In the UK cars travel on the left-hand side of the road and overtake on the right - but there’s no automatic priority for cars coming from the left. At roundabouts, always give priority to cars coming from the right. At junctions, a broken line indicates that you should wait and give way to traffic on the other road. The Highway Code (from AA and RAC motoring organisations and most bookshops) offers detailed guidance. It is compulsory for drivers and passengers to wear fitted seat belts and for motorcycle drivers and passengers to wear helmets.

Fuel and service stations are at frequent intervals along main roads and in towns and villages. Filling stations on motorways may be as much as 50 miles apart but are open 24 hours, as are some filling stations in populated areas.

Unless street signs show a lower limit, ordinary single carriageway speed limits are 96 km/h (60 mph); the dual carriageways/motorway limit is 112 km/h (70 mph). The normal speed limit in towns and built up areas in 48 km/h (30 mph); although some approaches and freeways in and around populated areas have clearly marked speed limits of 64 km/h (40 mph).

Parking in towns and cities is normally at metered places or paying car parks. Avoid parking on double yellow lines at any time. Many towns and cities offer ‘park and ride’ schemes with frequent buses to get you to and from the shopping and sights.