Driving in Britain
There are advantages and disadvantages to getting around Britain by car. If you are going to the UK to work, there are some jobs which you can only get if you have your own transport. Remember though that not only is petrol more expensive in Britain than in any other European country, but also taking a car across the channel, whether by boat or through the tunnel, costs a great deal of money as well. It is possible to hire a car when you are there, which might be a better idea if you are not going to be there for very long.
Taking your own car:
I'd like to buy a parking permit.
Can I buy a permit for the congestion charge zone here?
Do you sell the Highway Code here?
If you want to drive your car in Central London then you will need to pay a daily congestion charge. If you drive without paying it, the police can trace your car by its registration number (it will be photographed automatically) and you'll be getting a fine through the post. There is no place to hide…
The Highway Code is the set of regulations everyone from pedestrians to drivers has to follow. You can buy a copy from most newsagents and from a lot of bookshops.
Are we anywhere near a petrol station?
My car needs servicing.
My car needs a service.
It's making a strange noise.
The exhaust is broken.
The exhaust (or exhaust pipe) is the tube at the end where the smoke comes out. There is a law about how loud it can be, so if yours breaks you will need to get to a garage as soon as possible.
Will it take long to repair?
Do you know anywhere I can hire a car in the meantime?
Hiring a car:
I'd like to hire a car for two days.
What sort of models do you have?
Do any of your cars have power steering?
Could I have something with a large boot?
The boot is the part of the car at the back, which the Americans call the trunk.
How long can I hire the car for?
Do I need to fill up the tank before I return it?
I need an automatic. My licence doesn't cover manual cars.
Do you have a left-hand drive model?
A left-hand drive car has the steering wheel on the left, for driving on the right. Some people prefer to drive one if it's the sort of thing they are used to. However, it's easier to drive on the left in a right-hand drive vehicle.
Automatic cars are ones with automatic gearboxes.
How many kilometres does it do to the litre?
How many miles to the gallon does it do?
Many people still use the imperial measurements for fuel economy. The road signs are still in miles (for distance) and miles per hour (for speed). There is a plan to convert all the speeds and distances to metric before the 2012 Olympics, but it might never happen.
The national speed limit in Britain is seventy (70) miles per hour (mph), or a hundred and ten (110) kilometres per hour (kph). In a built-up area it is thirty (30) miles per hour, or just under fifty (50) kilometres per hour. It is recommended that in residential areas you should keep to twenty (20) miles per hour, or thirty (30) kilometres per hour.
Being stopped by the police:
Is this your car, sir?
Is this your car, madam?
Do you know how fast you were going?
Could I see your driving licence?
Blow into this tube, please.
Is there a problem, officer?
I haven't got my documents with me. Can I bring them to the police station tomorrow?
I'm perfectly sober, but none of the passengers are.
As in Poland, it is illegal to drive while under the influence of alcohol. It is also illegal to drive while using a mobile phone, and you can be arrested for smoking or eating while driving (if you are holding the food in one of your hands to eat it. You won't be arrested for chewing gum!).
There is one last point to remember. In Britain they drive on the correct side of the road, the left.