Driving and Autos: Auto

Traffic moves along the M1 motorway in Milton Keynes at sunset.

UK penalties for driving under the influence of even minimal amounts of alcohol or drugs are stiff and often result in prison sentences. In the UK traffic moves on the left.

The maximum speed limit on highways/motorways in the United Kingdom is 70 mph. Motorways generally have a hard shoulder (breakdown lane) on the far left, defined by a solid white line. It is illegal to stop or park on a hard shoulder unless it is an emergency. In such cases, you should activate your hazard lights, get out of your vehicle, and go onto an embankment for safety.

Emergency call boxes (orange telephone booths with SOS printed on them) may be found at half-mile intervals along the motorway. White and blue poles placed every 100 yards along the motorway point in the direction of the nearest call box. Emergency call boxes dial directly to a motorway center. It is best to use these phones rather than a personal cell phone, because motorway center personnel will immediately know the location of a call received from an emergency call box.

Roadside towing services may cost approximately £150 (approximately $225). However, membership fees of automotive associations such as the RAC (Royal Automobile Club) or AA (Automobile Association) often include free roadside towing service.

Travelers intending to rent cars in the United Kingdom should make sure that they are adequately insured. Auto insurance from your home country is not always valid in the United Kingdom, and travelers may wish to purchase supplemental insurance, which is generally available from most major rental agents. A congestion charge of £8 (as of 12/09, approximately $15) is imposed on all cars entering much of central London Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Many foreign citizen pedestrians are injured, some fatally, every year in the United Kingdom. Extra care should be taken when crossing streets; remember to remain alert and look both ways before stepping into the street.

Driving in Gibraltar is on the right side of the road. Persons traveling overland between Gibraltar and Spain may experience long delays in clearing Spanish border controls.

Auto rental companies are abundant and can be found at all major airports and hotels. Required documentation includes a national driver's license (from the renter's country) valid for at least one year beyond the current date. Renters must also purchase third-party insurance. U.S. auto insurance is not always valid outside the U.S. and you may wish to purchase supplemental insurance, which is generally available from most major rental agents.

Source: US Department of State