Motorists warned over European road rules

DRIVERS could face a fine of up to €1,500 (£1,080) if they do not learn the rules of the road in the country they are visiting.

From turning car lights off during the day to unnecessary use of the car horn, the offences are not as obvious as you might think.

An estimated quarter of people heading off on a driving holiday are guilty of not first learning about the rules.

To help drivers potentially avoid a hefty fine, insurer Aviva has put together the top five unexpected driving laws that could land you with a fine abroad.

Turn off satnav speed camera alerts in France. Devices capable of detecting speed cameras and warning drivers of their locations are illegal. If you are caught with a working device, police can confiscate your licence and impound your vehicle.

If you usually wear glasses or contact lenses to drive then make sure you have a spare pair with you in Spain. As a tourist or holidaymaker, you may be asked to pay the fine on the spot, but police are often lenient with tourists in relation to spare glasses and contact lenses. If you happen to be pulled over by a less-forgiving policeman, fines may be reduced by 50 per cent if you pay within 20 days.

It is compulsory in Norway to keep your headlights on 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Watch out for wildlife in Finland. Should you be unfortunate enough to have an accident involving a reindeer, elk or any other large animal it is illegal not to report it to the police. Also, using your horn when driving in Finland is illegal unless you are in danger.

The autobahn in Germany has lengthy sections with a 130kmper-hour speed recommendation. And bear in mind that it is illegal to stop even if you run out of petrol on the motorway and could land you with a €70 (£50) fine.