speed camera positions by GPS this function must be disabled.

[robtheplod]

Yes of course the Mini needs beam converters. Universal stick-on converters can be bought at any Halfords or motor factor, or on the ferry. They fit any headlamp, Mini does not have special small headlamps. It uses 7" round headlamps that were standard on hundreds of different cars in the past and are still used on many models. If you do wish to just use electrical tape, you need to cover the triangular section of the pattern in the lens. The 'base line' of this starts just to the left of the centre and runs diagonally down toward the lower left edge of the lamp, the top edge of the triangle is horizontal. Cover this whole triangle but not the square in the centre of the lens. Remember that both lamps dip the same way, many people make the mistake of covering a symetrical pattern on their two lamps. Both lamps dip the same way so the section that must be masked is the same on both lamps, not one on the left and one on the right.

As for a bulb kit, many people will tell you that it is a legal requirement but I don't believe it actually is. There is something written down about being in a 'position to be able to replace a lamp' and many people understand that to mean that you must have a bulb kit but that isn't actually written down anywhere. It's probably best to carry one but also remember that you will need a screwdriver or two to be able to change many bulbs on a Mini.

Other things you need to know are that in France you MUST carry a reflective hi-vis jacket inside the car NOT IN THE BOOT. If you have to leave the car on a motorway you must put the jacket on before you get out so if it's in the boot you're in trouble. In France I believe you are only required to carry one jacket, if you go through Belgium you need one for each passenger too. You will need a hazard warning triangle. If you go through Belgium you will need a fire extinguisher and a first aid kit. Well technically you won't because that law only refers to locally registered vehicles but local Police may fine you anyway if you don't have them. The jacket law applies to all vehicles wherever they are from. There are many other requirements that are country specific so what you need depends on where exactly you end up (and when, snow chains, winter tyres and daytime headlamps are required at different times in some areas). Visit the AA website for full information on all countries and a list of what documents and equipment you need.

It is important to know that radar detectors are completely illegal in most European countries. Even owning one is a crime. If one is found in your car you will get a huge on the spot fine, whether it was turned on at the time or not. If your sat-nav system tracks speed camera positions by GPS this function must be disabled.

wow, with all this i'd be tempted to stay in good old UK - too much hassle!!!

[mab01uk]

Its no hassle.............most of what you need is available in Halfords and would be a good idea for all drivers in the UK to carry. You don't need to display a GB sticker anymore if you have the blue GB Euro flag on your registration plates.
I much prefer driving in Europe, just driven through France to Spain and back on holiday, better motorways (mostly with tolls) and much less traffic. Drivers also have better lane disclipine and rarely block the outside lanes as happens here in the UK. French speed cameras are low down on the motorway barriers and well signposted as 'Radar' in advance. (80mph/130km in dry).
Good luck with the Paris Ring road.......best avoided if possible!!

[freaker]

gps saying the camera locations isn`t a problem in belguim its allowed...

in germany it isn`t...

freaker

[datsun100a]

http://www.theaa.com...ance-monaco.pdf

all you need to know

[dave21478]

Dans advice above is spot on for france, apart from the GPS speed trap locations - its fine to have this. However, he is right about jammers.... radar and laser detectors and jammers are very illegal. Huge on the spot fines will result. if you dont have money on you, you will be escorted to a bank to get money. Failure to pay will land you in the cells for a couple of days. As a minimm the detector will be either smashed or confiscated also, and you may even have the car taken away too, depending on how annoyed the police are.

A bulb kit isnt legaly required, but if you are stopped for a blown bulb, the cops will let you change it if you have one rather than fine you, so its a good idea to take one.

A warning triangle and hi-vis jacket are a must as said, and the jacket musnt be in the boot. Put it on before exiting the car.

There are UK traffic police operating in France on the busy roads to and from the ports, who specialise in catching UK motorists in a rush to get a boat. They have normal UK powers.

Euro breakdown cover is a must. Breaking down on a french autoroute without it will cost you the standard tow-fee which is around €130 just to be towed to the next exit off the autroute. Most euro policies will cover this and much more.

[Dan]

apart from the GPS speed trap locations - its fine to have this

Oh OK, don't know where I read that. I thought it was Europe-wide but apparently it's just Germany.

I know of someone who lost a car in France for having a radar detector on board. And a €1000 fine too. They give you the maximum fine automatically and if you want to contest it you have to go to court and will usually be given a fair chunk of it back.

As for GB plates, as said above you must have either a GB number plate or a GB plate on the car. These MUST have black letters on a white background and be an oval. The chrome individual letters that many people fit aren't legal.

I much prefer driving in Europe, just driven through France to Spain and back on holiday, better motorways (mostly with tolls) and much less traffic. Drivers also have better lane disclipine and rarely block the outside lanes as happens here in the UK.

I have to disagree with this. There is just as much inconsiderate and terrible driving on the continent as there is here. There is bad traffic, it's just in a different pattern than we're used to because people work different hours and school times are different. There are truck drivers who flagrantly ignore the various signs that are specifically for them (we came close to missing our ferry home this week thanks to sitting behind a truck who was overtaking a line of other trucks in an area where he wasn't allowed to). There are drivers who hog lanes, two lane motorways that simply don't work well, people who refuse to let you out and all the usual stuff we see here. Yes the toll motorways are better maintained and run and have less traffic than other roads but that's true here too. The quality of roads in some countries is horrible and in others it's excellent. You can't really generalise and say Europe is better than the UK.

You should also look up some of the specific traffic laws for the country you are visiting. For example look up the rules regarding priority routes, they confuse a lot of people. Look up some road signs too.

Edited by Dan, 10 September 2009 - 08:19 AM.

[mdickson]

Other things you need to know are that in France you MUST carry a reflective hi-vis jacket inside the car NOT IN THE BOOT. If you have to leave the car on a motorway you must put the jacket on before you get out so if it's in the boot you're in trouble. In France I believe you are only required to carry one jacket, if you go through Belgium you need one for each passenger too.

My friend from work is French and we were discussing this on Monday. He said it is a legal requirement for anyone leaving the car to wear a Hi-Viz jacket.
Also you must have a complete spare bulb kit. First Aid kit and warning triangle are also musts.

I must say I love driving in France, Italy and Switzerland. They have slightly different rules of the road but once you get used to them it is not so bad.

Good luck and Hope you have a good time.

[taffy1967]

I imagine you'll be wanting something like these?: -

[Retro_10s]

I don't think two blondes is a mandatory requirement to drive in Europe is it, Taff?

[captainjack15]

I don't think two blondes is a mandatory requirement to drive in Europe is it, Taff?

I actually laughed sad sad person!

Although I came back from France on 4th and to be honest it's really not that difficult, as long as you've got all the correct stuff that people have already mentioned and that you remember to look left on roundabouts first.

Also I remember my Dad telling me that if there is a side road coming onto the main carriage way, they actually have right of way. So that basically means they can just pull out in front of you! But then again I think that had slowly worn off!

[Juju]

I just whipped off my headlamp converters.

Bums. Could have posted them off but now they're in with the Clinical Waste at work. (Shhh, don't tell 'em)

[mab01uk]

Also I remember my Dad telling me that if there is a side road coming onto the main carriage way, they actually have right of way. So that basically means they can just pull out in front of you! But then again I think that had slowly worn off!

If you see a yellow diamond sign with a black line across it side roads still have priority to join the main road (see signs link below) much less common in France than it used to be thankfully !!
Yellow diamond with no line means you have priority.
French Road Signs (scroll to bottom for Priority Signs):
http://www.alltravel.../Road_Signs.htm

When I first drove in France over 20 years ago, the cars joining many roundabouts still had priority over those already on the roundabout which mean't scary confusion for all other European drivers!!

Edited by mab01uk, 11 September 2009 - 10:55 AM.