When you’re driving in the United States there are rules that you need to follow. Different driving rules apply to different countries. As long as you follow some tips, you are well on your way to driving and following driving rules in other countries. When I visited France and Spain on vacation, I learned of their different rules to follow and what the best driving scenarios were.
Driving in France
France is a beautiful country to visit. However, you must keep in mind that their rules completely vary from those used in the United States. If you have a child under the age of ten, he or she is not allowed to sit in the front seat of the car. The child under ten years of age must sit in the back seat. If there is no back seat however, then you don’t have a choice and the child will be allowed only under these circumstances. Children under ten must also be seated in an appropriate child seat. In France, babies are allowed to travel in the front passenger seat. However, this is only allowed if the baby is placed in an approved rear-facing baby seat and the air bag is turned off. Something else that I have definitely never heard of is carrying a yellow fluorescent jacket with you along for the ride. All vehicles traveling along French roads must carry one. The jacket cannot be kept in the trunk, and must be somewhere inside the car. This way, you are able to wear this visible jacket in case of an emergency. If you don’t have one in the car and a police officer stops you, then you will be getting a rather large fine. One great tip that you should use while driving through France is avoiding gasoline prices. Don’t get your gas on the motorway. Wait until you see a major intersection near a town or city, and come off the motorway. If you get your gas at a superstore off of the exit, you’ll be saving a bundle. All of these tips are either for your safety in case of any type of accident, or they are money saving.
Driving in Spain
Spain drives on the right, therefore causing the rightmost lane on a motorway to be the slowest. Spanish drivers rarely use it unless they are trying to pass you or intimidate you. Driving in Spain is very risky, and insurance is very expensive. Repairs are also costly. Spanish drivers love to tailgate in the fast lanes, especially if they see foreign license plates so you must be careful. Just pull over quickly and let them go. You also should pay close attention to roundabouts. Roundabouts occur when the main road continues through the middle. In order to turn right, you must turn to the left. This can become a bit confusing. It’s important that you put your own safety first. Don’t go speeding in Spain to show off how fast you can go, because their driving can get pretty dangerous.
Follow these tips for driving in foreign countries and you will be prepared for anything. You just need to remember that your safety comes first.
