Five must-know tips for Brit fans on the road for the Euros this week… including often-forgotten road law

MILLIONS of fans are set to descend on Germany this week for the Euros, with the tournament set to kick off on Friday.

Among them will, no doubt, be thousands of England fans eager to see the Three Lions bring it home after the agonising penalty loss in the tournament’s last outing.

And a similarly sizeable chunk of the Tartan Army will also make the trip for only Scotland’s second entry into the competition since 1996.

However, motoring experts have warned fans to keep five must-know tips in mind for the journey, which will see many drive through both France and Germany.

Ian Reid, head of editorial for online car marketplace Carwow, warned drivers of hefty fines if they slip up on some of the rules and regs while travelling through Europe.

He said: “Driving to the Euros can be a fantastic experience, but one that can quickly go downhill if you are not well-prepared. 

“Using our top tips to make sure you have all the correct documents and equipment and understand the rules of the road not only ensures you’re complying with local laws but also provides peace of mind, allowing you to focus on enjoying the beautiful game.”

Papers please

The first thing to remember when driving on the continent is that it’s a good idea to keep all important documents in the car with you.

While a passport isn’t required to travel between European countries, you will still need one to get into and out of the eurozone.

But there are a few more pieces of paper you should keep with you beyond the basics.

You should make sure to bring proof of car and travel insurance, your vehicle log book and a valid tax and MOT certificate for the vehicle.

Documentation relating to European breakdown cover if you have it should also make the trip with you.

And, depending on where you plan to go, you may need a Crit’ Air sticker in France and Umweltplakette in Germany to enter some major cities.

These are anti-emissions certifications and, similar to ULEZ and CAZ rules in the UK, not having one could see you paying hefty fines.

Ian also urged drivers to check their number plates before setting out.

EU rules state that cars from the UK must have a UK identifier on the plates, complete with the union flag.

If your plate bears the crosses of St George or St Andrew, you will need to get an official sticker to mark you out as a UK driver or risk being pulled over.

Kit manager

Both France and Germany have rather particular rules about equipment that you must carry in your car.

Ian warned that police in the two nations will often pull over visiting motorists to check they have all the legally-required kit.

You will need to have a warning triangle, a high-vis jacket for each person in the vehicle and a first-aid kit in your boot.

And since most UK cars are right-hand drive, the law also requires you to use headlamp beam deflectors, which are available for £6 on Amazon.

Keep it legal

Ian said: “The speed limits in France and Germany are different from those in the UK so make sure you know what they are before you travel, and ensure you are watching out for speed limit signs as you drive because speeding offences can lead to fines, points and even driving bans.

“Remember they will also be in kph rather than mph so keep that in mind too.”

In France the speed limits are 80mph (130kph) for motorways, 70mph (110kph) for dual carriageways, 50mph (80kph) for non-urban areas and 30mph (50kmh) in built-up areas unless specified otherwise.

In Germany, non-urban areas are 60mph (100kph) while the limit for cities is the same as in France.

German motorways are famously unlimited, but a speed of 80mph is recommended.

Know your limits

Another difference between UK and European road laws is the drink driving limits.

Both France and Germany have a limit of 0.5g of alcohol per litre of blood.

This is the same as in Scotland but 0.3g/litre lower than the limit in England.

And young drivers should be aware that the limit is lowered to 0.2g/litre if you’re on a provisional licence.

Ian also warned about the strength of German beer, echoing an alert issued by the Government ahead of the tournament.

Beer in Germany can often be over 5%, while the average UK lager clocks in around 4.5%.

Offside

Finally, according to Ian, the “biggest change” for UK drivers is the fact that, like most of Europe, you drive on the right hand side in both France and Germany.

This also inverts the priority system, meaning you overtake on the left and give way to traffic from the right at junctions.

Just be aware that in France some roundabouts work the other way around, so cars joining the roundabout are given priority by those already on it.

These are usually found in rural areas and should be signposted, with most roundabouts working the same way as in the UK – just in the opposite direction of course.