Traffic rules

Traffic rules Great Britain

General:

The UK has a very well developed road network with 3500 kilometres of motorway. Traffic lights are largely absent here. Instead there are the roundabouts or “roundabouts”, which can even have up to five lanes. This form of traffic routing means that there are actually hardly any traffic jams. As a big exception in Europe, in England, one drives on the left side. In London, there are tolls (London Congestion Charge).

Driving licence:

An international driving licence is not required. According to the Brussels ruling, even the old pink one is valid.

Promille limit:

All over the UK, the 0.8 drink-drive limit applies.

Fine:

Red light: from 130 euros
Overtaking despite a ban: from 130 euros
Parking despite a ban: from 30 euros
Telephoning without a hands-free device: from 75 euros
Speeding: from 75 euros
Drink-driving (which can be expensive): up to 7,350 euros!

Other:

Other than that, traffic rules are very similar to anywhere in Europe, except for driving on the left. Speed limits are 30 miles per hour (=48 km/h) in cities, 60 mph (=96 km/h) on rural roads and 70 mph (=112 km/h) on highways. Children under the age of 14 are only allowed to ride in the back seat and parking is prohibited on yellow lines at the edge of the road. An absolute stopping and parking ban applies at two red lines at the edge of the carriageway (Red Routes/London). Stopping is prohibited at a red line between 7am and 7pm. In the UK, a roundabout is driven clockwise, a left turn signal is given before exiting and right-before-left always applies within the roundabout.