70% Of Brits Abroad Do Not Understand Road Signs

Many Brits enjoy a driving holiday when they head overseas, whether they choose to hire a car once they land or take their own vehicle across to Europe on a ferry.

However, according to a recent study, 71 per cent of those holidaymakers who have driven in another country did not understand what the road signs meant.

Co-op Insurance revealed nearly a quarter got lost as a result of this, while the insurance provider estimated a lack of knowledge about foreign road signs has resulted in 860,000 avoidable road accidents.

Nick Ansley, head of motor insurance at the Co-op, said: “Many British drivers are having crashes on holiday turning what should be a relaxing time of year into a stressful one.”

He said getting familiar with foreign highway codes is “incredibly important”, and “could stop a lot of stress and worry for you and other road users”.

It is not just getting lost that drivers should be worried about if they do not revise international road signs, as 14 per cent said they have made other drivers angry because of their lack of knowledge, while 12 per cent of British drivers have caused an argument with their own friends and family over misunderstanding foreign driving laws.

Mr Ansley suggested to get acquainted with rules of the road for the nation you are visiting; avoid driving in flip flops despite the sunny weather; check Satnavs are up to date; and keep your driving licence close by.

He also reminded UK drivers that speedometers are typically set to km/h, rather than miles per hour, while it is also a good idea to learn the national speed limits for that country.

You can test your understanding of different international road signs by checking out the Co-op’s The Hub where you can take a questionnaire for your holiday destination.

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