Driving on the right-side of the law

In Germany it is an offence to run out fuel on a motorway, while in Greece carrying a petrol can in a car is forbidden.

In Norway vehicles travelling downhill have priority, while in Belgium cruise control must not be used on a motorway when traffic is heavy.

These are just some of the unusual regulations, identified by a new guide, that Brits could unwittingly break while driving abroad.

"We may consider road regulations in the UK to be rigorous and extreme, but our legal requirements for being on the road are straightforward compared to some in Europe," said David Williams, chief executive of GEM Motoring Assist.

The guide, Your Introduction to Driving in Europe, has been produced to help Britons avoid falling foul of complicated regulations that could lead to on-the-spot fines, or even their vehicle being confiscated.

It is divided into sections covering preparations before a journey, a summary of information by country and details of what to do if things go wrong.

The advice ranges from the obvious, such as keeping evidence of ownership and MOT documents with you, to the obscure.

For example in Austria a UK driving licence without a photograph is not valid, and caravans must not be parked within 500 metres of a lake.

In Denmark towing caravans are not permitted to overtake on motorways at certain times of the day, and cyclists regularly have priority over other vehicles.

If you are in Italy without relevant ownership documents, you run the risk of having your car impounded, while drivers in Spain who need glasses must carry a spare pair in the car.

In Finland, collisions with elk or deer must be reported to the police.

"The guide really aims to cut through the confusion and point people in the right direction with some basic do's and don'ts so the trip abroad is as safe and enjoyable as possible," Mr Williams added.