Brits abroad show lack of regard for road law

As an estimated ten million people plan to drive their cars abroad this summer, more than one in three will knowingly take risks with the law that they wouldn’t do at home, according to AXA Insurance. Meanwhile, millions of others will inadvertently break the law through a lack of knowledge or preparation before they leave.

The research, carried out among drivers planning to take their own cars abroad this summer, showed that just over a quarter (27%) were less concerned about breaking speed limits abroad than at home, while 18% took drink driving less seriously than at home.

A further 7% said they were less likely to use seatbelts abroad and 4% said they were more likely to use a mobile while driving than they would do at home. Only 38% said that none of the above applied to them.

Around one in ten Brits who have driven their own cars abroad have had an accident while doing so.

Meanwhile, statistics showed that those preparing to drive abroad were woefully unaware of other foreign legal requirements with less than half (49%) making any effort to check on the driving rules and regulations that apply before leaving home.