When considering driving in Europe, the image that comes to mind for many of us will no doubt be something like the infamous driving scene in National Lampoon’s European Vacation: eternally trapped in a roundabout, surrounded by aggressive French (or Italian or British) drivers who won’t let the timid Americans out.
It’s true that driving in a foreign country can be daunting at first, especially when you’re unfamiliar with the driving rules in Europe, but driving is often a necessity for visitors renting a villa or apartment outside of the major cities.
So unless you’ve managed to convince your companions that a full-time chauffeur is the answer to your European driving woes, you’re going to need a little help. Here, for your edification, are some general guidelines about driving in Europe.
DRIVER AGGRESSION
Let’s talk first about “driver aggression.” In whether you’re driving in Italy, France, or England, drivers tend to be more assertive and quick-to-act than we are in the US. I once came across a website of a British woman who had visited America and marveled at the way...