According to Axa car insurance research, there remains widespread ignorance amongst many UK drivers over driving abroad legal requirements in European countries. The problem could be compounded by the fact that there is forecast to be a large influx of motorists heading across the channel because of continuing air travel strikes and volcanic ash disruption.

Amongst the 2,000 respondents in the survey a third revealed that they are unsure as to whether a GB sticker is required. More worryingly nearly a quarter of those questioned could not categorically answer yes to the question regarding whether they were covered to drive abroad by their car insurance policy.

In respect of country specific views, 40% believed wrongly that it is ok to jump red lights in Italy, 37% assumed incorrectly that is fine to overtake on either side of the motorway in Portugal and 22% thought that there was no requirement to carry a reflective jacket and a red triangle in your car in France, which of course is untrue. Other false beliefs included the assumption by 35% of respondents that is ok to use a mobile phone whilst driving in Holland and 62% still think that a green card is required in Belgium.

In respect of limited understanding of a European neighbours motoring regulations, more than half were correct in assuming that there is no upper limit on German motorways, however, not many in the survey were aware that cars with a low top speed of less than 61kpm are restricted from using such roads.