Planning on driving in Europe this summer? Whether you’re thinking of taking your car over to the continent via ferry or picking up a rental car after touching down in a European airport, make sure your road trip adventure is as safe as possible.
This is the advice of Nick Holmes, Technical Training Manager at Instarmac,, who comments: “It is vital that we familiarise ourselves with road signs, markings and driving laws of countries we aren’t native to. A quick refresher can go a long way in keeping ourselves and other road users safe.”
Thomas cautions that although 53% of UK citizens have driven abroad at some point in their lives – but with British drivers three times more likely to get into road accidents abroad, a better grasp of European road signs can only be a good thing.
Thomas has provided Digital Journal with some of the most commonly misunderstood road signs in Europe.
Beware! Frogs!
This German warning sign is intended to make drivers aware of migrating amphibians in the local area. Tomas says: “So no, you aren’t at risk of a sudden toad attack. That being said, it may be wise to slow down and keep an eye on the road.”
Alternate route, start and end
Do you enjoy spending a lifetime in traffic? Of course not, no one does. Thomas calrifies: “These useful road signs don’t indicate a hazard, instead they suggest an alternate route to avoid instances of congestion. The first sign indicates the start of an alternate route, whereas the sign with three diagonal scores indicates the end of an alternate route.”
Snow chains required
Thomas notes: “While the sign may look a bit Mad Max-ish, snow chains (or tyre chains as they are also known) are required on certain EU member country driving routes. These help increase your vehicle’s grip on ice or snow, avoiding dangerous over and understeering.”
Beware! Polar bear!
Slightly more intimidating than the amphibian warning, these animal crossing signs in Norway mean business. Thomas states: “There isn’t much to say about this one that your fight or flight response wouldn’t say for you. Just go steady, keep a watchful eye on the road and hold off from pulling over for a bathroom break.”
Beware! Dock!
With this hazardous sign, Thomas cautions: “Unless you’ve rented James Bond’s subaquatic Lotus Esprit, you’ll want to pay attention to this one. This Spanish road sign indicates a dock nearby, prompting unsuspecting drivers to pay closer attention to their surroundings.”
Beware! Gorgeous scenery!
With the camera motif, Thomas finds: “A pleasant surprise for the road tripper, Spain and other EU countries use this classy road sign to make drivers aware of a nearby spot with beautiful scenery. Keep your eyes peeled or pull over to safely research the scenery in question.”
Right of way
Used in several EU countries, this sign tells road users that they currently have the right of way. Thomas checks: 2Remembering this sign in particular could be the difference between a lovely trip out and a nasty crash, so keep your eyes peeled.”
Need a rest?
With this sometimes confusing sign, Thomas intereprets the message: “A road sign you’ll be overjoyed to see if you’ve been needing a toilet break – this sign indicates a rest area nearby for drivers, similar to a service station sign you’d find on a UK motorway.”
Low beams ahead!
Important for both your safety and to avoid a fine, these road signs tell drivers that their beams must be set to low. According to Thomas: “This is to prevent accidental blinding of drivers in the opposite lane, helping to prevent a collision.”
Beware! Moose!
This road sign warns road users of crossing moose in the area. Thomas sounds the alarm: “Many foreign visitors underestimate this sign, but roaming moose aren’t to be trifled with. Moose are huge, standing between 7 – 8 feet tall and weighing up to 700kg.”
Railway crossing nearby
This sign also causes confusion, says Thomas: “A sign you’re likely to encounter at least once in your travels, this sign warns drivers that there is a railway crossing coming up on your route. Identify the tracks ahead of time and don’t rush to beat the barriers.”
Steep descent ahead!
It’s best not to overthink this one, says Thomas. “This French road sign indicates a steep descent ahead, but the ‘10%’ often throws people off – even though similar signs can be seen on steep hills in the UK. The 10% simply refers to the angle of the decline. It does not refer to car weight, speed or any other metric or restriction.”
Thomas concludes his review with: “Even the seemingly random road signs were issued by the government authority for a reason: to keep road users safe. Understanding how we should react is crucial for a holiday road trip without hiccups.”
