Page 20 - (DK Eyewitness) Back Roads Travel Guide - Great Britain

18 BACK ROADS GREAT BRITAIN

Above left A warning road sign Above centre A pay-and-display parking ticket machine Above right Parking along the roadside in a Cotswolds village

Road Conditions It is easier for a car to reverse than of a motorway. It is dangerous to walk
Most roads in Great Britain are well farm machinery or large vehicles. along any motorway, so take care
surfaced and maintained. Distances are Always give drivers who make way when getting out of your car.
given in miles, and roads are usually for you a friendly wave. Car rental companies will normally
well marked. Many parts of the country give you a number to call in case of
suffer from traffic congestion, not only Taking a Break breakdown or problems with the
in and around the major cities but If you are feeling tired or lost, it’s a vehicle. They will advise or arrange for
also in parts of the country popular good idea to pull over and take a assistance, and can usually provide a
for holidays and weekend breaks. break. Many roads have signposted replacement vehicle. You should not
Traffic to the West Country (Dorset, areas where you can pull off and undertake any repairs to a hire car
Devon and Cornwall) in summer can stretch your legs, have a snack without the company’s permission. If
be maddeningly slow. Many people and consult your map. The scenery you belong to a motoring association
make an early getaway on Bank can be a distraction, so if you find it in your country, the UK motoring ser-
Holiday weekends, resulting in busy hard to keep your eyes on the road, vices – Automobile Association (AA)
roads from Thursday evening through it’s best to stop and admire the view. and Royal Automobile Club (RAC) –
to Monday night. Rainy weather can Parks and areas with nature trails also may have a reciprocal arrangement of
also slow things down. Get up-to-date make good picnic stops. Motorway co-operation – check before leaving.
reports on traffic conditions online service stations are generally well sign- If you have an accident you must
or by phone from the Met Office, posted along the route. They have stop and exchange name, address
Highways Agency or AA Roadwatch. coffee bars, sit-down restaurants, fast and car registration details with the
In the Highlands of Scotland and in food, snacks, toilets, shops and other other parties involved. Police must be
some other rural areas, the roads are public facilities as well as petrol sta- notified within 24 hours if anyone is
single-track. Slow down for sheep, tions. On the A and B roads, services injured, and a report will be filed. Call
cattle and other animals who may run are smaller and public toilets are often the emergency services (see p13) if
out in front of your car. These roads found in petrol stations or restaurants. there are serious injuries. Be sure to
are often so narrow that one car will get the insurance details of the other
have to pull over to the side to let an Breakdown and Accident driver, and give them yours. You must
oncoming car pass. Courtesy dictates Procedures also notify your car rental company as
that the car closest to a wide spot If you have car trouble, try to park soon as possible.
waits. There are designated passing safely and turn on your hazard lights Circumstances can be confusing
places along these roads. When you or put out a warning triangle to alert at the time of an accident, so don’t
meet oncoming vehicles, always pull other drivers. There are SOS telephones admit fault for the accident, accept
in to the closest one on your left. You at regular intervals along the hard liability or give money to any party. If
may need to reverse to find a space. shoulder (spare lane on the far left) possible, take down any details from

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