Many
travellers choose to drive around England
although it can be costly - petrol is expensive
and tolls are costly. If you have several
people sharing expenses it can work out
cheaper. Here are some pointers to note
before you go.
We advise that you read through the information
below and note that driving outside your
own country can be a scary and harrowing
experience with fast drivers, narrow lanes,
difficult parking, expensive tolls and different
rules or lack of rules.
If you can master all of these things then
the freedom of having your own transport
will be rewarding.
ROAD CONDITIONS
City roads and high ways are meticulously
well kept. However country lanes can be
worryingly narrow. They can not be widened
because they are often framed by hedgerows
with thick walls of rock on the side. They
are wonderful to traverse however although
they may also block the views. However do
not go too fast as if you meet another car
you will have nowhere to pull over to if
you are going too fast. You must be prepared
to bring your car to a crawl and negotiate
a compromise to pass. You should also slow
to a crawl when passing a horse and rider
along a country road; the rider should acknowledge
your courtesy by waving thanks. Always give
right of way to domestic animals.
TOP
RULES AND SPEED
LIMITS
It is illegal for a driver to use a mobile
phone while driving.
Driving in England is on the left-hand side
of the road. Seat belts must be worn by
all vehicle occupants. The legal blood alcohol
limit of drivers is 0 mg. Speed limits vary
but are generally 30 mph (48 kph) in towns
and cities where street lighting is in place,
40 mph (64 kph) in suburban areas, 60 mph
(97 kph) on non-divided highways, and 70
mph (113 kph) on motorways and divided highways
with multiple lanes. Note the fast lane
is always that nearest the middle.
If the traffic lights flash amber it is
a warning for you to give priority to pedestrians
on the crossing. Pedestrians on a striped
crosswalk always have right-of-way. At intersections
a dashed or double-dashed line across your
path, or a triangle or a series of triangles
pointed toward you on the roadway, indicate
you must give priority to the traffic on
the other road. If a triangle or series
of triangles points away from you, you have
priority.
There are very few Stop signs in the UK;
instead priority rules and traffic signals
control traffic. Generally, priority is
given to vehicles on the right. Where priority
is the prime control, vehicles entering
priority roads are under no obligation to
stop unless yielding to a vehicle on the
priority road. This can be alarming at first.
Vehicles on a roundabout have priority;
vehicles entering a roundabout must give
way.
If there are two solid white lines along
the centre of the road (or one solid and
one broken white line with the solid white
line nearest to you) you are forbidden to
cross the line to overtake, but are allowed
to turn right. However there are exceptions
to this rule, such as passing a stationary
vehicle, bicycle, horse and rider or vehicle
carrying out road maintenance that is travelling
at less than 10 mph.
If a right turn is forbidden, this will
be marked explicitly with a no-right-turn
sign, or a barrier will be placed along
the centre of the road so that the turn
is not possible.
When multiple lanes travel in one direction,
you should pass or overtake using the lane
toward the median or centre of the road.
Refrain from passing on the other side,
the outside. It's not a good idea to flash
your headlights to indicate you want to
pass, as this is likely to offend the driver
ahead of you. Better to express a sense
of urgency by using your indicator and hovering
quite near behind the vehicle and somewhat
toward the centre of the road-but without
tailgating.
FUEL
Please note that in England few fuel stations
are open 24 hours. Petrol is usually advertised
in imperial gallons (1.19 US gallons per
imperial gallon) but pumps will probably
measure in litres. Leaded petrol is identified
by four stars (****) and has an octane rating
of 97. Premium unleaded petrol has an octane
rating of 95; the octane rating of super
is 98.
DRIVING LICENSES You
may use your own driving license in England
to hire and rent cars. If you are here long
term you may consider getting an international
license that you can also use in other European
countries. It is best to apply for this
at home from your transport agency.
PARKING
Long term parking in large cities can be
expensive. Check if your hotel provides
free or good rate parking. Following parking
rules can be a bit tricky. Usually observing
other cars / people is a good way to work
it out.
In England pay-and-display machines are
common. A single yellow line painted on
the curb means parking in that spot is restricted
during daylight hours. A red line or double
yellow lines are more complicated. Look
for signs on nearby lamp posts. Do not park
on striped crosswalks or the zone that precedes
the crosswalk.
In London, wheel clamps are used on illegally
parked vehicles and heavy fines apply. It
is £38 release charge-plus £40
on the Red Route, £30 elsewhere in
London, or £20 outside London proper.
TOP
BUYING A CAR
Most travellers will do this before they
get to England. For those working in the
United Kingdom this is probably the best
place to do it. Look in Auto Trader, Exchange
and Mart and Loot which advertise second
hand vehicles. On Market Street in London
(Caledonian Road tube) there is an an informal
traveller's van and car market.
TOP
WHERE TO DRIVE
London has an excellent public transport
system and traffic is congested so it is
best not to drive there. Also a daily £5
charge has been introduced to encourage
people not to drive in central London. If
you do rush hour occurs from 8.30am to 10am
and from 5.30pm to 7pm. The M25 ring road
circles London and is always congested except
late evenings and Sunday mornings.
A good book to use for driving in London
is the Mini London A-Z Street Atlas and
Index. It details every street, alleyway,
tube line and tube stop and you can get
it everywhere eg. shops and bookstores in
London.
ADVICE ON CAR RENTAL
Check what the terms are for hiring. Check
for things like the maximum number of kilometres
specified as you pay so much money per kilometre
over. There are always individual policy
differences about the fuel (i.e you return
it full or empty depending on what you arrange),
and vehicle insurance. Always do some shopping
around to compare prices.
BackpackEngland sells car hire through Auto
Europe which has worldwide car rental
services. We ask that you consider purchasing
your car hire through them as this revenue
goes back into improving this site.
Auto Europe also have scheduled air from
the USA to Europe, 2,000+ three and four
star hotels, prestige and sports car rentals,
hotel bookings, chauffeur drive and transfer
services, European and South Pacific Motorhome
Rentals, and European cellular phone rentals.
Avis (tel. 800/331-1084; 800/879-2847 in
Canada; 02/9353-9000 in Australia; 09/525-1982
in New Zealand). http://www.avis.com/
Budget (tel. 800/527-0700; 0144/227-6266
in the U.K.).
Dollar (tel. 800/800-6000; 0181/897-0811
in the U.K., where it is known as Eurodollar;
02/9223-1444 in Australia).
Hertz (tel. 800/654-3001; 800/263-0600 in
Canada; 0181/897-2072 in the U.K.; 02/9669-2444
in Australia; 03/358-6777 in New Zealand).
http://www.hertz.com/
National (tel. 800/227-3876; 0345/222-525
in the U.K.).
Auto Clubs
Australian Automobile Association (tel.
02/6247-7311).
Canadian Automobile Association (CAA, tel.
613/247-0117).
New Zealand Automobile Association (tel.
09/377-4660).
Automobile Association (AA, tel. 0990/500-600).
Royal Automobile Club (RAC, tel. 0990/722-722
for membership; 0345/121-345 for insurance).
American Automobile Association (tel. 800/564-6222).
Emergency Services
Emergency: 999
When you rent a car check your policy to
see what cover you get (i.e is accommodation
included if you have car difficulties etc).
Check also to see if the country has a 24-road
service available.
