Introduction to London Car Rentals and Driving in London
In this section, we've put together a list of things that you'll need to
consider when driving or hiring a car in the UK. What's more, it's logically arranged so as to help you co-ordinate
each part of your journey. For example, topics covered include checking your car before departing,
Channel Tunnel crossings, compulsory equipment, UK driving rules/regulations, and useful information
(including new London congestion charging).
Before You Go
Aside from routine servicing, regular inspection and a few simple checks
before departing will lessen the chances of a breakdown. Although pan-European cover with motoring
organisations such as the ADAC in Germany does safeguard against major mechanical failures and
breakdowns, preventative maintenance is way better than road-side repair. The vast majority of
breakdowns occur through problems with batteries, ignition, fuel and cooling systems. A summary of
what to look out for is given below:
Cooling System - regardless of the time of
year you drive to the UK, it's important to make sure your vehicle's cooling system is operating
efficiently. This is especially true in summer when high temperatures and congested roads make it a
difficult climate for a poorly maintained car to function in.
First, check the radiator for leaks and signs of excessive corrosion and
remove debris such as leaves, paper and insects. Coolant hoses (top and bottom) should be inspected
for cracks/bulges and replaced if necessary. The security of hose clips should also be checked and
adjusted if required (being careful not to over tighten). While fluid loss in a sealed unit often
signifies a leak, top up only with an anti-freeze solution recommended by your vehicle
manufacturer.
Also check the tension/condition of fan belts and replace if necessary
(keeping a spare just in case of failure). Other common problems include faulty thermostat sensors,
which usually cause cooling fans to only work intermittently resulting in increased engine
temperatures.
Battery - ensure the battery electrolyte
level of cells covers the top of each plate, topping up using distilled water if necessary. Also,
check the electrical connections to each battery terminal, removing any green residue which may
have collected* (as this can stop power reaching the starter motor). When clean, smear petroleum
jelly onto the battery terminals both before and after reconnecting. Also ensure that the earthing
strip has a good connection to the body/chassis of the vehicle. *disconnect according to
instructions in your owners handbook.
Tyres - normally, tyre pressures should be
checked at weekly intervals. However, on a long to journey to the UK (which is often mostly by
motorway) it's prudent to check them once a day, preferably when cold. If your vehicle is fully
loaded i.e. 4/5 occupants plus luggage, adjust pressures accordingly (referring back to the
manufacturer's handbook). Also consider buying a good quality tyre pressure gauge - those at
filling stations are notoriously unreliable. Tread depth (which must appear in a continuous band
over at least three quarters of the tyre) should be above the legal minimum of 1.6mm.
Cambelt (Timing belt) - special attention
is drawn to vehicle cambelts. Inspection (and replacement if necessary) is usually carried at
intervals ranging from 40,000-60,000 miles. If your journey coincides with an inspection, make sure
it is carried out before you go. A failed belt will invariably result in engine damage to both
valves and cylinder head. For Focus/Golf sized vehicles this can cost upwards of £800 to
repair.
Channel Tunnel Car Crossings
The fastest way to get across the Channel is with
Le Shuttle between Coquelles and Folkestone (www.eurotunnel.co.uk). Both terminals have direct connections by motorway and
are well-sign posted en-route. If you don't have a pre-purchased ticket, you can also pay in
sterling, Euro or by credit card at the check-in booths. Journey time is only 35 minutes.
With the increased competition brought by the Tunnel, ferry operators have
been forced to reduce fares on the most popular sea crossings such as Calais-Dover and
Boulogne-Dover. For most, Dover-Calais is the most convenient option, taking just 1 hour 15 minutes
to complete the journey. For further details on the various ferry crossings available click here.
Compulsory/Recommended Equipment
The following equipment is either
compulsory (c) or recommended (r) when driving in the United Kingdom:
First Aid Kit (r)
Fire Extinguisher (r)
Warning Triangle (r)
Spare Bulbs (r)
Motorcycle Crash Helmets (c)
Nationality Plate (c)
See also Rules and Regulations below.
A valid (full) European, US or Canadian licence is needed to drive in the
UK.
Drive on the left hand side of the road and overtake on the right (the only
exception being when a vehicle in front is signaling to turn right, or if a traffic queue on your
right is moving more slowly than you are).
By law, seatbelts must be worn by the driver and all passengers. It is the
responsibility of the person in charge of the vehicle to make
sure this rule is followed. In the case of children, you must
ensure that all passengers under 14 years of age wear seat belts or sit in an approved child
restraint. This should be a child seat, booster seat or booster cushion (suited to the child's
weight and size) or baby seat.
Unlike most European countries, the UK does not have
signs to indicate who has priority on a major road. However, the accepted wisdom is that drivers on
major roads always have priority
over those on minor roads.
By law, you must stop behind the line at a junction with a 'Stop' sign and a
solid white line across the road. Only move off when there's a safe gap in the traffic.
Give way to traffic coming from the right at
roundabouts.
On zebras, flashing lights near to the road side
indicate that drivers must stop and yield the right of way if a pedestrian has stepped out onto the
crossing. Unlike many European countries, drivers in the UK do stop at zebras when pedestrians wish
to cross!
On signal-controlled 'Pelican' crossings you must stop when the red light shows. If the amber light is flashing
(after the red light), you must still give way to any
pedestrians on the crossing. In instances where the amber light is flashing and there are no
pedestrians on the crossing, you may proceed with caution.
On single-lane, dual-lane carriageways and
motorways, white studs mark the lanes or the middle of the road; red studs mark the left
edge of the road; amber studs mark the central reservation and green studs mark the edge of the
main carriageway at lay-bys, side roads and slip roads.
On a two-lane dual carriageway, drivers should stay in the left-hand lane,
using the right-hand lane for overtaking (when it is safe to do so). On motorways, the same basic
rules apply, with the middle lane or the right-hand lane also being used to overtake. However,
always return to the left-hand lane when it is safe to do so. Of course, the right-hand lane should
not be regarded as a fast lane!
Drivers must not drive or park in a cycle
lane marked by a solid white line during its times of operation. Where a cycle lane is indicated by
a broken white line, you should not drive or park your vehicle in it unless unavoidable.
Bus and tram lanes are shown by red road markings and signs. You must not drive or stop in a tram or bus lane during periods of operation
unless the signs indicate you may do so. In London, fines are routinely issued by the police to
drivers who are caught flouting the law on bus lane usage.
It goes without saying that you should drive
carefully in crowded shopping areas and parts of town with bus and tram stops. Residential areas
are also hazardous, with pedestrians (particularly children) often paying less attention when
crossing a road.
In the UK, motorways are designated by the letter
'M', followed two numbers; major trunk roads, which include dual-carriageways use the letter 'A'
with a suffix of up to four numbers, while minor trunk roads have a 'B' before their road
number.
Breakdown Services
If you're a member of a motoring organisation overseas (such as ADAC in
Germany) you can arrange roadside cover for your vehicle during a trip to the UK. Should a problem
occur, breakdown services can be alerted by dialing a freephone (toll-free) 24hr number. For the
AA, Tel: 0800 887 766 and the RAC, Tel: 0800 828 282.
UK Road Maps
Undoubtedly the most popular UK road map is The Ordinance Survey Motor Atlas
of Great Britain. Available in a number of different versions, it's revised annually, so changes to
the UK's road network should mean you're not caught out! Other decent alternatives include The
Collins Reference Map Series and the AA's Big Road Atlas 2008.
UK Fuel
Nowadays, all petrol stations in the UK stock unleaded fuel,
with leaded petrol now (largely) replaced by pumps selling Lead Replacement Petrol (LRP).
Along with ordinary (95 RON) and super unleaded (98 RON) fuels, higher octane "super
fuels" from the likes of Shell (V Power), BP (Ultimate) and Tesco have also been introduced
in recent years (though they remain cost prohibitive for many customers). Diesel petrol is also available at most pumps (including a new low-sulphur variant).
Sold by the litre (4.2 litres to a gallon), petrol prices in the UK are
significantly higher than elsewhere in Europe. US visitors especially, usually find it an expense
for which they have not properly budgeted.
Note: the vast majority of petrol stations in the UK are self-service.
To tackle the problem of chronic road congestion in London, the Mayor has
introduced a charge levied on those travelling into central London by car. Anyone
driving into a 'charging zone' from 7am-6pm Mon-Fri (excluding Bank Holidays) will be charged a
fee of £8 on the day of travel or £10 if you pay by midnight the following charging day (you can pay the following charging day via the
company's call centre or website).
By visiting www.cclondon.com you'll be able to make advance payments via the website, over
the phone, at garage forecourts, in shops, by post and actually in and around the congestion
charging zone.
Be warned! - Any
driver who fails to pay the charge will be required to
pay £100 (reduced to £50 if payment is made within 14 calendar days from the date of the
notice). Non-payment within 28 calendar days will result in an increased penalty of £150.
Motorcyclists and taxis are fully exempt from the new charge, although overseas visitors (who use
hire cars or their own vehicles) are not.
We understand, from speaking to Transport for London
(TFL), that penalty notices are sent out to the vehicle's registered keeper, including those
residing in other EU countries. Moreover, TFL will liaise with European enforcement teams, to
pursue payment from overseas drivers who have visited London, but failed to pay the £8
levy. For details about further exemptions and discounts click here!
Parking in London
Parking in London, like most others cities in Europe can be a real headache.
If you're staying at a centrally located hotel with parking facilities, then it's best to use the
Underground for sightseeing or shopping trips around town.
Although double parking is a rare sight on London streets - wheel clamps are
widely in use - so avoid the temptation of parking on double yellow lines and red routes (priority
bus roads). While parking is allowed on single yellow lines after working hours, you should still
check the restriction signs on lampposts before leaving your vehicle.
While many parts of central London are designated for 'residents only' parking
(meaning that you have to live along the street to legally park there), limited meter space is also
sometimes made available. Although meter charges are usually indicated on a cost per hour basis,
it's often possible to pay for shorter periods (20 minutes at a time). When parking you'll either
have to pay at a single machine (in which case you display a ticket on the inside of your vehicle)
or individual meters for each parking bay. Be warned though, in some parts of London parking rates
can be as high as £4 per hour!
To find your nearest car park visit: www.ncp.co.uk.
Routes to the city
Ringed by the M25 London 'orbital' motorway, many of the country's
busiest roads radiate from the capital. While the M1 heads north, the M3 off to Southampton
and the M4 to Gloucester, many visitors arriving at Dover or Folkestone will only need to
use the M20 and M26 before joining the M25 into London (from Ramsgate part of the
journey is via the M2).
Driving times to London: from Folkestone 1hour 30mins, from Dover - 1hour
50mins.
Speed Limits in the UK (mph/kph)
Despite frequent calls for speed limits to either be raised or lowered, the UK
has similar restrictions to other European countries. Speed limits are 70mph (113kph) on motorways,
60mph (97kph) on single-lane main roads and 30mph (48kph) in built-up areas. However, as limits do
vary according to local conditions, (invariably being lower than those listed above) pay close
attention to road signs. Of course, drivers breaking UK speed limits not only risk being involved
in an accident, but being pulled over by the police or caught by a speed enforcement
camera.
Vehicle Security
If valuables have to be left inside your vehicle, lock them away in the glove
or luggage compartment. Even everyday belongings (such as coats and bags) tempt thieves and should
therefore be left out of sight. Don't leave removable radio-cassette units under the front seats
(this is the first place where a car thief will look) and activate the alarm/immobilizer upon
leaving the vehicle.
If central locking isn't fitted, the driver should make sure that doors,
windows and the sunroof are all closed. At night, park in well lit areas close to other vehicles.
If your vehicle has alloy wheels consider fitting lockable wheel nuts.
Finally, when driving in London always lock your doors (as gangs have been
known to rob drivers while stuck in traffic). What's more never get into an altercation with
another driver, or lose your temper if an accident has occurred. It's much better to keep your
cool, rather than end up in a fight or in extreme cases intensive care.
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