Driving overseas

To some a touring holiday means coaches and trains. Everything is organised for you, Monday it's London, Tuesday it's Paris, Wednesday it's Geneva and so on. But what if you want to see more of Paris. You can't. But if you take a driving holiday you can, you will have the freedom to go where you want, when you want and driving is a great way to see a country.

It's not too difficult, to some it may seem like a daunting task, but with a little preparation and foresight, your driving holiday can be a wonderful adventure. You may not realise it, but somewhere lurking inside you there is a sense of adventure waiting to get out.

So here are a few tips to help make your overseas adventure one to remember for all the right reasons.

Preliminary plans

This is where it all begins. This is when you decide which country or countries you are going to visit, where you are going to stay and what you would like to see. There is no need to make in-depth plans about what to see (have a wish list), but you should have your first few days and nights planned.

The first decision to make is which country or countries

• There is a host of information to be found on the Internet, at your local library and at the travel agents. Browse the web, read the brochures and decide
• You need to work out the cost of this. RAC travel can help you with, flights, accommodation, car hire and an International Driving Permit. If you plan to drive in a non-English speaking country, an International Driving Permit will be most helpful

Most motoring clubs have reciprocal arrangements with their international counterparts. This means that you will be entitled to much the same benefits abroad as you would at home. Check with the RAC to verify what your entitlements are.

Hiring a vehicle is a simple task and can be done through the RAC or on the Internet.

If you plan to borrow a car from a friend overseas, you will need to carry a letter of authorisation to drive the vehicle and also arrange adequate insurance cover.

When arranging accommodation for the first night, it is best to choose a place not too far from the airport, as you will probably be tired from the flight and need to rest.

Rules and regulations

Information on speed limits and road rules, for the country that you are visiting, will be available from the embassy or consulate of that country. Familiarise yourself with these before you leave as, in most countries, on the spot fines are imposed for breaches.

Obviously, you will need to know on which side of the road to drive and be comfortable with this. As in Australia, you must drive on the left side in the following countries

• Asia: Indonesia, Bangladesh, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Pakistan, Nepal, Brunei
• Oceania: Papua New Guinea, New Zealand, Tonga, Solomon Islands, and Fiji
• Indian Ocean: Seychelles, Mauritius
• Europe: Cyprus, Malta, Channel Islands, Ireland and United Kingdom
• Africa: South Africa, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique, Somalia, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia, Namibia, and Malawi
• South America, Central America And The Caribbean: Anguilla, Antigua, Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica, Montserrat, St Christopher, St Helena, St Kitts, St Lucia, St Vincent, Falkland Islands, Suriname, Guyana, Tobago, Trinidad

Seat belts, if fitted, must be worn in most countries. Of course, we recommend that you always wear seat belts and ensure that children are correctly restrained.

Many countries have specific rules that may not be familiar to you

• In Greece children under 10 are not permitted to travel in the front seat
• In Belgium it is perfectly legal to overtake on both sides, on some roads
• You must carry a first aid kit in some countries
• In Portugal you must carry some form of photographic identification
• In some countries it is compulsory to carry a fire extinguisher
• In some countries you must carry a warning triangle

As you can see there are many different rules, so familiarise yourself with them before you depart.

Before you leave

Make a check list of all you need

• Maps
• Spare prescription and sun glasses
• CD's and don't forget toys and books if you are taking children.
• Motion sickness tablets
• A water bottle (A cyclist's water bottle is easy to store and convenient to drink from when you are driving)
• Money, traveller's cheques and credit cards
• Passports
• International Driving Permit and your current driving licence (which you must carry with the International Driving Permit)
• A plan of the route covering the first few days

These are just some of the things, you'll probably think of more.

When you arrive

If hiring a car, get any information available from the hire company on road rules and regulations specific to that country.

Discuss the route you plan to take with the car hire people and ask their advice on what you should see and do. They will probably have lots of information on hand.

Check with the local tourist information centre for details of places to visit, how to get there and accommodation.

Comfort and safety

You will be spending a lot of time in the car, so it's a good idea to organise everything to be close to hand.

• Keep the drink's container in the centre console
• Keep the maps and route plan in the door pocket 
• If you are taking children, make sure that toys and books are close to hand
• Tune in the radio and place the CD's and music tapes close by

Fatigue may become a factor when you are driving long distances, so make sure that your driving position is comfortable.

• The seat back should be as straight as possible
• Your arms, when placed on the steering wheel, should be slightly bent and your hand should be at shoulder height
• Adjust the seat cushion to ensure that your knees are at roughly the same height as your hips

We recommend that you drive no more than two hours before taking a break. Get out of the car, if possible, walk around and do some light stretching exercises. Plan your stops for somewhere there are facilities, a motorway service area or lay-by is best. Don't eat a heavy meal of drink alcohol during stops. Avoid driving late at night, when your body is used to resting. Remember "Fatigue Kills" don't become a statistic, take adequate rest breaks.

Driving in cities

Some cities are so jammed packed full of traffic that it is near impossible to drive in them. If you want to visit a city, choose accommodation in the suburbs and use public transport into the city or plan your route carefully as one-way systems and busy intersections can be frightening.

Driving in adverse weather conditions

Driving in heavy rain can be dangerous, as visibility is considerably decreased.

• Be aware of vehicles in front and behind you. Leave plenty of room for stopping
• When cornering, slow down before the corner and accelerate out. The rule is "slow in and drive out"
• Avoid sudden movements of the steering wheel, as this will cause loss of control
• Avoid sudden and heavy braking
• Don't use the cruise control on icy roads
• Keep the headlights on low beam when driving in falling snow
• Stay on major roads, as minor roads will be last to be cleared of flooding or snow

In situations of heavy snow and ice, it may be necessary to use snow chains.

Plan ahead and your holiday will be relaxing and safe.