another "on the road" question

I have been reading through the rules and regs from the AA site for the different countries.

Ok so the first question is to do with car seats. my youngest is 4ft6 and then next child is 4ft 10. On readin the website it says (for Germany)

""Passengers/children in cars: A child less than 1.5m travelling in any type of vehicle must be seated in a child seat or child restraint. Where a child restraint / seat is not available, a child three years and over must travel in the rear seat of the vehicle using a seat belt or other safety device attached to the seat. A child under three years old may not be transported in a vehicle without a suitable child restraint/seat. It is the responsibility of the driver to ensure that all children are safely restrained""

So does this mean that the kids will have to have a booster seat? or does it just mean they have to have a seatbelt?

For Austria it says

Passengers/Children in cars: Children under 14 and less than 1.50 metres in height cannot travel as a front or rear seat passenger unless using suitable restraint system for their height / weight. Vehicles without such protection e.g. two-seater sports cars or vans / lorries may not be used at all to transport children under 14 years of age. Children under 14 years but over 1.50 metres in height must use the adult seat belt. Children 14 or over and over 1.35 metres in height are allowed to use a ‘Dreipunktgurt’ (three point seat belt) without a special child seat, if the belt does not cover the throat / neck of the child.

It doesnt actually say about children under 14 and under 1.5. Do they need a booster?


Next question is about the "vignette"

I honestly thought this was a fee that you paid that covered all the toll roads. On reading it, this is a certificate that states what emissions the cars give out. I was under the impression that we could just "pick one up at the petrol station" but this is obvsiouly not the case. It says that I need to send away my vehichle registration (is this the log book or the MOT) and also it will take 3-4 weeks which I dont really have.

Is there another way of getting this?

Karen

Only have experience with the Swiss vignette ... you can buy them at petrol stations.

G

karen72 wrote:
Next question is about the "vignette"

I honestly thought this was a fee that you paid that covered all the toll roads. On reading it, this is a certificate that states what emissions the cars give out. I was under the impression that we could just "pick one up at the petrol station" but this is obvsiouly not the case. It says that I need to send away my vehichle registration (is this the log book or the MOT) and also it will take 3-4 weeks which I dont really have.

Is there another way of getting this?

Karen

that doesn't sound right at all, living here we've got a system like this but it doesn't apply to visitors unless you're importing a car

Can you post the link where you found that?

Ise if you scroll down to the bottom where it says special features

http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/touring_tips/AA_Germany.pdf


really panicking now and I am getting the roll of the eyes and shaking of head from hubby!

or try this and select Germany from the drop down list
http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/overseas/countrybycountry.html?mySelect=%2Fmotoring_advice%2Ftouring_tips%2FAA_Germany.pdf&go.x=41&go.y=12

thanks
Karen

I drove through Holand, Germany, Czech Rep,Slovakia and Austria last year and the only places i remember buying a Vignette was in the last 3 dont remember needing one in Holland or Germany.

I followed this link from that pdf - gives more info.

http://www.bmu.de/english/air_pollution_control/general_information/doc/40740.php

It looks to me very much like it's a measure they're introducing for city centres. If you're just going to cane it down the autobahns to Austria, then I would have thought you would be fine.

It does seem to be a couple of cities only. It's not something that's been in the press here but we have anti-pollution carnets as standard so it may not effect us.

You will only need a Vignette in Austria, and all it does is allow you to use the Motorway. You literally stop at the services on the border and buy one at the counter. You dont need to inform them what car you are in or what your registration is, and the cheapest one is valid up to 10 days for about 7 or 8 euros.

The motorway down the Inn Valley has speed limits set depending on the amount of pollution generated. ie if its busy, they bring the speed down to 100 or 90kmh, and they have a camera system as well as hiding police cars in the hedges with speed guns waiting for you, so dont go tearing down the Austrian motorways, or expect trouble. Wait until you are in Germany before you start hammering it.