Motorists may be slapped with costly ‘on the spot’ fine while driving in Europe

British motorists could be hit with a costly fine when heading to Europe this winter due to a simple driving rule. 

Drivers heading to the continent must ensure they fit beam deflectors on their headlights before crossing into France. 

A headlamp converter is a clear sticker which covers the beams on British cars to stop dazzling motorists abroad. 

These are needed because motorists in Europe drive on the other side of the road and could therefore be more at risk of getting blinded by a bright beam of light. 

The sticker deflects the beam slightly in the other direction so light is pushed forward and right instead of left.

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Beam stickers are required all year round but the issue is more prominent in the winter where night hours are a lot longer.

Experts at StressFreeCarRental have warned road users who fail to purchase a sticker before heading away could be caught out.

They explained: “The darker days and bad weather make car lights necessary in winter, but in France, drivers must have a headlamp converter which prevents dazzling oncoming traffic. French police can fine motorists on the spot for not having converters.”

The RAC clearly states that headlamp beam deflectors are considered essential items when travelling to France. 

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They added: “Depending on your car, you will either need deflector stickers or have to adjust the beam manually.”

Motoring experts at Halfords have also urged road users to carry around spare bulbs to easily replace headlights if one blows while away.

They commented: “To ensure you don’t dazzle oncoming traffic, you’ll need headlamp converters. This is because headlights on British cars are designed for driving on the left, not the right. 

“Headlamp converters reposition the angle of the beam, ensuring other drivers are safe as well as improving your visibility.

“Most European nations also recommend carrying a spare bulb kit so you can change your headlamps if one of them goes.”

Drivers without the stickers in place are likely to be stopped by the French authorities. Motorists not meeting the legal requirements will be issued an on the spot 90 euro (£78) fine. Lamp deflector stickers should be purchased online for as little as £5 before you head abroad. 

Individuals who are running out of time for an upcoming trip can secure the stickers in motoring stores such as Halfords and at some mainstream supermarkets. Fitting the beam stickers will take just a few seconds and won’t cause any damage to the vehicle. 

Speaking on YouTube, Eurolites, a producer of the deflectors, said: “The first thing we need to do is to leave the headlamps on to warm up so the adaptor will stick securely to the headlight, and just give the headlamp a quick rub to remove any dust or dirt residue. 

“Then switch off your headlights so that you don’t blind yourself as you go to apply the adaptor… We kneel directly in front of the headlamp at eye level and we apply the adaptor in this case at the seven o’clock position on the headlamp.”

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