Visiting the Neighbours – trips to the UK on the up...
2009 may be a tough year for tourism in many places but one location that might do very well is Britain. It is a hugely-popular destination for many reasons. Its close - the crossing takes no more than 4 hours (often less than 2 hours on some services). There’s no language barrier and especially this year there is the strength of the euro which goes a lot further than it used to. The AA has some advice if you are planning to pop across...
Driving in Britain is a more familiar experience to Irish motorists than a trip to the Continent. Obviously they drive on the left. Many of our regulations are similar, if not identical, although they are beginning to diverge. Roads might initially look similar but in almost every area, from the actual road surface to the (many, many) markings and signs along it, they differ quite a bit from our own - Irish road warning signs have more in common with US and Australian signage than the rest of Europe.
Apart from Ireland and Britain, only 1 other European country drives on the left. Do you know which one? The answer is at the bottom of the page (no peeking...)
That isn't to say that any of this is insurmountable for the Irish motorist; it's just best that you stay extra-vigilant on British roads because they are safe and the authorities are determined to keep them that way. The UK's road deaths per head of population are a fraction of ours and with good reason; they enforce the rules of the road vigorously. In fact the British road safety record puts us to shame – their roads are by some measures the safest in the world.
So when you see a fixed speed camera, it is functioning, it will take several photographs of a speeding motorist and foreign motorists may be pursued for any fines. Speed cameras are plentiful and while some maps publish the locations of these, mobile units could be anywhere, so the bottom line is to be aware of the limit at all times. And of course if you have a car that was registered in 2005 or later, chances are that it doesn’t have miles per hour speedometer so you will have to be extra vigilant in this regard. For quick reference, 30mph is approximately 50km/h, 40mph is 60km/h, 60mph is 100km/h and 70mph is 110km/h. Keep an eye out for average speed cameras, which don't flash but will note the time you take to travel between to fixed points. If your average speed is over the limit, you will be fined. Equally, any "minor" infraction of the traffic code observed by the police will be pursued, so be warned!
British motorways, built by Irish navvies amongst others in a flurry of bulldozers between the late 50's and early 80's, are extensive and much wider than Irish motorways. However this width is mainly due to the amount of areas one road generally serves; the M1, for example, serves 8 cities between London and Leeds. So that's all the traffic between London and Leeds AND all the traffic to and between the intervening cities. Needless to say, wider motorways can only help so much and things can get a little congested to say the least.
So if you're on holiday in Britain, why not try to stay off the motorways? Driving around British A-roads (equivalent to our N-roads) and B-roads (R-roads in Ireland) can be very pleasant and are often the best choice for a holidaymaker. They're often in good condition (compared to our own N and R-roads at least) and offer the chance to actually pass through some towns and villages on the way. Not only that, but you also have the freedom to take a detour, should one of the many brown tourist & heritage signs tempt you. A blank itinerary, a
full tank of fuel (which will be more expensive than Ireland, unfortunately) and a good map should serve you well during your trip to the UK.
Breaking down in Britain...
Your Irish AA membership covers you if you break down in Britain. This should come as a relief because it can be very expensive especially on a motorway. The motorway police have a priority to keep the road clear and will send an appointed towing agent to a stricken car that is not covered by AA. This can mean a charge of up to £200 just to get you off the carriageway, not even to a garage! If you are heading across, note that there is a special number for Irish members: 0800 667788. Remember to bring your membership card with you!
AA travel insurance on line – single trip or whole year cover. Click here to have a look
The only other European country where they drive on the left is...
Malta