Britons 'bad drivers abroad'

Most drivers were off to France

Most British motorists heading for Continental Europe this summer will unwittingly break the law within a mile of their point of arrival, according to research.

A survey of drivers at Dover, the UK's busiest port, found many were ignorant of foreign speed limits, road signs and alcohol laws.

Nevertheless the vast majority of those polled believed British drivers were the safest and best in Europe. The Italians were voted the worst and most dangerous.

Eight out of every 10 drivers asked by insurance company Axa were heading for France but half of them many failed to recognise the French "give way" sign.

And 86% failed to correctly identify the yellow diamond, a vital sign indicating which road has right of way.

Fewer than one out of every five knew the French motorway speed limit and fewer than one out of every 20 knew what it was in Spain.

Your first few minutes of driving on continental roads can be as bewildering and dangerous as your first experience behind the wheel AXA Insurance motor manager Simon Baker

One out of every three thought continental alcohol limits were higher than in Britain - but they are much lower in France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Austria, Spain and Portugal.

The same proportion were heading for the continent without mandatory GB stickers and reflective warning triangles.

Twice as many said they would allow a 17-year-old to drive their cars on the continent, unaware they would be breaking the law in France, the Benelux countries, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Spain and Portugal, where the legal age for driving is 18.

Most did not have headlamp converters or deflectors, and one out of every 10 did not even have their driving licences.

AXA Insurance motor manager Simon Baker said: "Your first few minutes of driving on continental roads can be as bewildering and dangerous as your first experience behind the wheel, if you are not prepared.

"It only takes a short while to familiarise yourself with the road rules of the country you are visiting - but it will allow you to cruise the continent with complete confidence and safety."