Half of all Brits face a brush with the law when driving abroad

As more people are opting for independent travel to Europe’s ski resorts, Saga Breakdown Assistance is warning people to learn the rules of the road before they travel.

Although GB stickers are compulsory in both France and Spain, research by Saga shows that only 56% of British cars go abroad with one on. Spare light bulbs and reflective safety vests are also compulsory in Spain, but over a quarter of us forget to take these things with us in the car.

The research also shows that Brits seem to think more about their stomachs than their safety when travelling abroad — 85% remember to pack food in the car, but only 71% remember their first aid kit and 60% their warning triangle, both of which are compulsory in most European countries.

Saga Breakdown Assistance has prepared a guide to travelling abroad, which includes advice on driving regulations in various countries, checks to make before you travel and a range of recommended driving tours.

Andrew Goodsell, Chief Executive, Saga, commented: "It seems that we need to do a bit more research about European destinations before we travel. By omitting to pack the required safety equipment, people could find themselves facing unnecessary fines if they get stopped by the police abroad."

Despite most Britons saying they didn’t drive in Italy, almost a quarter of them nominated the Italians as the worst drivers in Europe. In fact 15% voted foreign drivers the most irritating thing about driving abroad, which was second only to the quarter that found this to be driving on the other side of the road. The most difficult aspect of driving abroad was finding their way around for a third of travellers and a fifth said this was negotiating European roundabouts.

The research also revealed that two thirds of us have been out and about on the roads in Europe, however almost a fifth of us don’t take out breakdown cover before we travel abroad.