Page 212 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - England's South Coast

210  SUR VIV AL GUIDE

Getting Around England’s Parking
South Coast Pay and display and parking
meters operate during working
hours (usually 8am–6:30pm
No other method of transport will give you as much flexibility Mon–Sat). Most accept coins,
to explore the South Coast as a car. A large network of toll- but sometimes you need to pay
free motorways and trunk roads ensures that travelling over the phone or via an app.
around the region is easy and enjoyable. Trains are also useful Cities often have “park and ride”
if you are travelling to towns and cities. Mainline trains are fast schemes, where you take a bus
from an out-of-city car park into
and comfortable, but the popular routes tend to get booked the centre. Avoid double yellow
during peak season, so it is advisable to reserve your seat in or red lines at all times; single
advance. The cheapest ways to get around are by coach and yellow lines mean you can park
regional buses, though consider them only if you have time. outside the hours of control.
Illegally parked cars will be given
a ticket, clamped or towed away.
If in doubt, find a car park, usually
signed by a blue “P”. You should
never leave valuables in your car.

Breakdown Services
England’s main motoring
organizations are the AA
and the RAC. They provide
24-hour breakdown assistance
for members and visitors
belonging to overseas motoring
Winding roads in the picturesque countryside of Dartmoor, Devon organizations with reciprocal
arrangements. The organizations
By Car and more enjoyable. Rural areas can be contacted by mobile or
To drive here you need a current are crisscrossed by a web of from roadside SOS phones.
driving licence. You must also tiny lanes. Directional signs are
carry proof of ownership or a colour-coded: blue for motor- Car Hire and
rental agreement and insurance ways, green for major routes
documents in your vehicle. It and white for minor routes. Ride-Sharing
is illegal to drive without third- Hiring a car in England can
party insurance; it is best to buy Rules of the Road be expensive, and is usually
fully comprehensive insurance. cheaper if arranged from home.
Cars in England drive on the It is mandatory to wear seatbelts Details of car-hire companies at
left and distances are measured and illegal to use a mobile phone airports are on the VisitBritain
in miles. Speed limits are 50– while driving unless it is hands- website (see p202). Reputable
65 kmph (20–40 mph) in built- free. Do not drink and drive: the car-hire companies include Avis,
up areas, 97 kmph (60 mph) laws are strict and penalties are Hertz, Europcar and Budget.
on single carriageways and high. The Highway Code, avail- Companies usually require a
110 kmph (70 mph) on motor- able on the Department for credit card number, and you will
ways or dual carriageways. Transport website, is a guide to need your driving licence and
current regulations, traffic signs passport to collect the car. Most
and the legal alcohol limit. companies will not hire cars to
Navigation
Advisory or warning signs are novice drivers, and may have
A good road map is a valuable usually red and white triangles, age limits (normally 21–74).
resource, especially as GPS does with easy-to-understand picto- Most offer their own insurance
not always work in rural areas. grams. Look out for electronic cover, and their charges include
The AA (Automobile Association) warning signs on motorways. 24-hour breakdown assistance.
and RAC (Royal Automobile
Club) have excellent motoring
atlases. The Ordnance Survey
series is also a good option.
Motorways are marked with an
“M” followed by their identifying
number. “A” roads, sometimes
dual carriageways, are main
routes, while secondary “B”
roads are often less congested An AA rescue truck transporting a car

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