Many travelers today prefer taking a self drive car hire in a visited country. However forewarned is forearmed meaning that you should follow the advice below so that you can stay safe and sound during your holiday. One of the most important things to know is that you should always check the relevant laws of a country you may be visiting before hitting the road and traveling on self drive in any particular country. The alternative can ruin your trip and things may turn out to be hard.
Most people will check that their documentation is in order before travelling to a foreign country: passport, travel insurance and any visas or visa waivers, they will ensure that they have the correct vaccinations if they are required and that their flights and travel arrangements to and from the airport are in place usually weeks before they intend to leave. But, as a recent anonymous letter to one of the English language newspapers here in Spain highlights, it is also prudent to check out the laws of the country you are visiting, particularly if the intention is to hire a car during the stay.
The letter “A Tourist Night Out”, states that the basic premise of the writers’ visit to Spain was to sample the local wines in their natural context. Having spent a night out they complain that they were stopped at one of the numerous police checkpoints, breathalysed and found to be over the alcohol limit for driving with the result that they received a €250 fine and had to make alternative arrangements to get back to where they were staying. The writer claims they did not know that Spain has a limit for drink driving and complains that, having been caught, they were not able to use their credit card as a simple expedient to pay the fine taking the view that the whole scenario is little more than an elaborate scam to take money from innocent tourists. Perhaps they should consider themselves lucky that they were not caught in the UK where they would almost certainly have spent a night in jail waiting to appear before a magistrate in addition to whatever fine was eventually imposed.
Spain, in common with most European countries, has made huge progress in the battle to reduce deaths on the roads. No-one would deny that there is still a way to go yet, but they are achieving percentage savings which are in double figures every year and part of that battle is the strict alcohol limits which are applied to drivers, along with the increasingly stringent application of the law. But the writer of the letter seems to be missing the point: the limit is not about the money collected in fines, it is about reducing death and injury on Spanish roads. In fact, far from using tourists as a convenient source of cash, the penalties for residents are actually much higher and could include the loss of their Drivers Licence and certainly higher insurance premiums in addition to any fine imposed.
Consuming alcohol before driving has been shown to be a major cause of accidents and that applies in every country around the world. It is bad enough to drink and drive on roads which one knows well, but in a foreign country, with different rules, unfamiliar road layouts and local driving customs requires full concentration and regardless of any legal limits which may be imposed the only safe way is not to drive whilst under the influence of any substance, even in what may be considered to be small quantities. This is particularly true when you consider that many of the wines and beers in Spain have higher alcohol levels than you may be used to at home and the measures for spirits are often more generous too, all of which makes it extremely difficult to judge when the limit for driving is approached. Spain has a clearly defined limit for alcohol in breath which is measured at the roadside using a Breathalyser machine to take the sample, this is fast, simple, non invasive and extremely accurate allowing a driver giving a negative sample to continue the journey without delay.
It is also worth looking at some other basic rules of which everyone should be aware, the law in Spain requires everyone to carry photo identification, for citizens of Spain and Central Europe the national Identity Card is acceptable, however, since the UK does not have such a scheme then only the Passport will suffice. This document will also be required when paying for goods or services using a Credit or Debit Card as even Spanish Drivers Licenses are not accepted as proof of identity in many outlets. Another essential document for European citizens is the European Health Insurance Card which will give access to basic medical care on a reciprocal basis. It is not an alternative to comprehensive travel insurance though because things like ambulances, transfers between medical centres and certain investigations may not be covered by the scheme and with even basic blood tests costing from €50 it is easy to see how large bills can quickly add up, making any savings on proper travel insurance a false economy in the event of illness or accident.
There are additional requirements for drivers of vehicles who need to carry with them not only their own documentation including a Full valid Driver’s Licence, but also all the relevant paperwork for the vehicle. In the case of a hire car then all the information will be contained in the Rental Agreement which must be kept available for inspection. For those using their own vehicle the documents which are necessary include the Registration Document, Insurance Certificate, proof of any obligatory vehicle inspection and that any taxation is paid up to date. The rules are basically the same throughout Europe and require that any vehicle is only legal on European roads if it is fully road legal in its’ home country, it can only be used for a maximum of 180 days in any year by a non resident before it needs to be removed from the country or registered on local plates. UK drivers need to be particularly careful because most British insurers only give European cover for a maximum of 90 days in any year, not per trip and if challenged it is the drivers’ responsibility to prove they are legal. Cars also need to carry a reflective jacket for every passenger, which must be worn in event of a breakdown, a warning triangle and a spare set of bulbs are also obligatory, European Breakdown Insurance is also a good idea as it is illegal for one car to tow another on Spanish motorways. It is worth noting that France and Spain have both speed and Number Plate Recognition Cameras and the Guardia Civil have access to the relevant parts of the UK DVLC database. Failure to comply with the rules can mean not only a fine, but also immediate confiscation of the vehicle and the accompanying charges for a tow truck and storage as it will not be returned until the driver has satisfied the police that it is legal.
It is the norm in Europe for foreign drivers to be issued “On the spot” fines which must be paid in cash as the cars are not equipped to accept card payments, although the officers will gladly take you to the nearest ATM if you don’t have the money to hand. Many of the laws are the same throughout Europe including the need to wear a crash helmet on a motorcycle or quad and appropriate seat belts for all passengers or car seats for children. Even cyclists are not immune, the law in Spain requires the use of cycle helmets and bikes must have reflectors in the pedals and the wheels. Failure to observe a “Stop” sign will cost a €100 in Spain, as will wearing “inappropriate footwear” for driving, which includes flip flops, failure to illuminate headlamps in tunnels will attract a similar penalty. Speeding fines are issued on a sliding scale according to how much over the posted speed limit you are traveling, it is worth noting that although the limit on motorways is often 120kph, that often reduces to 100 kph at junctions and 80kph in tunnels and on dangerous sections of road. On surface roads the maximum speed limit is usually 100kph outside towns but it can reduce to as low as 40kph at junctions, keep a close eye on speed limits and don’t be tempted to exceed them just because everyone else does.
A little knowledge is a useful thing when traveling abroad, particularly as even a minor brush with the law can spoil an otherwise enjoyable holiday. Bear in mind that although police will often take a more lenient line with visitors, they may well have different powers and attitudes to those you experience back home. There are standards they must maintain and ignorance, whilst it may be bliss, is not a defense.
