How To Guide European Road Trip Preparation Guide

[Chipper3]

As I can see from the numerous posts and topics, many of you undertake European road trips in your Zeds, me too.

I know it can be a little confusing as to what you are legally required to take with you in terms of warning triangles, hi-viz vests, bulb kits, paperwork even breathalysers, etc so I've attached a guide obtained from a Jaguar website that I found very useful and informative for my recent trips.

Feel free to use the info within it to hopefully stop you falling foul of some of the strange laws and requirements of the European countries and to help prevent you picking up nasty, costly local fines.

Colin.

EDIT: Attached PDF file to the thread directly as previous dropbox links kept changing. Gaz

 

[GazHyde]

That looks a really comprehensive guide. I've made it a sticky so it appears at the top of the list of threads and stands out a bit!

Cheers, Gary

 

[Chipper3]

Thanks Gary,

I must admit I didn't realise the rules were so varied and in some instances so strict before I came across the guide.

Unfortunately ignorance is NO defense either.

If it only prevents one person from encountering a problem it will have been worth it!!

Colin.

 

[Chipper3]

I just found out there's a 2014 version of the guide out now. Not sure how different this is to the version i first posted but better to have the most up-to-date at your disposal.

Dropbox link below -
https://www.dropbox.com/s/dx9vew2unuai8nb/12115325_Summer Driving Guide Plus 2014_aw_tcm91-79726.pdf

 

[Zeti]

It's great you share it with us Colin!
Many thanks!

 

[pgunter]

Hi,

Just tried to download. / look at the guide.. Gives me a 404 error. Is it still available. ?

 

[Chipper3]

Hi,

Just tried to download. / look at the guide.. Gives me a 404 error. Is it still available. ?

https://www.dropbox.com/s/s4mr85rdn2gaflr/Euro driving guide2014.pdf?dl=0
Not sure what happened to original link (maybe they expire) but the one above should now work.

 

[pgunter]

Yes that worked. Thank you.

 

[Chipper3]

Hi,

Just tried to download. / look at the guide.. Gives me a 404 error. Is it still available. ?

https://www.dropbox.com/s/s4mr85rdn2gaflr/Euro driving guide2014.pdf?dl=0
Not sure what happened to original link (maybe they expire) but the one above should now work.

If this link stops working drop a reply on here and I'll update it again.

 

[Googy]

iv just come back from touring france belgium and amsterdam for a couple of weeks and the difference from last year in what u need to keep on the right side of the law is a joke.been reading some of what u posted ie the laws omg.
well worth a read if any one is taking the foreign trip for sure.

 

[Googy]

As I can see from the numerous posts and topics, many of you undertake European road trips in your Zeds, me too.

I know it can be a little confusing as to what you are legally required to take with you in terms of warning triangles, hi-viz vests, bulb kits, paperwork even breathalysers, etc so I've attached a guide obtained from a Jaguar website that I found very useful and informative for my recent trips.

I tried to upload it but (I think) the file was too big I've put it in a Dropbox file.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/06nyrp7grna2opc/Euro driving guide.pdf

Feel free to use the info within it to hopefully stop you falling foul of some of the strange laws and requirements of the European countries and to help prevent you picking up nasty, costly local fines.

Colin.

hi colin not to far from me mate down the road near pontefract .

 

[Chipper3]

iv just come back from touring france belgium and amsterdam for a couple of weeks and the difference from last year in what u need to keep on the right side of the law is a joke.been reading some of what u posted ie the laws omg.
well worth a read if any one is taking the foreign trip for sure.

Cheers Alan.
One other thing that travelers to continental Europe need to be aware of if traveling over by P&O North Sea Ferries - on my last trip over in May EVERY driver was breathalyzed getting off in Rotterdam.

Please don't think I condone drink-driving, I don't and we have to be responsible for our actions BUT the ferry company appear to do their very best to ply passenger with booze on board and don't stress strongly enough that you get off the ship at about 7am and are likely to get breath tested.

BE CAREFUL guys!!

 

[Chipper3]

hi colin not to far from me mate down the road near pontefract .

No Alan not far at all. I'm midway between M1 Jct 34 & 35. I've been to Pontefract a few times recently as I bought a car from Harratts Nissan a few months ago.

 

[hard top]

on my last trip over in May EVERY driver was breathalyzed getting off in Rotterdam.

That started about twenty years ago but just with the truck drivers at the time. I used to use the High Seed a lot (crossing 3hrs 45mins) and would have dinner on board with a couple of glasses of wine.
s***, you can even get breathalyzed at British Petroleum offices these days. Long gone is the lunch time pie & pint after walking to and back from the pub. If you get caught out, they fire your ass.

 

[t-tony]

Guess I'd better bin the hip flask then eh?

 

[Chipper3]

That started about twenty years ago but just with the truck drivers at the time. I used to use the High Seed a lot (crossing 3hrs 45mins) and would have dinner on board with a couple of glasses of wine.
s***, you can even get breathalyzed at British Petroleum offices these days. Long gone is the lunch time pint after walking to and back from the pub. If you get caught out, they fire your ass.

I fully understand the reasons why this is. I also think it wouldn't hurt the ferry companies (who are fully aware of the procedures at their terminals) to post warnings that drivers are likely to get breath tested. I've been making cross-channel crossings for 20+ years so know about it but I know many who don't.

I hear far too many stories of people who stay in and have a drink at home (seen to be doing the right thing) and without realising it are still over the limit the following morning. It wouldn't surprise me to hear that more people are caught drink-driving the morning after rather than at night now.

 

[hard top]

Guess I'd better bin the hip flask then eh?

Yep, just stick to the pie Tony......

 

[Chipper3]

Guess I'd better bin the hip flask then eh?

Medicinal purposes are always accepted Tony. Go with that one.

 

[t-tony]

Cheers Col.

 

[Googy]

Cheers Alan.
One other thing that travelers to continental Europe need to be aware of if traveling over by P&O North Sea Ferries - on my last trip over in May EVERY driver was breathalyzed getting off in Rotterdam.

Please don't think I condone drink-driving, I don't and we have to be responsible for our actions BUT the ferry company appear to do their very best to ply passenger with booze on board and don't stress strongly enough that you get off the ship at about 7am and are likely to get breath tested.

BE CAREFUL guys!!

i went that route myself via rotterdam and no breath test must have been a lucky sailing maybe do random stops.