The Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) is advising drivers to familiarize themselves with the rules of the road at their intended holiday destination.
According to the institute “Roundabouts, unfamiliar road layouts and foreign signposting can make even the most experienced motorist anxious about driving abroad, but many drivers still leave British shores without a sound understanding of the traffic regulations of the country they’ll be driving in.”
Many country’s traffic laws are quite similar to British laws but there will always be some descrepancies. The IAM went on to warn motorists that the rules of the road are much more strictly enforced abroad than they are in the UK and that pleading ignorance will not get you out of prosecution.
Click here for information on the rules of the road in European countries from the Institute of Advanced Motoring.
Time is running out for travellers to book their summer car hire. Industry experts are reiterating warnings about car hire shortages as many of the major European tourist destinations look set to face severe shortages.
Travellers are advised to book their car hire at the same time as they book their flights and accodmodation. This is very important to ensure you get the best deal and to ensure the appropriate vehicle is available for the dates you have specified. Those who leave booking their car hire until the last minute will face very high prices or may even find that there are no cars available.
Due to the economic recession, car hire fleets have decreased in size. This has led countires such as Spain, Italy and Ireland to issue warnings that their fleets are unable to meet demand.
Suppliers across Europe are already under severe pressure. If you are going away this summer, book your car hire now!
At ECB Online we compare prices from all of the major international and national suppliers across Europe.
Are you heading to any of these locations this summer? Check out our great deals.
Car Hire France
Car Hire Spain
Car Hire Australia
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A sister volcano of Eyjafjallajökull in Iceland is showing signs that it may be about to erupt.
Katla, a much larger volcano has been the subject of much speculation since Eyjafjallajökull began erupting and disrupting.
A research paper by the University College of London Institute for Risk and Disaster Reduction concluded that “Analysis of the seismic energy released around Katla… is interpreted as providing evidence of a rising … intrusive magma body on the western flank of the volcano.” The paper went on to state that “given the high frequency of Katla activity, an eruption in the short term is a strong possibility. It is likely to be preceded by new earthquake activity.”
Icelandic President Ólafur Grímsson told the press recently that his country had already prepared for the inevitable eruption and that “it is high time for European governments and airline authorities all over Europe and the world to start planning for the eventual Katla eruption.”
The ash cloud from Eyjafjallajökull has caused little trouble over the last number of weeks as scientists have said activity on the volcano has practically ceased. However should Katla erupt, the travel industry could see disruption on a much grander scale than that caused by Eyjafjallajökull.
Book your car hire well in advance with ECB Online. As long as you cancel your car hire 48 hours in advance of the pickup date, we do not charge any cancellation fee. That’s right, all your money back as long as you cancel 48 hours in advance.
Scientists think the weeks of disruption caused by the Icelandic ash cloud may be over as the volcano is no longer active.
The Meteorological Office of Iceland have said that “The eruption activity is minimal.”
Experts say they will continue to monitor the volcano, as the last time it erupted in 1821 it continued to erupt for 13 months. However, Magnus Gudmundsson, a geologist with the University of Icelandm, has asserted that “if there are no new earthquakes and no new outburst, then that would suggest that it is over”.
If the volcano has ceased to be active, it would bring to an end weeks of travel chaos that has grounded an estimated 10 million passengers and cost the travel industry millions upon millions of euro.
Passengers and businesses alike will be delighted to hear that for the next number of weeks, the volcano is unlikely to disrupt their holiday plans.
Flight restrictions over Europe look set to be reduced as a new Time Limited Zone (TLZ) is introduced. This new ‘zone’ will allow planes to travel at higher ash densities than was previously allowed.
To operate in the new time zone, airlines must present a safety case that has the backing of the aircraft and engine manufacturer.
According to one airline executive, this change will reduce cancellations significantly and allow airlines to resume an almost normal flight schedule.
These new measures come amidst criticism from the airline industry regarding the handling of the ash crisis. The British Airways chief described the bans as a ‘gross over-reaction’ and Richard Branson of Virgin Airlines described the situation as ‘beyond a joke’.
However, the chief executive of the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) stated that it is the CAA’s job to keep the public safe by ‘ensuring safety decisions are based on scientific and engineering evidence’. They claim some airlines have a ‘let’s suck it and see’ attitude which would place passengers at risk.
According to the air traffic control authority, the changes would mean that there is no predicted disruption to British airspace for the immediate future.
The volcanic ash that has disrupted air travel across Europe over the last month is clearing due to the volcano losing power and a change in wind direction. This comes as a great relief to the travel industry in general but particularly to the airlines as we come into the peak holiday period.
According to the Icelandic Met Office, the vast majority of Europe “can relax over the weekend” as the ash cloud has thinned and poses no risk to airplane engines.
However, this break in the disruption will apparently offer only a brief respite to the travel industry and scant consolation to the millions planning to go abroad this summer and depending on flights. Weather stations acknowledge that in reality they can only predict the path of the ash cloud a couple of days in advance. Scientists are also unable to predict exactly when the volcano will erupt and with what force. Airlines recommend keeping an eye on flight details in the days and hours leading up to your flight.
The Nordic Volcanological Center has warned that while pressure in the volcano seems to have decreased, this does not mean that we are in the all clear for air travel over the summer. A source at the centre said that “there are absolutely no signs of the eruption coming to an end”. He also recommended that people should keep the changeable conditions in mind when making travel plans this summer.
At ECB Online we are offering great deals on car hire right now. We also offer a measure of security in this changeable travel climate as we do not charge cancellation or amendment fees as long as they are made within 48 hours of the pickup date.
The British Met Office is warning that travel disruption caused by the eruption of the Eyjafjallajokull volcano in Iceland could continue right into the summer.
There is no way of predicting which way the plumes of ash from the volcano will drift or on what days. A spokeswoman from the Met Office put it this way: ‘We’re all at the mercy of the volcano’. The last time Eyjafjallajokull was active, it continued to erupt for over a year.
Summer holidaymakers will be gambling on a southwesterly wind blowing the ash cloud north towards the North Pole. While this is generally the prevailing wind during the summer period, there are no guarantees that this is what will happen.
This warning will cause further concern to airlines and other sectors of the travel industry who have already seen revenues nosedive during the disruption caused by the cloud.
Travellers are advised to keep up to date with the weather conditions and keep checking the websites of their airlines. We also recommend that you check the cancellation and amendment policies of your travel arrangements to ensure you won’t be hit with heavy penalties should you be forced to make a change.
At ECB Online we give you a full refund as long as you cancel your car hire at least 48 hours in advance.
Airports across Britain and Ireland reopened yet again this morning amidst warnings that the volcanic ash cloud may continue to cause disruption through the summer months.
By 9 a.m this morning all airports across Ireland and the UK had resumed normal service. However, airlines are continuing to warn passengers to double check their flight status before setting off for the airport.
While the current cloud is less dense than the cloud that shutdown European airspace a fortnight ago, officials are warning that the cloud may yet affect more travellers. If the Eyjafjallajökull volcano erupts again or if it triggers it’s sister volcano Katla, thousands of passengers could again be left stranded.
These warnings emphasise the need for travellers to check the cancellation and amendment policies on their various travel arrangements. At ECB Online, we do not charge any cancellation or amendment fee as long as this is done 48 hours in advance of the pickup date.
A fresh cloud of volcanic ash from Eyjafjallajokull in Iceland has led to the cancellation of flights across Ireland and Northern Ireland. Severe delays are expected as a no-fly zone was imposed across the island.
Ryanair has cancelled all of it’s flights to and from the republic and the north until at least 2 p.m., with Aer Lingus also suspending flights until 1.p.m. The Irish Aviation Authority have however cleared Irish airspace to open at 1 p.m. The Northern Irish air traffic control company Nats, has indicated that airspace should open by 1 p.m.
The current plume of volcanic ash is not expected to impace on continental Europe.
Worried about cancelling your car hire reservations and losing money? At ECB Online we do not charge a cancellation or amendment fee so long as you cancel 48 hours in advance of your rental date.
Check out our great car hire deals now!
Following the major disruption to European travel in the last number of weeks, thousands of people have been forced to cancel their travel plans, including their car hire.
Certain companies offer cancellation protection to their customers when they hire a car. The rate of this protection is based upon the length of the period of car hire and is typically between £2 and £10. This protection waivers the normal cancellation policy and provides the customer with a full refund in the event of a cancellation.
This sounds like a pretty good deal until you examine the cancellation policies of many car hire companies. The particular company that offer the cancellation protection mentioned above allow a period of 48 hours after booking your car hire where you can cancel for free. After this period, there is a charge of £15 for cancellation. If you cancel within 48 hours of the actual rental date, you are charged 50% of the rental price.
At ECB Online, we do not charge a fee for cancellation or amendment as long as this is done 48 hours in advance of the rental date. Absoloutely no charge whatsoever if you cancel within 48 hours of the pickup date. If you wish to cancel your hire within 48 hours of the rental date, a fee equal to the first 3 days of the hire applies.
We strongly advise you to check a company’s cancellation policy before putting your booking through. This could save you from being subject to costly cancellation fees. Hopefully, the volcanic ash cloud was a once in a lifetime event. But putting a booking through ECB Online guarantees no hefty fees or catches if your forced to cancel or amend your booking, ensuring your peace of mind.
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