A Guide to Driving Safely In the United Kingdom


Posted March 17, 2021 by jessicamerrel01

If you are visiting the United Kingdom from abroad, the concept of taking a road trip might be a daunting prospect due to lack of insight into the basic rules of the road, road types, road speed limits, etc. which this article aims to highlight.

 
It’s said that the best way to experience a country is through self-drive road trips when you travel. There’s nothing like exploring a country on your own. If you are visiting the United Kingdom from abroad, the concept of taking a road trip might be a daunting prospect due to lack of insight into the basic rules of the road, road types, road speed limits, etc. which this article aims to highlight. Read on:

1. First and foremost, 17 is the minimum lawful age to hold a driving license in the United Kingdom. However, if you are traveling from abroad and looking to rent a car, many car rental companies require you to be 21 years of age and above.

2. Talking about the basic driving rules of the road in the UK, you’ll have to drive on the left side of the road, watch out for all mentioned road signs and speed limits, you must stop at the red traffic lights and wherever there’s a STOP sign, wearing a seat belt is a must for one and all inside the vehicle, you should only drive when you are below the legal blood alcohol limit and not over it.

3. Talking about the speed limits on the roads in the UK, the speed limits vary from road to road. You must keep a check on the speed limits for the road you are driving on that are posted regularly and the signs are circular. Obeying these signs is required by the law of the land.

4. The person driving the car must ensure everyone is wearing a seat belt, or you might be in for a hefty fine. Children must be seated in the back seats.

5. As with traffic lights all over the world, the UK uses traffic lights to keep a check on the traffic, where Red light indicates Stop, Yellow means you must halt at the stop line, and Green means you can proceed with your vehicle. If you are visiting from the USA, one difference from the US driving rule is that you cannot turn at a traffic light even when it is red. When the traffic light is red in the UK, you must remain halted until the light turns green.

6. If you are traveling from abroad and wish to rent a vehicle in the UK, you must have an International Driver’s License United Kingdom in order to rent a vehicle. An International Driver's License basically is a translation of your government issued driver's license into eight languages (English, Spanish, Portuguese, German, Russian, French, Arabic and Chinese), which are designed to be simple to use and easy to understand for both the English and non-English speaker. If you are planning a trip to the UK, you must plan to acquire an International Driver’s License well in advance. An IDL is also a document that says that you are a safe driver to be driving on the roads. You must as well also carry your passport or any other valid form of ID that matches the driver information on the driver’s license.

7. As with any other country in the world, the United Kingdom is as strict about drink driving laws. The limit vary from area to area in the UK, for example, drink driving laws are far stricter in Scotland than in England. It is always a good idea to avoid drinking at all if you are driving, or you might end up in jail or have to pay a hefty fine. Check the UK government website for the official limits for drink driving (it is best to avoid drinking).

A road trip in your own private car is not just relaxing that enables you to move at your own pace, but also is a great way to explore a country in the best possible way where you get to meet awesome people, try new and local foods and you are not time-bound to do anything.

To know more check out: https://www.idlorder.com
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Issued By IDL Order
Country United States
Categories Travel
Last Updated March 17, 2021