Driving Cultural Differences Across Nations

The driving cultures of various nations vary. Crossing a border and suddenly being immersed in a different driving culture can be pretty surreal. According to the Foreign Office website, you should generally drive carefully and prepare yourself for the unexpected.

This brief fact sheet provides a starting point if you plan to drive through France. It includes information about driving in several European countries as well as some typical French road signs.

TISPOL, the European Traffic Police, has produced a superb collection of country driving guides 7. To get you started, we’ve compiled a list of some of the most crucial ones:

Driving Cultural Differences

  • Since the winter of 2007–2008, passenger cars in Austria have been required to use winter tires from November 1 through April 15.
  • Driving with your lights on during the day is required in Bulgaria from November 1 to March 1.
  • In Belgium, specific traffic signs designate areas where cruise control is prohibited.
  • There are no motorway toll booths in the Czech Republic; instead, one must buy a road usage sticker (vignette). Failing to do so results in immediate fines.
  • Anyone found guilty of drunk driving in Cyprus faces a maximum sentence of two years in prison.
  • If a foreign driver in Denmark is unable to pay an immediate fine, the police may confiscate the vehicle.
  • If a driver in Estonia drinks alcohol after a traffic accident, they could face legal action.
  • Speeding fines and other traffic infractions in Finland are based on the driver’s income.
  • As of July 1, 2012, drivers in France are required to have a working breathalyser, whether it be chemical or electronic.
  • The recommended speed on German motorways is 130 km/h.
  • Law enforcement officials in Greece have the authority to impose fines on the spot, and the offences and associated acceptable amounts are listed in a special catalogue.
  • There is a zero-tolerance policy against drunk driving in Hungary, and police officers have the authority to revoke a driver’s license immediately.
  • Every uniformed police officer in Italy is authorized to conduct traffic surveillance.
  • It is illegal to bring an open alcohol container into your car in Lithuania.
  • Navigation systems must adhere to windscreen mounting laws in Luxembourg.
  • A driver found intoxicated in Norway at 0.8% BAC (still legal in the UK) faces a maximum sentence of three weeks in prison.
  • Convicted drunk drivers in the Netherlands are required to complete a three-day course on alcohol and traffic, which they must pay for themselves, or else be tested for their driving ability.
  • In Poland, between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m., the speed limit in populated areas is raised from 50 km/h to 60 km/h.
  • To avoid stepping into traffic, passengers in Portugal must exit a vehicle through a nearside door.
  • There is a zero-tolerance policy for drunk driving in Romania, and the consequences include jail time and a license suspension of up to 90 days. The Spanish government recently lowered the speed limit on motorways to 110 km/h as part of several fuel-saving initiatives.
  • Even during the day, you must always have your headlights turned on and on dipped beam in Sweden.

Refresh your driving knowledge with our UK theory test practice questions.