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Travelling to Euro 2012 by car, help!
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OK I have few minutes now, so I can write what marcin_diy proposed about driving in Poland, as I can see there will be good few people driving down there or renting a car there.
1. Rules of the road - differences to Ireland.
Generally there are plenty of differences - too much to list them all, but I'll try in short.
a) Speed limits - In Ireland they are all signed by speed limit road signs. In Poland (similar to most other EU coutries) it's up to driver to know what kind of road they drive, and therefore what speed limit apply.
Housing estate zones - speed limit 20km/h. You know you are in one as they are signed by this sign:
Cities and towns - generally bulit up areas - speed limit 50km/h, but between 23:00 and 5:00am it's increased to 60km/h - you will know you are inside built-up area as they are signed by those signs:
Outside built-up areas - generally country and national roads - speed limit of 90km/h and 100km/h on dual carriageways.
Expressways (lower standard motorways) - 120km/h (unless it's single carriageway expressway, them 100km/h applies). Those roads have number S (S1, S15) and are signed by those signs.
Motoways - speed limit of 140km/h. They have A signage (f.e A1, A2, A4) and are signed by those signs:
Except from those limits, there are very often normal speed limit signs, which indicate special speed limit for such place. Special speed limit starts to apply from the sign, up to next junction. Worth mentioning, that the same rule (sign only applies up to next junction) applies to other prohibitory signs, like no overtaking, etc...
b) Traffic lights.
This might be the most confusing part for Irish drivers.
There are 3 types of trafic lights signals (S1, S2, S3).
S1 is the simplest one (just red, amber and green light). The same meaning as in Ireland. However worth noting is that when you are turning at the junction while you have green light (left or right), then pedestrians crossing on the street you are turning into also have green lights, and you have to give way to them.
S2 is conditional right turn, and it is just an additional green arrow with the red light. So if you see a red light, and a small green arrow on the right, that means you are free to turn right even at red light, provided you give way to pedestrians crossing in front of you (they have green light) and to cars coming in perpendicular direction, as they also have a green light.
S3 is a signal where all light on it (green, amber and red) are of a arrow shape) and if you get an green arrow, that means you have collision free way in such direction, so you don't have to give way to anyone.
That's generally how they look:
c) using indicators.
You have to indicate when changing lane, and when changing direction on the junction, even if the main road turns right f.e you still have to indicate right while following it.
Interesting thing is you are supposed not to indicate when stopping on the side of the road, or rejoining the main road, provided you don't change a lane.
d) roundabouts. Pretty much the same rules apply, however make sure you don't leave roundabout from the inside lane, as someone from the outside lane might crash into you, and it will be your fault. Correct way to proceed through roundabout if you are f.e. turning left (same thing as turning right in Ireland) so using the third exit, you join the roundabout into inside lane, proceed through inside lane up to 2nd exit, and then you change lane to outside lane, to make sure you exit on 3rd exit from outside lane.
e) DRL - you must use your DRL's at all times. If your car is not equipped with DRL, you have to use your dipped headlights at all times.
f) documents - you have to make sure you are carrying with you at all times when driving: driving licence, registration certificate, and insurance certificate. If car you are driving is registered in Poland, it must be equipped with warning triangle and fire extinguisher. If it's Irish car, theoretically you don't need those two, but in practice, you never know what police will say. They asked me once why didn't I have fire extinguisher and wanted to fine me.
g) Overtaking - you are supposed to overtake on the left, however on one way streets (including double carriageways and motorways) there is no prohibition to overtake on the right. Anyway - I wouldn't advice anyone to undertake especially on motorways.
When overtaking cyclists or motorcyclists, you are required to leave at least 1m gap between you and a cyclists.
h) Pedestrians - they have right of way on pedestrian crossings (all look like zebra crossing) provided they don't step straight in front the car. They are not allowed to cross the road outside zebra crossing within 100m from it, and further than that they can cross the road, but they have to give way to vehicles.
j) Major roads, minor roads, equal importance junctions.
Generally if you are driving on a road signed with this sign:
that means you are on the main road, and have a right of way. This sign might not be present in front of every junction, so sometimes you might need to remember you are on the main road. When main road is about to end, and become minor road you most likely will see such sign:
Normaly in front of every junction where minor road joins major road you will see yield sign or stop sign (hence yield sign is yellow, not white like in Ireland).
However sometimes you might encounter equal importance junctions, where right of way goes to vehicles coming from the right. Those junctions sometimes are signed by this sign:
but often they are not signed by any sign. So if you are coming into junction where there isn't a yield sign neither stop sign, and you are not sure if the road at which you are is a major road, this could be the equal importance junction, where you have to give way to cars coming from the right. Usually such junctions are on more quite roads, especially in housing estates, etc.
k) Police fines - if you get stopped for any offence, they issue on the spot fines for non-residents which you have to pay on-the-spot in cash. If you don't have cash, they might allow you to go to ATM if they are nice. They are also obliged to provide you with a receipt of payment.
l) Even there are no yellow boxes painted on junctions, you are not allowed to drive into the junction, if you are not sure you will be able to leave it before traffic lights change to red.
m) Parking is permitted on pavements, provided you leave at least 1.5m space for pedestrians. Parking is not permitted where you see this sign:
n) Below sign means a closed to traffic street (pedestrian street) so don't drive over it
Below sign means - no entry. Don't cross it, as you will end up driving against the traffic on one way street:
At the moment I can't really think of any other significet differences, but I might add something when I think of it.
Few general tips now.
1. On wider single carriageway national roads with hard shoulder, be prepared other drivers might expect you to move right to hard shoulder to let them overtake and they could flash to ask you to move. Also there might be cars from the opposite side oncoming overtaking, and forcing you to run away to hard shoulder. Just be careful and look around what's happening.
2. Speed limits are very often not adhered, so don't be surprised when you see a cars doing 120km/h on 50km/h speed limit.
3. Pay lot's of attention to right of way, as loads of drivers just floor it through the junction if they have right of way, and if you force right of way on someone this will very likely cause an accident where you will be at fault.
4. As a pedestrian be very careful, as drivers are not so willing to let you pass the street as in Ireland. Use pedestrian crossings, and also be careful. Never run through red lights, as you might be killed by some quick running car, and it will be 100% your fault. Also when driving, make sure you don't run over some pedestrians who have green light, as very often when they have green light they don't look around, just cross the street. When crossing the road outside pedestrian crossing, don't expect drivers to let you cross, as you have to give way to them. If they hit you, it's your fault.
5. If you will be driving in Polish registered car (rented or sth), be careful with speed cameras as there is quite plenty of them around. They are however fixed on poles in boxes, not mobile like in Ireland.
Hope that will help someone who is heading to Poland for Eurocup.0 -
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munchkin_utd wrote: »was going to say that
and its 8hours from Cherbourg and 8 from Posnan too so cant get more central.
Theres a 1km long street in the middle of town that is nothing but bars and restaurants the length of it and theres a few good beerhalls nearby too.
Hotels also shouldnt be a problem pricewise.
Accomodation wise theres hostels there but a reasonably comfortable Ibis is still only about 65euro a night for a room or bit more spartan Etap with free parking a bit more outside for 38.
I work in Dusseldorf,
hotels.com and sort by the cheapest
I usually stay here: http://www.aohostels.com/en/ but sometimes I just go on Hotels.com and pick the cheapest/ best based on reviews, usually works out under 40 euros for a double room ensuite.
Only problem is the Umweltzone (Eco Zone) in the Center if you don't have a tag you can come back to a clamp and a ticket.
Heres a list of free parking spots around the city:
http://www.gratisparken.de/nordrhein_westfalen/duesseldorf/
Heres a map of the Eco zone:
http://www.duesseldorf.de/kfz/pdf/umweltzone_duesseldorf.pdf
The Altstadt is a big long drinking street/square (Apparently one of the longest in Europe) Sausalitos is decent for food and the Fuchsen Alt is great for a pork knuckle and alt beer
Viel Spass !0 -
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keithclancy wrote: »In fairness it depends on how many are going
x4 of us are going,
We have Camper paid in full,Flights to and from and ALL match tickets bought. it cost us 1200 Each. Surely thats cheaper than the driving from Ireland option ?
Much cheaper?0 -
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From Dublin to Poznan it's about 1800km.
Assuming a car which takes even about 9 l/100km it's about 260€ for fuel each way. €520 return. To this add ferries (about €200 each way for car + 4 people with stenaline landbridge). So far €920 euro return. What else. Maybe you would want to stop on the way somewhere, so add €50 per person per night each way, so another €400. That's €1320 in total to get all four of you there, so €330 per head.
If you add match tickets and accomodation in Poland, I really doubt it would go anything near of your €1200 each.
Plus you could stop in a Rewe or something and pick up a load of Beer on the way back
In Germany beer is cheaper than water.0 -
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keithclancy wrote: »Plus you could stop in a Rewe or something and pick up a load of Beer on the way back
In Germany beer is cheaper than water.
Heh I'm sure it is, but I still reckon it will be cheaper to buy your beer supply in Poland. And wine supply in France. You need a big boot though 0 -
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I'm assuming you already have a car taxed and insured and you are leaving it in Ireland for time of the travel. So you could use your car. Only cost might be wear and tear (like tyres, oil, etc) but it won't be much.listermint wrote: »Car purchase, tax and insurance.
Does your price include 3 match tickets (all Ireland group games) for everyone?Match tickets i have were the Category 1 so 136 Euro Each.
What tolls would that be?You missed tolls.
All I can think of is toll M6 in UK near birmingham, but you don't need to use it. You can use free M6.
You are talking about accomodation in a camper van.And you havent calculated the cost of 'Euro 2012' accommodation for at least 2 weeks to catch all the games.
I'm sure you can get comparable standard accomodation in Poland for less then €10 per day, so it gives €140 per 2 weeks.Im pretty confident im still winning.
Same as me
Also where are you renting campervan?
Did you include fuel costs for campervan?
Did you include all fares to get to the airport for 4 people (buses, taxis)? Then fares for 4 people to get from the airport to campervan rental company? Did you include a camping charges, as I assume you won't be sleeping in your campervan parked in the city centre?0 -
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