andorra

Non-toll Mountain Passes

Fuel

Unleaded gasoline is known as either essence sans plomb or gasolina sin plomb. Diesel fuel is known as diesel. LPG is known as Gaz de pétrole liquéfié (GPL). Fuel is much cheaper in Andorra than in France or Spain.

Driving

Snow tires or chains are essential in the winter. The legal blood alcohol limit is 0.08 percent. Police are empowered to collect fines on the spot. Speed limits: 40 km/h (25 mph) in built-up areas, 70 km/h (44 mph) outside built-up areas. Police are empowered to collect fines on the spot. Other regulations approximate those of France.

Banks

Open on weekdays from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. and on Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Shops

Open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

National Holidays

Breakdown, Accident or Emergency

Police, tel. 17; Fire and Ambulance, tel. 18. Automobil Club d'Andorra, FIA member, Babet Camp 4, Andorra-la-Vella, tel. 20 8 90.

austria

Customs

Persons at least 18 years of age who arrive from other European countries may import the following free of duty: 200 cigarettes or 100 cigars or 250 grams of tobacco, 2 liters of wine and 1 liter of spirits, 1 bottle of toilet water (about 300 milliliter size), and 50 milliliters of perfume. Persons arriving directly from non-European points may import twice the above free of duty. You may import 10 liters of spare fuel free of duty.

License

Non Europeans must carry an International Driving Permit.

Equipment

You must carry a warning triangle in your vehicle; though this does not apply to motorcyclists. All drivers must carry a first aid kit in or on their vehicle. Helmets are compulsory for motorcyclists and their passengers.

Tolls

The word for toll is Mautstelle. To use expressways other than the A13 Brenner, A9 Pyhrn, A10 Tauren, and S16 Arlberg Tunnel you must purchase and display on your vehicle a vignette. (To use those expressways listed above, however, you simply pay their tolls—although said vignette does entitle you to a 15 percent discount.) Choose from 10-day, 2-month, and annual vignettes. They are sold at entry points onto the expressway system (look for the sign reading "Verkaufen"), at border crossings, fuel stations and post offices, and they cost as follows:

The major Austrian toll companies sell multiple-journey passes which reduce the cost of the average journey. An additional charge may be tacked on per person if you have more than two people traveling; the charge for children is lower or not applied. Credit cards are not accepted.

If, however, your vehicle weighs over 3.5 tons (i.e. 3500 kg), you must buy a "GO-Box" rather than a vignette. About the size of your palm, a GO-Box initially costs EUR50 and is meant to be affixed to the inside of the windscreen. These devices are sold at most fuel stations on major roads approaching Austria. (In Germany, look for signs reading "GO Vertrieb.") The initial EUR50 is reduced as the vehicle passes certain control points. When this credit gets low, the GO-box emits a warning signal. You can recharge the GO-Box in EUR50 increments only. The fine for traveling said expressways without a charged Go-Box is EUR220.

Toll Roads and Passes:

Several tunnels require tolls, but vehicles displaying the expressway disc get a 15 percent discount:

Non-toll Mountain Passes

Non-toll mountain passes tend to be much more difficult to negotiate than the passes which charge a toll. If you're driving a vehicle, such as a caravan, that is not allowed on or recommended for some of the following passes, or if you want to travel quickly across or through the mountains, note that a mountain pass or tunnel which charges a toll tends to be close by.

Road Signs

The word bahnhof, whether alone or incorporated in another word, indicates a train station. The expressways are called autobahnen; one step down are the national schnellstraßen highways, followed by the national bundestraßen highways; the provincial landestraßen are next in order, followed by the community roads or gemeindestraßen. The autobahnen are denoted by green signs with white characters. The schnellstraßen are indicated by blue signs with white numbers and are the one type of intersecting road that automatically has priority over all other roads. The bundestraßen are noted by circular yellow signs with black numbers.

Fuel

Most fuel stations are open 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.; stations in large cities may operate 24 hours. Generally, major credit cards are not accepted. Unleaded gasoline is known as blyfrei normal or blyfrei super or blyfrei super plus. Regular unleaded gasoline has an octane rating of 91; the octane rating of super is 95, while that of super plus is 98. As for leaded gasoline, it is no longer sold. Diesel goes by its English name. LPG is called autogas.

Driving

The minimum age of a driver is 18 years. Children must be at least 12 years of age to sit in the front seat (unless a special seat or seat belt is fitted or unless they're over 1.5 meters tall). The use of seat belts is compulsory for front- and rear-seat passengers. The legal blood alcohol limit is 0.049 percent. Speed limits are as follows: 50 km/h (30 mph) in built-up areas, 100 km/h (62 mph) outside built-up areas, 130 km/h (81 mph) on expressways, and 100 km/h (62 mph) for cars with a caravan or trailer under 750 kg traveling on expressways. If the trailer or caravan is larger, contact a national motoring club for more information. In the Vorarlberg and the Tyrol, maximum speed limit is 80 km/h (50 mph). Expressway speed limits are only 100 km/h (62 mph) on the following: A8 (Innkreis), A9 (Pyhrn), A10 (Tauern), A12 (Inntal), A13 (Brenner), A14 (Rheintal).

In exception to the priority-on-your-right rule, trams coming from your left have priority. Ascending vehicles have priority on mountain roads.

Parking lights are not necessary if your vehicle is visible from at least 50 meters away. Motorcycles must be operated with headlights on—night and day. Horns cannot be used in Vienna and are prohibited elsewhere as indicated by signs.

Passing on the right is allowed only on one-way streets or when passing trams or when passing a vehicle that is indicating a left turn. You are not allowed to cross a solid yellow or white center line. Give warning of your approach by flashing your lights.

Police are empowered to collect fines on the spot. (And, yes, they do accept most major credit cards.) The officer must issue an official receipt. You'll have two weeks to pay. You can request to bring the case before a court instead, but you may be asked to make a security deposit.

Parking

Except for when quickly loading and unloading, don't park in the following areas: where you see a sign saying Halten Verboten, where you see crosses on the road in front of houses, within 15 meters of pedestrian crossings or public transportation stops, in front of fuel stations or any entrances, on narrow roads, on the left of one-way streets, or on priority roads outside built-up areas during conditions which significantly reduce visibility. In Vienna it's illegal to park between 8:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. from December 15 to March 31 on roads with tram rails; this rule allows for snow removal. Blue Zones or Blaue Zones exist in many cities and are marked on their boundary by the No Parking sign bearing the word Kurzparkzone (short-term parking) or zone; blue road markings may mark the zone. Fees are associated with Blaue Zones in Baden, Bludenz, Bregenz, Feldkirch, Graz, Innsbruck, Klagenfurt, Krems, Linz, St. Pölten, St. Veit/Glan, Salzburg, Schwaz, Vienna, Villach, Völkermarkt, Wiener Neustadt and Wolfsberg. Tickets for the Blaue Zones in the above cities can be purchased at machines in the parking area or at banks or tobacconists. Unless otherwise indicated by a sign, parking in Blaue Zones is allowed for 3 hours. In the Blaue Zones of other towns, free parking is allowed for 90 minutes. Parking tickets are not required in these other towns, but you must obtain a parking disc free of charge from tobacconists. Even motorcycles need to display such a disc.

Don't leave an unhitched trailer in a public parking place. In Salzburg, the Tyrol, and Upper Austria, it's illegal to park caravans outside special parking lots or within 500 meters of a lake. And don't park a caravan within 200 meters of the Grossglockner High Alpine Road or on the expressway in Salzburg. Violaters are subject to heavy fines and the towing of the vehicle.

Camping

An International Camping Carnet is not required by the campgrounds. Free-camping without appropriate permission is illegal; but note that it's commonly practiced in state forests with permission of the park authorities. Overnight parking and sleeping is allowed at highway rest areas and on most city streets, except in Vienna and except where otherwise posted; but campng equipment may not be set up outside the vehicle.

Banks

Open on weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to noon or 12:30 p.m. and from 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 (5:30 p.m. on Thursday).

Shops

Open on weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and on Saturday morning till 1:00 p.m.; smaller shops may close from noon to 2:00 p.m.

National Holidays

BBC Radio Hours and Corresponding Frequencies

5:00 a.m. to 7:30 a.m.: 9410, 12095 and 15070 kHz
7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.: 9660, 15070 and 17640 kHz
4:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.: 9410, 12095 and 15070 kHz

Breakdown, Accident or Emergency

Police, tel. 133; Fire, tel. 122; Ambulance, tel. 144. Emergency road service and technical assistance is available from ARBÖ, tel. 123; or ÖAMTC, tel. 120. The local prefix must be added to these numbers. Note that emergency phones are placed along major roads. Österreichischer Automobil Motorrad-und Touring Club (ÖAMTC), FIA and AIT member, Schubertring 1-3, 1010 Vienna 1, tel. 1 711 99, office hours from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on weekdays.

baltic states: estonia, latvia, and lithuania

Customs

You may import spare fuel free of duty. Estonia allows the following free of duty: persons aged 18 years or over can bring 1 liter of over 22 percent alcohol by volume, or 2 liters of up to 22 percent alcohol by volume and 2 liters of wine or 10 liters of beer, 200 cigarettes or 100 cigarellos 50 cigars or 250 grams of tobacco, and EUR1000. In addition to the fuel that the standard fuel tank contains and the oil in the engine a traveler is allowed to bring in 10 liters of fuel and 5 liters of engine oil per vehicle. Limits also exist on the value of purchases which may be exported free of duty. Latvia allows the following free of duty: 1 liter of spirits and 2 liters of wine (for persons over 16 years of age). Up to 100 percent duty can be levied on antiques of artistic value. Lithuania places limits on the amount of amber that can be exported. You are supposed to obtain a permit from the Culture of Ministry and pay duty to export artworks of special value—this process takes about three days. Up to 20 liters of spare fuel may be imported.

There are two entry points between Poland and Lithuania: Ogrodniki to Lazdijai, and Szyplszki to Kalvarija (on the Swalki to Marijampole Road). Visiting motorists may bypass the lines of goods vehicles which sometimes form and go straight to a Customs check point.

Insurance

Equipment

Estonia requires motorcyclists and their passengers to wear helmets; non motorcyclists must carry a fire extinguisher in their vehicle, and all drivers are required to carry a first aid kit in or on their vehicle. Estonia and Lithuania require a warning triangle in addition; though this does not apply to motorcyclists.

Fuel

A new chain of Neste Oy stations service the M-12 ("Via Baltica") expressway. These eleven stations are located every 150 km, open 24 hours, and accept Visa and Diners Club. Shell and Statoil stations are growing in number as well. Almost every station is now open 24 hours. Neste and UnoX stations are fully automatic, accepting cash and major credit cards; Statoil and Shell stations have shops in the stations. You might encounter tankers selling fuel alongside the main highways. Unleaded fuel is signified by a green pump and/or an "E" in the pricesign. Since central European diesel fuel congeals in winter, a special winter blend with a high congealing point is offered by Neste or Kesoil stations.

Driving

Minimum age is 18 years.

Persons in the front seat must wear seatbelts; and if the car has rear seatbelts, rearseat passengers as well should be fastened in these as. The legal blood alcohol limit is 0.02 percent in Estonia, 0.05 perecent in Lativa, 0.04 percent in Lithuania. Speed limits are as typically follows: 50 km/h (30 mph) in built-up areas, 90 km/h (56 mph) outside built-up areas, 100 km/h (60 mph) on divided highways; vehicles over 3.5 metric tons (3500 kg) are limited to 70 km/h (44 mph). In summer there are speed limits of up to 110 km/h (68 mph) on selected highways. Fines are levied for relatively minor excesses of these limits.

In Estonia and Latvia all motorists must use headlights all the time; and except in the case of immediate and extreme danger, it is illegal to use your horn in towns and villages. In Lithuania motorcyclists must use headlights at all times; and all drivers must use headlights at all times from November 1 to March 1.

In towns the roads are full of potholes. Main roads outside towns are in good condition, but secondary roads are surfaced with gravel or sand. Driving at night is dangerous: locals often use sidelights only, slow-moving vehicles abound, and goods fallen from vehicles often clutter the roads.

Police in Lativa and Lithuania are currently empowered to collect fines on the spot; but in Latvia you can pay at a bank instead, if you prefer. In Estonia you pay the fine at a bank only.

Parking

Due to a rather high incidence of vehicle break-ins, secure parking facilities are worth seeking out. Theft of vehicles themselves is no longer unusually common.

You must pay for parking in the center of Tallinn and other main towns. Be careful not to park on tram lines. Due to high incidence of vehicle theft and pilfering, guarded parking facilities should be used. Tallin harbors some zones requiring parking tickets, and wheel clamps are used. In Lithuania, parking is prohibited within 15 meters of bus stops and within 5 meters of intersections; wheel clamps are not used, but illegally parked vehicles may be towed. In Riga, the capital of Latvia, almost all the streets suitable for parking are equipped with parking meters. The meters here print a receipt which you place on your vehicle's dashboard. Police in Riga can fine you about 10 Ls (17 EUR) for illegal parking. The fine has to be paid (through a bank), otherwise you may have problems leaving the country.

Banks

Estonia: open roughly 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. weekdays; some open on Saturdays. Latvia: open roughly 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. weekdays. Lithuania: open roughly 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. weekdays.

Shops

National Holidays

Estonia: Jan 1; Feb 24; Good Fri; Easter Mon; May 1; June 23, 24; Aug 20; Dec 25, 26.

Latvia: Jan 1; Good Fri; Easter Mon; May 1; June 23; Nov 11, 18; Dec 25, 26.

Lithuania: Jan 1; Feb 16; March 11; Good Fri; Easter Mon; Mothers Day; May 1; June 14; July 6; Dec 25, 26.

BBC Radio Hours and Corresponding Frequencies

5:00 a.m. to 7:30 a.m.: 9410, 12095 and 15070 kHz
7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.:12095, 15070 and 17640 kHz
4:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.: 9410, 12095 and 15070 kHz

Breakdown, Accident or Emergency

Spare parts for western vehicles are now widely available. In Estonia: police, tel. 110; fire and ambulance, tel. 112; call 1188 for Estonian Car Club 24-hour help. Elsewhere: Police, tel. 02; Fire, tel. 01; Ambulance, tel. 03. The Finnish oil company Neste Oy provides 24-hour breakdown assistance along the Via Baltica (or M12, a 700 km or 430 mile long road from Warsaw to Tallinn), tel. 370 2 53 43 86 or 370 2 53 42 91. The national motoring clubs are the following.

Customs

Non-EC citizens may import the following free of duty: 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250 grams of tobacco, 2 liters of still wine, 1 liter of spirits or 2 liters of aperitif wine, 50 grams of perfume. Other imported goods from non-EC countries cannot exceed EUR50 in value. There are no restrictions on the import and export of currency. You can import 10 liters of spare fuel free of duty.

Equipment

You are required to carry a warning triangle in your vehicle; though this does not apply to motorcyclists. Helmets are compulsory for motorcyclists and their passengers.

Tolls

There is a toll for the use of Antwerp's Liefkenshoek Tunnel.

Concessions for Hostellers

North Sea Ferries offers discounts on their service between Hull, England, and Zeebrugge, Belgium.

Sealink Stena Line grants a 20 percent discount on standard fares for foot passengers or motor vehicles plus up to five passengers between Belgium and England.

Road Signs

Note that there are two languages generally spoken in Belgium: Flemish in the northern half, and French in Brussels and in the southern half. Antwerpen (Flemish) is Anvers (French); Brugge is Bruges; Bruxelles is Brussel; Gent is Gand; Luik is Liège; Leuven is Louvain; Namen is Namur; Bergen is Mons; and Doornik is Tournai. The words "Passage Difficile" and "Moeilijke Doorgang" indicate a difficult section. The word station in Flemish indicates a train station; while the word in French is gare. International expressways are signified by green signs with white characters preceded by the letter E; national highways are noted by blue signs with white letters preceded by the letter A. As part of a new naming convention, lesser highways may have two road numbers—both the old and the new—preceded by an N.

Fuel

Most fuel stations are closed from 8:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m., and all day Sunday, but stations along expressways are open 24 hours, seven days a week. Major credit cards are accepted at stations in large towns and along the expressways. Leaded super gasoline has an octane rating of 98 or 99. Unleaded gasoline is known as normale sans plomb, essence sans plomb, ongelood, unverbleit, or loodvrije benzine. Unleaded regular has an octane rating of 92; the octane rating of super is 95.

Driving

The minimum age of a driver is 18 years. Children must be at least 12 years of age to sit in the front seat (unless a safety seat is fitted). The use of seat belts is compulsory for front- and rear-seat passengers. The legal blood alcohol limit is 0.05 percent. Speed limits are as follows: 50 km/h (30 mph) in built-up areas, 90 km/h (56 mph) outside built-up areas, and 120 km/h (74 mph) on expressways.

In exception to the priority-on-your right rule, trams always have priority.

Headlights must be on between dusk and dawn and during inclement weather. Motorcycles must be operated with headlights on—night and day. The horn should only be used outside built-up areas.

Police are empowered to impose and collect fines on the spot. Fines range from EUR20; for visitors the fine for a highend offense is EUR150. You must place a security deposit if you refuse to pay. Police may request that you take a blood alcohol test; although you can by law refuse, you might as a result be arrested.

Parking

Blue Zone parking areas—indicated by signs placed at their periphery—exist in Antwerp, Bruges, Brussels, Gent, Liège, and Öostende. However, where meters or the like are in place in the zones, discs are not required or sufficient. You can obtain a parking disc from police or service stations, some merchants, or offices of the RACB motoring club. Outside these zones a parking disc must be used where the parking sign includes an extra panel bearing the image of a disc or where the words "Disque Obligatoire" or "Schijf Verplicht" indicate the beginning of a Blue Zone. Don't park within 15 meters of a tram, bus or rail stop or near where tram or rail lines cross the road. Some parking garages are not manned on weekends and holidays; operate the barrier automatically with the proper coins. Wheel clamps are used in Antwerp and Gent.

No parking from the 1st to the 15th of the month	No parking from the 16th to the end of the month	End of Blue Zone parking area

Camping

The government classifies registered sites on a four-star basis; one- and two-star sites don't have showers. Since many campgrounds play host to virtually permanent trailer-living residents, it can be hard to find a spot in high season. An International Camping Carnet is not required. Apart from overnight stays at highway rest areas, free-camping without appropriate permission is not legal.

Banks

Open on weekdays from 9:00 a.m. to noon and from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.

Shops

Open from 9:00 a.m. to noon and from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. (supermarkets stay open until 8:00 p.m., and on Friday most shops are open until 9:00 p.m.) every day but Sunday.

National Holidays

Jan 1; Easter Mon; Labor Day; Ascension; Whit Mon; July 21; Aug 15; Nov 1, 11; Dec 25.

BBC Radio Hours and Corresponding Frequencies

5:00 a.m. to 7:30 a.m.: 648, 9410 and 15575 kHz
7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.: 648, 9750 and 12095 kHz
4:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.: 6195, 9410 and 12095 kHz

Breakdown, Accident or Emergency

Police, tel. 101; Fire & Ambulance, tel. 100. If you are in an accident, you must—unless people are injured—move your vehicle off the road so that traffic is not obstructed. Before you do this be sure to properly note the post-accident position of the vehicles; this includes marking the tire position with chalk, and taking photographs.

Royal Automobile Club de Belgique (RACB), FIA member, 53 rue d'Arlon, 1040 Brussels, tel. 02 2870911; office hours from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on weekdays. Touring Club Royal de Belgique (TCB), AIT member, 44 rue de la Loi, 1040 Brussels, tel. 02 2332211; office hours from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on weekdays and from 9:00 a.m. to noon on Saturday.

bulgaria

Customs

You may import the following free of duty: 250 grams of tobacco, 1 liter of hard liquor, and 2 liters of wine. Items for personal use are also free of duty. Visitors should declare expensive items such as cameras. You can import 20 liters of spare fuel free of duty.

License and Insurance

You must carry an International Driving Permit.(See the Resources chapter.)

Equipment

You must carry a warning triangle in your vehicle; though this does not apply to motorcyclists. All drivers must carry a first aid kit in or on their vehicle. Helmets are compulsory for motorcyclists and their passengers.

Tolls

Foreign-registered vehicles using expressways or four-lane rods must pay tolls: 2 leva per km for a private car, 3 leva per km for a van with less than 12 seats, and 4 leva per km for a bus. There's also a toll to cross the bridge over the Danube between Rousse, Bulgaria, and Gjourguevo (Giurgia), Romania: 210 leva plus a $1 tax for a private car, 390 leva plus a $2 tax for a van with less than 12 seats, 60 leva for a motorcycle.

Road Signs

Town names are given in Bulgarian, sometimes also in French.

Fuel

Fuel stations are located in large towns and every 35 km or so along main roads. Most stations are opne 24 hours, but some operate from 6:00 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Fuel in blue pumps is of much better quality. Leaded regular has an octane rating of 86; the octane rating of super is 96. Unleaded gasoline is known as bezoloven benzin of 95H; the super variety has an octane rating of 98. Some stations accept credit cards.

Driving

The minimum age of a driver is 18 years. Children must be at least 12 years of age to sit in the front seat. The use of seat belts is compulsory for front-seat passengers. The legal blood alcohol limit is 0.00 percent. Speed limits are as follows: 50 km/h (30 mph) in built-up areas (40 km/h for motorcycles and for cars towing a trailer), 90 km/h (54 mph) outside built-up areas (70 km/h for motorcycles and for cars towing a trailer), and 120 km/h (72 mph) on expressways (100 km/h for motorcycles and for cars towing a trailer). Drivers who have held their license for less than two years are limited as follows: 50 km/h (30 mph) in built-up areas, 70 km/h (44 mph) outside built-up areas, and 100 km/h (62 mph) on expressways.

In exception to the priority-on-your-right rule, trams always have priority. Pedestrians on banded cross walks have priority over all vehicles except trams.

In towns drivers must use headlights where lighting is not good. Fog lights or headlights should be used when weather significantly reduces visibility. Unless otherwise indicated, horns can be used outside built-up areas.

Police are empowered to collect fines on the spot; they should issue a receipt.

Parking

On one-way streets, park on the right only. Blue Zone parking is in effect in many built-up areas; tickets are used instead of discs.

Camping

Camping is quite popular in Bulgaria. Campgrounds along the Black Sea—especially those which are part of a larger vacation complex—tend to fill up quickly. Motorhomes are a novelty; sites with electrical connections are offered, but don't plan to fill up on propane. An International Camping Carnet is not required. Free-camping without appropriate permission is not legal.

Banks

In main towns, open on weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., and on Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Shops

In main towns most are open from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and from 2:00 to 7:00 p.m. on weekdays, and from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Saturday.

National Holidays

Jan 1; March 3; May 1, 2, 24; Dec 24, 25.

BBC Radio Hours and Corresponding Frequencies

5:00 a.m. to 7:30 a.m.: 9410, 12095 and 15070 kHz
7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.: 9660, 15070 and 17640 kHz
4:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.: 9410, 12095 and 15070 kHz

Breakdown, Accident or Emergency

Police, tel. 166; Fire, tel. 160; Ambulance, tel. 150. For emergency motoring assistance, telephone 146. In case of an accident which results in only minor damages to the vehicles and no injury to the occupants, the vehicle owners are not required to involve the police. But if the other driver is not insured, you should contact the police so theyÕll create a proper report which you you can present to your insurance company. Union of Bulgarian Motorists (SBA), FIA and AIT member, 3 Place Positano, 1000 Sofia, tel. 87 88 01 or 87 88 02, office hours from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on weekdays.

croatia

Equipment

You are required to carry a first aid kit in or on your vehicle. Helmets must be worn by motorcyclists and their passengers.

Fuel

Most stations are open from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., but some along major roads stay open 24 hours. Leaded super has an octane rating of 98; unleaded super, or bezolovni benzin, 91 or 95.

Tolls

Charged on the E59 and the E70 out of Zagreb.

Driving

Children must be at least 12 years of age to sit in the front seat. The use of seat belts is compulsory for front- and rear-seat passengers. The legal blood alcohol limit is 0.05 percent. Random breath tests are legal. Speed limits are as follows: 60 km/h (37 mph) in built-up areas, 90–100 km/h (56–62 mph) outside built-up areas; and 130 km/h (81 mph) on expressways. Caravans and cars towing a trailer are limited to 80 km/h (50 mph).

Vehicles entering a roundabout have right of way. School buses and vehicles of public transport have right of way when they're leaving a stop. Do not drive on tram lines. Don't pass a bus when passengers are getting on or off.

Motorcyclists must use headlights day and night. Other motorists must use headlights in built-up areas when visibility is less than 100 meters, and outside built-up areas when visibility is less than 200 meters. Use your horn only in cases of immediate and extreme danger.

Police are empowered to collect fines on the spot.

Road traffic info is provided 24 hours a day by Hrvatski Auto-Klub, tel. 041 415 800.

Banks

Open on weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., and on Saturday till to noon.

Shops

Open on weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., and on Saturday till noon. Food shops are open Monday–Saturday from 6:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

National Holidays

Jan 1, 6; May 1, 30; June 22; Aug 15, Dec 25, 26.

Breakdown, Accident or Emergency

Police, tel. 92; Ambulance, tel. 94; Fire, tel. 93.

The police must be called to the scene of an accident. They'll issue a certificate detailing any damage to your vehicle. This certificate will ease export of the vehicle. The national motoring club is the Hvratski Auto-Klub, AIT and FIA member, Draskoviceva 25, 41000 Zagreb, tel. 41 454 433, office hours on weekdays from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. (5:30 p.m. on Tuesday).

cyprus

Customs

You may import the following free of duty: 250 grams of tobacco, 1 liter of spirits, 750 ml of wine, 300 ml of perfume, and up to C£50 worth of other goods. The export of antiques and historical artifacts is forbidden unless special permission is obtained from the Ministry of Tourism in Nicosia.

Equipment

You must carry two warning triangles in your vehicle; though this does not apply to motorcyclists.

Fuel

Available 24 hours in larger towns. Leaded regular has an octane rating of 87; the octane rating of super is 98. Unleaded fuel is available in major towns only. It's illegal to carry spare fuel.

Driving

Whereas the countries of "continental" Europe use left-hand-drive vehicles and drive on the right side of the road (yes, just like in, say, the United States), the convention in the UK (and also in Ireland, Cyprus, and Malta) is to use right-hand-drive vehicles and drive on the left side of the road. Nevertheless, it is perfectly legal — and common — to drive left-hand-drive vehicles in the UK (and Ireland, etc.) and right-hand-drive vehicles in continental Europe; you'll simply need a trusted passenger next to you to serve as your eyes when you attempt to overtake vehicles.

The minimum age of a driver is 18 years. Children must be at least 5 years of age to sit in the front seat. The use of seat belts is compulsory for front-seat passengers. Speed limits are as follows: 50 km/h (30 mph) in built-up areas, 80–100 km/h (50–62 mph) outside built-up areas.

Headlights must be used between half an hour after sunset and half an hour before sunrise. Horn use is discouraged, especially between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. and especially near hospitals.

Banks

Open on weekdays from 8:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Some banks have tourist services on weekdays in winter from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., on weekdays in summer from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., and on Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to noon.

Shops

Open on weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. (2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. in winter). Open until 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday and Saturday.

National Holidays

Jan 1, 6; Mar 25; Easter according to Greek Orthodox Calendar; Apr 1; Oct 28, 29; Dec 24, 25, 26.

Breakdown, Accident or Emergency

Dial 199 for Ambulance and Police. The national motoring club is the Cyprus Automobile Association, 12 Chr. Mylonas Street, Nicosia 141, tel. 02 313233. The club's office hours are effective June through September and run from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on weekdays except Wednesday, and from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday and Saturday.

czech republic

Customs

The Czech Republic is now a member of the European Union (EU) and therefore most goods typical of private transport can be imported/exported without restriction from/to other EU countries. Some relevant restrictions do still apply to the export of tobacco products, however.

License

Drivers who do not have an EU drivers license are required to carry an International Driving Permit.

Equipment

Tolls

To travel the expressways your vehicle must bear a special sticker on its windshield. The sticker costs 900 Kc and is valid for a year.

Road Signs

The Czech word nádrazí indicates a train station.

Fuel

Fuel stations are usually located on the edge of towns. Stations on international roads and in large towns are open 24 hours. Credit cards are accepted by almost all stations. Finding a station in Prague can be difficult. Leaded regular gasoline has an octane rating of 91; the octane rating of super is 96. Lead-free gasoline is known as natural; its octane rating is 95 or 98. Diesel is designated by a sign that reads TT Diesel.

Driving

The minimum age of a driver is 18 years. Children must be at least 12 years of age to sit in the front seat. The use of seat belts is compulsory for front- and rear-seat passengers. The legal blood alcohol limit is 0.00 percent. Speed limits are as follows: 50 km/h (30 mph) in built-up areas, 90 km/h (56 mph) outside built-up areas, 130 km/h (78 mph) on expressways, 80 km/h (50 mph) for a car with a caravan or trailer traveling outside built-up areas or on expressways.

Headlights must be on when "standard" (or "winter") time is in effect, i.e. when daylight savings time is not in effect (from last Sunday in October through last Sunday in March). Motorcyclists must use low beams at all times. When waiting at level train crossings use sidelights only. Horns can be used only to warn of danger or to signal that you are about to pass. Horns are prohibited in central Prague between 9:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m., from March 15 to October 15, and from 8:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. the rest of the year.

Trams should be passed on the right; if there is no room on the right, trams can be passed on the left. It's illegal in Prague to pass trams on the left.

Police are empowered to collect fines of up to 2000 Kc on the spot. Fines of up to 15,000 Kc may be imposed for later collection. Laws and regulations are enforced with vigor in the Czech Republic—follow the rules.

Parking

Parking is only allowed on the right side of the road, but this restriction does not apply to one-way roads. Parking along a tram line is prohibited unless a 3.5-meter wide lane is left between the vehicle and the tram lane. Don't park within 5 meters of an intersection, pedestrian crossing, or public transportation stop. Don't park within 15 meters of a train crossing.

Your vehicle is banned from the Prague city center unless you're staying in a hotel there. But don't worry, the true city center is really a rather small area. If you're staying in a private room near Wenceslas Square (Vacavske namesti), try parking on one of the streets behind the National Museum; parking on these streets is unrestricted and free of charge. Illegally parked vehicles may be towed or clamped.

Camping

Camping is very popular. Most campgrounds, called Autocamps, are open from June 15 to September 15. Some rent cabins and stay open all year. An International Camping Carnet is not required. Free-camping without appropriate permission is not legal, and it's less likely to be tolerated in forested areas.

Banks

Open on weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Shops

Open on weekdays from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Some close from noon to 2:00 a.m.; some open until noon on Saturday. It is increasingly common for shops in shopping centers to stay open 7 days a week, from quite early in the day until quite late in the evening. Some grocery supermarkets are open 7 days a week, for 18–24 hours a day.

National Holidays

Jan 1; Easter Monday; May Day; May 8; Oct 28; Dec 25, 26.

BBC Radio Hours and Corresponding Frequencies

5:00 a.m. to 7:30 a.m.: 6195, 9410 and 15575 kHz
7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.: 9410, 12095 and 15070 kHz
4:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.: 6195, 9410 and 12095 kHz

Breakdown, Accident or Emergency

The emergency telephone number for motorists is 154; Police, tel. 158; Fire, tel. 150; Ambulance, tel. 155. Any accident resulting in injury or causing damages in excess of 1000 Kcs must be immediately reported to police. If you plan to export the vehicle, it's advisable to contact the police even if damages are slight: the police will give you a certificate to ease the exporting process. Ustredni Automotoklub CSFR (UAMK), FIA and AIT member, Na Rybnicku 16, 120 76 Prague 2, tel. 22491 1843; office hours from 7:45 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. on weekdays. The CSFR operates a breakdown service; in Prague, tel. 7734555. Another club is Autoklub Ceské Republiky (ACR), FIA member, Opletalova 29, 110 00 Prague 1, tel. 22421 0266; office hours from 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on weekdays. Autoturist, Na Rybnicku 16, 120 76 Prague 2, tel. 2 203 355, office hours from 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on weekdays, is an information service for motoring tourists.

denmark

Customs

Arriving from a non-EC country or with goods that were not taxed in the EC, you must pay Danish taxes on all alcoholic beverages greater than 1 liter of liquor or 2 liters of strong wine and on amounts greater than 2 liters of other wine; and you may import the following free of duty: 200 cigarettes or 100 cigarillos or 50 cigars or 250 grams of tobacco, 50 grams of perfume, and other items—including beer—up to a total monetary value of 350 kr. Arriving from another EC country, you may import the following free of duty if it was taxed in the EC: 1.5 liters of liquor or 3 liters of strong wine consisting of under 22 per cent alcohol by volume, 5 liters of other wine, 300 cigarettes or 150 cigarillos or 75 cigars or 400 grams of tobacco, 75 grams of perfume, and other items up to a total of 2800 kr. You may import 10 liters of spare fuel free of duty if arriving from an EC country.

License

Foreign licenses are accepted until their expiration date passes.

Equipment

You must carry a warning triangle; though this does not apply to motorcyclists. Helmets are compulsory for motorcyclists and their passengers.

Concessions for Hostellers

Color Line offers 10 percent discounts on fares for persons under 26 years of age on its ferry services between Kristiansand, Norway, and Hirtshals, Denmark, and between Oslo, Norway, and Hirtshals, Denmark.

Larvik Line offers a 10 percent discount on fares between Larvik, Norway, and Fredrikshavn, Denmark.

Scandinavian Seaways offers discounts on their ferry service between Newcastle, England, and Esbjerg, Denmark.

Stena Line offers a 10 percent discount off fares on the services below (tickets are obtainable only at Terra Nova Travel Sections and valid for Monday through Thursday travel from June through August).

The ferry service between Luxhaven, Germany, and Helgoland (a Danish Island) is discounted for groups of 6 or more, members being under 23 years of age.

Fuel

Fuel stations that are not in large towns often close at night; many, however, offer self-service pumps which accept 100 Kr notes 24 hours a day. Major credit cards are generally accepted. Leaded super gasoline has an octane rating of 98. Unleaded Gasoline is known as blyfri benzin. Regular unleaded has an octane rating of 92; the octane rating of super is 95 or 98. Diesel is called dieselolie. LPG goes by its English name.

Road Signs

The word banegården indicates a train station.

Sightseeing	Compulsory slow lane

Driving

The minimum age of a driver is 18 years. (Persons aged 18 to 21 years are not allowed to operated a motorcycle having more than 34 horsepower.) Children under 3 years of age must be seated in a special child restraint. The use of seat belts is compulsory for all passengers. The legal blood alcohol limit is 0.05 percent. Speed limits are as follows: 50 km/h (30 mph) in built-up areas, 80 km/h (50 mph) outside built-up areas, 110 or 130 km/h (68 or 80 mph) on expressways, and 70 km/h (44 mph) for cars with a caravan or trailer traveling outside built-up areas or on expressways.

If a line of triangles is painted across the road, it means you must yield. You must also yield to buses. Beware of bicyclists.

Headlights must be used at all times. Use your lights instead of your horn to signal warning in circumstances not involving immediate and extreme danger. When wiaitng at a level train crossing use only sidelights, headlights should be off.

Police are empowered to collect fines on the spot.

The Danish Tourist Board distributes a leaflet on intra- and international ferry services.

The completion of the new 18 kilometres-long Great Belt bridge and tunnel linking the islands of Sealand and Funen revolutionised the infrastructure of domestic travel with the first seamless surface connection all the way from the European continent to Copenhagen. The technological masterpiece includes the world's second longest suspension bridge (6.6 kilometres). The next step will be the opening of the Øresund bridge and tunnel for cars and trains in the year 2000. It will link Copenhagen with Malmö in Sweden.

Parking

Parkering/Standsning/Stop Forbudt means no parking/no stopping; you are, however, allowed a three-minute grace period for loading and unloading when in such a zone. Parking discs allow parking for usually one hour and are required where no parking meters are in place in central Copenhagen. Discs are available at banks, fuel stations, post offices, tourist offices, and the motoring club (FDM) offices. Parking meters usually allow up to 3 hours of parking. Meters are checked on weekdays from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and on Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., they accept 1 Kr and 25 øre coins. In other large towns, parking on the street is often restricted to one hour; this is indicated by the standard No Parking sign bearing the words "1-times zone". (A series of slashes across this sign indicates the end of the restriction.)

Camping

Denmark's campgrounds are outstanding. and though most are open from May 1 to early September, some stay open all year. Camping parties without an International Camping Carnet must purchase Danish Camping Pass. Free-camping without appropriate permission is not legal, and it's not tolerated on beaches or dunes.

Banks

Banks in Copenhagen are open on weekdays from 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and on Thursdays until 6:00 p.m. Outside Copenhagen the banking hours vary. ATM machines are often out of service in Denmark; if you find one that works for you, consider withdrawing more cash than you usually do.

Shops

Open on weekdays from 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and on Saturday until noon.

National Holidays

Jan 1; Maunday Thur; Good Fri; Easter Mon; June 5; Ascension; Whit Mon; Dec 24, 25, 26, 31.

BBC Radio Hours and Corresponding Frequencies

5:00 a.m. to 7:30 a.m.: 6195 and 9410 kHz
7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.: 9410 and 12095 kHz
4:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.: 6195, 9410 and 12095 kHz

Breakdown, Accident or Emergency

Police, Fire, and Ambulance, tel. 112. All highways have emergency phones. The rescue corps, Falck, tel. 33 14 22 22, can help 24 hours a day. The national motoring club is Forende Danske Motorejere (FDM), AIT member, FDM-Huset, Firskovvej 32, Lyngby, Copenhagen, tel. 45 93 08 00, office hours on weekdays from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and on Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to noon.

finland

Customs

The word in Finnish for Customs is tulli. From non-EU countries persons age 17 and up may import 200 cigarettes or 100 cigarillos (maximum 3 grams each) or 50 cigars or 250 grams of loose tobacco free of tax and duty; while from EU countries such persons can import 300 cigarettes or 150 cigarillos (maximum 3 grams each) or 75 cigars or 400 grams of loose tobacco free of tax and duty. From non-EU countries persons age 20 and up may import the following free of duty: 15 liters of beer, 2 liters or table wine, and 1 liter of spirits consisting of under 22 percent alcohol by volume; while from EU countries such personsmay import the following free of tax and duty: 15 liters of beer, 5 liters or table wine, 3 liter of spirits consisting of under 22 percent alcohol by volume or sparkling wines; 1 liter of spirits consisting of over 22 percent alcohol by volume. (Persons under 20 years of age cannot possess or carry beverages consisting of over 22 percent alcohol by volume. But persons 18 years and older are allowed to possess weaker alcoholic beverages.) Alcoholic beverages are allowed to be imported in unrestricted quantities subject to the taxes due. The maximum value of imported goods other than the duty- and tax-free amounts mentioned above is EUR200. You may import up to 10 liters of spare fuel free duty and tax.

License

Foreign licenses are accepted for a duration of one year, after which a Finnish license must be obtained.

Equipment

Helmets are compulsory for motorcyclists and their passengers.

Concessions for Hostellers

Europcar and Inter Rent grant a 10 percent discount.

Fuel

Some stations are open 24 hours, and almost all have automatic pumps that accept cash and major credit cards. Leaded gasoline is not available; however, an unleaded substitute with a special additive is. Unleaded regular gasoline has an octane rating of 95; the octane rating of super is 98. Unleaded gasoline is known as lyijyton polttaine.

Road Signs

Expressways are denoted by the characters M1 to M999. First class main roads take the numbers 1 to 39; second class main roads take 40 to 99; other highways take 100 to 999; lesser main roads take 1000 to 2999; and local roads take the numbers 11,000 to 19,999.

Detour due to road work	Prohibition applies between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m.

Driving

The minimum age of a driver is 18 years. The use of seat belts is compulsory for front- and rear-seat passengers. Children must be constrained either by seatbelts or in a child seat. The legal blood alcohol limit is 0.05 percent. Speed limits are as follows: 50 km/h (30 mph) in built-up areas, 80 km/h (50 mph) or 100 km/h (62 mph) outside built-up areas, 120 km/h (74 mph) on expressways, and 80 km/h (50 mph) for cars with a caravan or trailer traveling outside built-up areas or on expressways.

Approaches to priority roads are denoted by a sign showing a red triangle on a yellow background. In another exception to the priority-on-the-right rule, trams always have priority.

Headlights must be used at all times. Use of horns in towns and villages is illegal except in the case of immediate and extreme danger. Otherwise, horns and headlights should be used when poor visibility demands them.

Passing is allowed on the right if you are traveling a multi-lane road, but be careful not to cross the white line which indicates the bicycle and pedestrian lane.

Police are not empowered to collect fines on the spot. The fines can be extremely steep. The minimum is EUR22 but there is no maximum, the amount being dependent on your income! You pay up at a bank or post office.

Parking

Parking lights must be on if you're parked in a dimly lit public spot. Wheel clamps aren't used, but illegally parked vehicles may be towed.

Camping

Though most campgrounds are open from June 1 to September 1, many stay open all year. Grounds are rated from one to three stars. One-star grounds are devoid of showers and electrical hookups, and even three-stars doesn't guarantee a campstore or restaurant. Parties without an International Camping Carnet will probably have to purchase a Finnish Camping Pass. Free-camping without appropriate permission is not legal.

Banks

Open on weekdays from 9:15 a.m. to 4:15 p.m.

Shops

Open on weekdays from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 or 9:00 p.m. and on Saturday until 2:00 or 6:00 p.m. Many shops are open on Sundays during the summer.

BBC Radio Hours and Corresponding Frequencies

5:00 a.m. to 7:30 a.m.: 9410 and 12095 kHz
7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.: 12095 and 15070 kHz
4:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.: 9410, 12095 and 15070 kHz

National Holidays

Jan 1; Epiphany; Good Fri; Easter Mon; May Day; first Sat after Ascension; Whit Sat; first Sat in Nov; Dec 6, 25; St. Stephen's Day.

Breakdown, Accident or Emergency

Call 10022 for Police, 112 for Fire or Ambulance; check telephone boxes for contrary instructions. The Automobile and Touring Club of Finland (Autoliitto or AL) patrols the roads from Friday evening to Sunday night; in Helsinki, tel. 09 774 76400 (24 hours). Immediately report any accidents to the Finnish Motor Insurers' Bureau, tel. 09 680 401 or 09 019 251, FAX 6804 0368, and to the police. The bureau's Finnish name is Liikennevakuutusyhdistys, and its head office is at Bulevardi 28, 00120 Helsinki 12. The national motoring club is Autoliitto Automobile and Touring-Club of Finland (ATCF), FIA and AIT member, Hämeentie 105 A, 00550 Helsinki, tel. 358 9 774761, FAX 358 9 77476444, office hours from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Monday and from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on other weekdays.

france

Customs

Arriving from a non-EC country, you may import the following free of duty: 400 cigarettes or 100 cigars or 100 grams of tobacco, 1 liter of liquor consisting of over 22 percent alcohol by volume, 2 liters of wine, 0.50 liters of perfume, 0.25 liters of toilet water, and other goods to a value of EUR50. Arriving from an EC country, you may import the following free of duty: 300 cigarettes or 150 cigarillos or 75 cigars or 400 grams of tobacco, 1.5 liters of liquor consisting of over 22 percent alcohol by volume or 3 liters of liquor consisting of under 22 percent alcohol by volume or 3 liters of fortified or sparkling wine, 4 liters of still wine, 0.9 liters of perfume, 0.375 liters of toilet water, and other goods to a value of EUR375.

Equipment

Helmets are compulsory for motorcyclists and their passengers.

Concessions for Hostellers

Irish Ferries offers discounts on their service between Le Havre, France, and Rosslare, Ireland, and between Cherbourg, France, and Rosslare, Ireland.

Stena Sealink Line grants a 20 percent discount on standard fares for foot passengers or cars plus up to five passengers between France and England.

Tolls

An autoroute on which tolls are charged is indicated by a sign, usually blue, reading péage. Green signs indicate non-toll expressways. On sections of autoroute in the proximity of large cities no toll is charged. Visa and MasterCard are among the cards accepted. When you enter an autoroute, take a ticket from the gate machine. This ticket identifies your starting point on the autoroute. You do not pay a toll until you reach your exit point. Automatic toll machines at exits (insert your ticket) take credit cards or coins and give change and, if required, receipts. You do not have to sign a receipt when you use a credit card. Personel rather than machines do work certain lanes. And they're used to the machines and, especially, the drivers on the other lanes screwing things up. So if you do something stupid like I'm prone to, a worker will quickly materialize to amiably solve the problem. Last time I stuck my credit card into the slot which issues the entry ticket, despite the immediacy of a large green "button" bearing a lifesize hand icon. My card disappeared inside and after a moment which I puncuated with various facial contortions and obscene mutterings, a gracious employee arrived, gave me a few prosaic sentences in French and proceeded to quickly open the machine, retrieve my card, and hand it to me with a smile. I high-fived the green button and was on my way.

Vehicles are classified as belonging to one of three groups.

1. Private car or van with 2 axles, up to 9 seats, and with a height less than 1.3 meters as measured vertically from the front axle.
2. Vehicle or combination of vehicles with more than 2 axles and with a height of less than 1.3 meters as measured vertically from the front axle. Tolls for these vehicles are, on average, 50 percent more expensive than tolls for category-1 vehicles.
3. Caravans and vans having more than 9 seats, buses with two axles, commercial vehicles with two axles and a height greater than 1.3 meters as measured from the front axle. Tolls for these vehicles are, on average, 66 percent more expensive than tolls for category-1 vehicles.
4. Motorcycles. Tolls for motorcycles are, on average, 30 percent cheaper than tolls for category-1 vehicles.

Several tunnels require tolls.

During daylight hours vehicle ferries run across the Gironde estuary between Royan and Le Verdon, and in the south between Blage and Lamasque. Crossing times are 30 and 25 minutes, respectively, and the ferries make one roundtrip per hour.

Tolls are charged on the following bridges.

Non-toll Mountain Passes

Fuel

Fuel is more expensive along the superhighways than at supermarkets; look to fill up or "faire le plain"at supermarkets on main roads exiting towns. A map called la carte de l' esssence moins chère showing locations of such supermarkets close to highway exits is available through French Government Tourist Offices. Major credit cards are accepted. You can pay at a booth or by inserting your card into a machine near the pumps. If the person who preceded you chooses to pay at the booth and hasn't yet succeeded in doing that, you may have to wait to pump your fuel until they pay. Especially when opting to pay at the booth note the total fuel charge on the pump so you won't be overcharged; sometimes the operator may depend on your honesty and let you quote the total at the booth. Vehicles equipped with a catalytic converter may carry 10 liters of spare fuel but may not carry it on ferries to Corsica. Curbside pumps grace many Paris streets, making filling up in the city a breeze; and, yes, they do take credit cards. Signs depicting a pump and indicating distance in meters to the mini-station point the way. Interestingly, these operations also sell firewood.

The blue pump dispenses leaded regular gasoline with an octane rating of 98. The green pumps gives unleaded gasoline is known as essence sans plomb. Super unleaded gasoline has an octane rating of 95 or 98. Often, diesel fuel is called by its English name; otherwise, diesel is called gas-oil or gaz-oil. LPG is called Gaz de pétrole liquéfié (GPL).

Road Signs

Blue signs and the letter A indicate Autoroute péage or toll roads, while green signs and the letter N (RN on older maps) indicate non-toll Route National highways. D roads are provincial or routes départementals. Just follow the signs in green if you want to avoid tolls but still make good time. To exit a metropolitan area follow the signs that read "Toutes Directions" (All Directions) or "Autre Directions" (Other Directions). Exits or sorties off the autoroutes are sometimes embellished by an orange panel marked "Bis"; these signs indicate alternate routes which avoid areas prone to congestion at peak driving times. A free map of Bis routes is published in June each year by the French Government; check for this map at tourist offices in France if you haven't already obtained it. Itineraires de délestage are routes that avoid the cities; these are signified by blue signs with yellow arrows. To avoid rush hour in large cities don't drive between 7:00 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. or between 4:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. The word gare indicates a train station.

No parking from the 1st to the 15th of the month	No parking from the 16th to the end of the month	Parking alternates sides every 2 weeks

Driving

The minimum age of a driver is 18 years. Children must be at least 10 years of age to sit in the front seat. Children under 10 years of age must be seated in the rear and seatbelted or in an approved child seat. However, a very young child in an approved rear-facing safety seat can be in front. The use of seat belts is compulsory for front- and rear-seat passengers. The legal blood alcohol limit is 0.05 percent. Generally, speed limits are as follows: 50 km/h (30 mph) in built-up areas, 90 km/h (56 mph) or 110 km/h (68 mph) outside built-up areas, and 130 km/h (81 mph) on expressways. During good weather the minimum speed in the far left lane of expressways is 80 km/h (49 mph). In bad weather, limits are lowered to 80 km/h (50 mph) outside built-up areas, 100 km/h (62 mph) when multiple lanes are provided in each direction, and 110 km/h (68 mph) on expressways. Visitors who've held their license for less than one year must always observe a 90 km/h (56 mph) speed limit. The speed limit on Paris's Périphérique (ring road) is 80 km/h (49 mph). This same 80 km/h limit applies to cars towing a trailer that's not as heavy as the car. If the trailer is less than 30 percent heavier than the car, the limit is 65 km/h (39 mph); if the trailer is more than 30 percent heavier, the limit is 45 km/h (28 mph). In both cases a plate showing the maximum speed must be displayed on the back of the trailer, and the vehicle-trailer combination is not allowed in the far left lane of expressways.

A flashing red traffic light means Do not enter; flashing amber means Caution; flashing yellow arrows mean Yield. A sign reading "Danger Prioritè à Droite" reminds you that traffic on the right has priority at intersections. A sign reading "Passage protégé" indicates that you're approaching a road that has priority. When traffic on a roundabout has priority, this is indicated by a red-bordered triangular sign bearing the roundabout symbol and the words "vouz n'avez pas la priorité" (you do not have right of way) or "cèdez le passage" (give way). You must give bicyclists a clearance of at least one meter when you pass them.

Motorcycles must be operated with the headlights on—night and day. Vehicles parked in dimly lit public places must have their parking lights on. Horns should only be used in cases of immediate and extreme danger. If a driver coms up behind and flashes you, he's communicating that he wants to pass.

Broken center lines indicate a section of road where passing is allowed. Where three or five lanes exist the middle is to be used for passing by traffic going both directions. On the autoroute a double-thick white line designates the mandatory slow lane. A moving tram on a two-way street may be passed on the right only. A moving tram on a one-way street, however, may be passed on the left. Do not pass a stopped tram which passengers are boarding or disembarking.

Some police are empowered to collect fines of up to EUR380 on the spot. If you cannot immediately produce your vehicle registration document and driving license, you may be fined EUR15. And if within five days you do not present them at a police station, EUR150 may be tacked on. For minor offences a fine is payable within 30 days. A deposit might be required if a serious offence is committed by a non resident.

By the—literal—way, Napolean planted those nice poplars that line the roads to give his troops shade to march in.

Parking

Follow the local parking customs. Often you'll see cars parked half-on and half-off the sidewalk. If this practice seems to be the norm in an area, go ahead and do it. I've had no problem consistently finding free and well-located parking spots in downtown Paris.

Don't park where the curb is painted yellow. If, based on whether the date is even or odd, parking is allowed on one side of the street or the other, signs reading "Coté du Stationnement, jour pairs" (even) or "impairs" (odd) are in place. Parking on the left side of a street is allowed along one-way streets only. The end of a no parking zone is indicated by a sign reading "Fin d'interdiction de stationner." On dark streets, parking lights must be left on. In Paris, parking is not allowed along two main axes rouges or red routes: the north-south route includes the Ave. du Général Leclerc, a portion of the Blvd. St. Michel, the rue de Rivoli, Blvd. Sébastopol, Blvd. Strasbourg, Blvd. Barbès, Blvd. Ornano, rue Lafayette, and Ave. Jean Jaurès; the east-west route includes the left banks of the Seine and the Quai de la Mégisserie. Do not leave a vehicle parked in the same spot along a Paris street for more than 24 hours; this also applies to Hauts-de-Seine, Seine-St. Denis, and Val de Marne.

Pay-and-display machines (horodateurs) are common throughout France. Unless otherwise indicated, parking is free of charge from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 a.m. and on weekends, public holidays, and during the whole of August. Provincial towns often offer free parking from noon to 1:30 p.m. The tariff and time limit are shown on the machine. Press the red button to get a ticket. Larger cities have Blue Zones where parking discs or tickets must be displayed on vehicle dashboards. Discs should be displayed on the inside of the windshield, with the clock hands set to show time of arrival and planned time of departure. The limit in Blue Zones is 1.5 hours from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., except from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., with no tickets required on Sundays or public holidays. The discs or tickets may be obtained from tourist offices, certain shops, and police stations. The police charge for the discs, but the tourist offices don't. In Paris and some other large cities, illegally parked vehicles may be wheel-clamped or towed.

Camping

Signs reading Camping a la Ferme and Camping rural indicate modestly sized and spartan campgrounds often located on a farm. An International Camping Carnet is required by some private campgrounds and in national parks. Free-camping without the appropriate permission is not legal, and it's often not tolerated in state forests and national parks and along beach fronts on the Mediterranean. In fact, many parking lots near municipal beaches are guarded by a height barrier which blocks motorhomes from entering. If you have a propane bottle from another country, you'll have trouble filling it in France.

Banks

Open on weekdays from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 a.m., but times vary. Most banks close for about an hour at lunch time.

Shops

Open from 9:00 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. and from 2:00 p.m. to 6:30 a.m. every day but Sunday. Some shops, however, close on Monday instead of Sunday; and food sellers open at 6:00 or 7:00 a.m.

National Holidays

Jan 1; Easter Mon; Labor Day; May 8; Ascension; Whit Monday; July 14; Aug 15; Nov 1; Nov 11; Dec 25.

BBC Radio Hours and Corresponding Frequencies

In the North:

In the South

Information Services

For autoroute conditions throughout France call 8 36 68 10 77.

For regional information on road conditions call the following:

Breakdown, Accident or Emergency

Police, tel. 17; Fire, tel. 18; Ambulancecall the number given on the phone box or call the police. Expressways and main highways have roadside emergency telephones every 2 km. If an accident involving personal injury or substantial damage occurs in a town, contact a policeman (agent de police) to make a report. On country roads, contact a gendarme. If the accident involves damage only, contact a huissier from the nearest town. A huissier is a court official who is part assessor and part bailiff. The party requesting the huissier's services must pay the fee for completing a report on the accident. Accidents also should be reported to the Bureau Central Français des Sociétés d'Assurances contre les Accidents Automobiles, 36 ave. du Général de Gaulle, 93171 Bagnolet cedex, tel. 1 49 93 65 50. Automobile Club de France, FIA member, 6–8 Place de la Concorde, 75008 Paris, tel. 1 43 12 43 12, office hours from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on weekdays. Automobile Club National (ACN), FIA and AIT member, 5 rue Auber, 75009 Paris, tel. 44 51 53 99, office hours from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. (Friday until 5:00) on weekdays.

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