Don't have a brush with the law

Almost half of all Brits have a brush with the law when driving abroad. With this in mind and as more people opt for independent travel to Europe's ski resorts, Saga Breakdown Assistance is warning people to learn the rules of the road before they travel.

Although GB stickers are compulsory in both France and Spain, research by Saga shows that only 56% of British cars go abroad with one on. Spare light bulbs and reflective safety vests are also compulsory in Spain, but over a quarter of us forget to take these things with us in the car.

The research also shows that Brits seem to think more about their stomachs than their safety when travelling abroad - 85% remembering to pack food in the car, but only 71% remembering their first aid kit and 60% their warning triangle, both of which are compulsory in most European countries.

The company has prepared a guide to travelling abroad, which includes advice on driving regulations in various countries, checks to make before you travel and a range of recommended driving tours.

Meanwhile, despite most Britons saying they didn't drive in Italy, almost a quarter of them nominated the Italians as the worst drivers in Europe. In fact 15% voted foreign drivers the most irritating thing about driving abroad, which was second only to the quarter that found this to be driving on the other side of the road.

The most difficult aspect of driving abroad for a third of travellers was finding their way around. For a fifth it was negotiating European roundabouts.

The research also revealed that two thirds of us have been out and about on the roads in Europe, however almost a fifth of us don't take out breakdown cover before we travel abroad.

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