Be Safe - Be Legal and ensure you comply with EU motoring regulations
By carrying the following items of emergency and breakdown equipment you can ensure you comply with EU motoring regulations.
All items below are available at the UK Hoverspeed ports
at below UK high street prices.
Headlamp Beam Adapters
Failure to adapt your headlamps will render your vehicle UNFIT for use on the road and will
invalidate your motor
insurance.
GB Sticker
A GB sticker/plate must be displayed on the rear of your vehicle, caravan or trailer.
Spare Bulbs
Drivers must be in a position to replace any blown exterior light.
Warning Triangles
Must be carried to give advance warning of a hazard on the road. Hazard warning lights alone
are NOT sufficient.
First Aid Kit
Every driver must be able to render first aid when required.
Fire Extinguisher
It is an offence to be unable to render assistance in
the event of a fire.
Checklist
Check to see what is required for the countries that
you are visiting or travelling through:
All items are available at the UK Hoverspeed port at below UK high street prices.
Motoring in Europe information and products are provided by Travel
Spot Limited.
Headlamp Adapters
- Your vehicle's
headlamps are specifically designed for driving in the
UK on the left hand side of the road. Consequently,
when driving in Europe on the right, your headlamps
will dazzle oncoming drivers. Whether driving at night
or day this dazzle must be prevented by adapting your
headlamps. Failure to do this renders the vehicle UNFIT
for use on the road and will invalidate your motor insurance
and could result in spot fines.
GB Stickers
- Required by International
Law to indicate Country of Registration.
Warning Triangles
- If your
vehicle breaks down or is involved in an accident, you
must place a warning triangle 50-150 metres behind your
vehicle to warn approaching traffic.
The use of hazard warning lights alone is NOT sufficient
to satisfy this requirement.
Spare Bulbs
- All lamps, including
lenses and reflectors must be in working order, even
during daylight hours. Failure to be in a position to
replace a blown exterior bulb could result in temporary
cessation of your journey and/or a spot fine.
First Aid Kit
- In most EU
countries basic First Aid training is part of the Driving
Examination Test, and failure to be able to administer
first aid when called upon to do so, or as circumstances
demand is an offence for which spot fines can be imposed.
Fire Extinguisher
- Failure
to render assistance in the event of a fire, or take
necessary precautions to prevent a fire from escalating
is an offence.
Further Information
Insurance Policies - Somewhere, in the small print in
every Motor Insurance Policy, is a statement to the
effect that it is the driver/owners responsibility
to ensure that the vehicle complies with the law and
is roadworthy for the Country he intends to visit. Failure
to discharge this responsibility could result in the
Company repudiating liability under the Policy.
Failure to Comply - In the event of prosecution and
conviction for failure to comply with the legal requirements,
the courts in all EU countries have wide powers to
impose swinging penalties, and the arresting officers
have extensive powers to impose on the spot fines.
On the Spot Fines - The moment these are demanded,
they have to be paid in cash, in the local currency,
to the arresting officer. Credit cards or travellers
cheques are not accepted, and in some countries inability
to pay, risks impounding the drivers vehicle until the fine is paid.