First European drive
Discussion
My girlfriend and I are driving to the south of France at the end of July.
Its our first drive through France and I would be grateful for any advice about French road traffic rules that differ from what we have here in the U.K.
Roundabouts have been mentioned as a troublesome item by a colleague at work, but frankly he struggles with paperclips on a daily basis!
Thanks in advance.
Its our first drive through France and I would be grateful for any advice about French road traffic rules that differ from what we have here in the U.K.
Roundabouts have been mentioned as a troublesome item by a colleague at work, but frankly he struggles with paperclips on a daily basis!
Thanks in advance.
Ditto.
Never had a problem anywhere in Europe with roundabouts.
Spent most of the last 15 years driving in Europe and only had 3 accidents
You will automatically find that you concentrate a bit more especially in town.
Didnt someone post a French Highway Code in English on here recently ?
Never had a problem anywhere in Europe with roundabouts.
Spent most of the last 15 years driving in Europe and only had 3 accidents
You will automatically find that you concentrate a bit more especially in town.
Didnt someone post a French Highway Code in English on here recently ?
We have rented a villa in Port Grimaud, quite close to Monaco.
The plan is to head on an Alpine tour over a couple of days after staying overnight at Silverstone. A week in the south of France then head back on a `make it up as we go along` 3 day tour.
Thanks for the advice, had a look at the translation of the French Highway Code, it`s as dull as our own!
Maybe we could get Itchy and Scratcy to re-write it!
The plan is to head on an Alpine tour over a couple of days after staying overnight at Silverstone. A week in the south of France then head back on a `make it up as we go along` 3 day tour.
Thanks for the advice, had a look at the translation of the French Highway Code, it`s as dull as our own!
Maybe we could get Itchy and Scratcy to re-write it!
I live in France and the roads here are generally great, primarily because they are empty! Provided you keep an eye open for the gendarmes you'll love driving through France. The only real downside is that if you consistently do less than the speed limit you'll find that some French drivers want to get to know the rear end of your car a little too well, and you'll be able to see the whites of their eyes in your mirror...
Le Pop said:
and remember what smiffymoto said about high vis jackets, spare bulbs, red triangle etc...
And I'd add that the Hi-Viz jackets have to be IN the car, not in the boot. The gendarmes love checking Brit registered cars for this and we've had a couple of our employees given a 50€ fine for having them in the boot. You'll see a lot of French cars with the jackets over the seats just in case.Davel said:
Do you have to carry spare bulbs in France though?
I thought it was desired rather than required.
AFIAK it's not a legal requirement. Half the cars in my part of France are missing entire lights never mind bulbs. I thought it was desired rather than required.
The one thing you do need to be aware if is the infamous Priority from the Right rule. It only applies where there are no markings at junctions and generally is only found in small towns and villages. It's a sort of natural traffic calming.
I have lived on the outskirts of Grenoble for 4 years and this ‘priority droit’ rule is found in a lot of towns and some country roads, you can be approaching a junction within the speed limit just as you arrive a car pulls out causing you to brake hard some times. 
The reason is that the main roads got changed and the ‘right is always right if there is no reason’, so if you have an accident it is your fault regardless. 
The gendarmerie are the ones in dark blue
if they ask you to stop be nice and polite, usually they let you go once the documents have been checked, if they ask questions try and reply in French this helps a lot 
but do not loose your cool 
or it will be a long time in the station and a fine.
Be careful with speed limits near towns these go up and down some times with in a few hundred meters, the police love to catch you in these areas. Beware of any car parked on the side of main roads these generally have cameras in them, the police can catch you speeding from miles away, if on the auto route most of the time they wait until you arrive at the peagé and pull you over. This is why most French people drive at the same speed, unless you are brave. When I arrived in France I had 6 tickets in 4 months each one a 90 euro fine plus points (lucky they did not take the licence) after I slowed down.
Just drive calm
and the trip will be with out any problem
The reason is that the main roads got changed and the ‘right is always right if there is no reason’, so if you have an accident it is your fault regardless. The gendarmerie are the ones in dark blue
if they ask you to stop be nice and polite, usually they let you go once the documents have been checked, if they ask questions try and reply in French this helps a lot but do not loose your cool or it will be a long time in the station and a fine. Be careful with speed limits near towns these go up and down some times with in a few hundred meters, the police love to catch you in these areas. Beware of any car parked on the side of main roads these generally have cameras in them, the police can catch you speeding from miles away, if on the auto route most of the time they wait until you arrive at the peagé and pull you over. This is why most French people drive at the same speed, unless you are brave. When I arrived in France I had 6 tickets in 4 months each one a 90 euro fine plus points (lucky they did not take the licence) after I slowed down.Just drive calm
and the trip will be with out any problem
Driving in France is the best experience I`ve had for years - a bit like England 40 years ago in some places! On the Autoroute keep an eye in the mirror for the Merc doing 120+ (mph!) and the different limits when raining - all clearly marked. The AA & RAC websites have some useful info. Tape up the headlights with a triangle of gaffer tape or get some of the beam benders ( NOT at the ferryport - real ripoff!), and watch out at traffic lights for the little repeater at eye level on the pole - really helpful!
One important tip from my experience - over here a quick `flash` of the headlamps to a car emerging from a slip road means `go ahead` to most drivers. In France it seems to mean `I won`t yield` - much fist shaking from a french lady I was trying to be helpful to ....
Have a lovely time!
One important tip from my experience - over here a quick `flash` of the headlamps to a car emerging from a slip road means `go ahead` to most drivers. In France it seems to mean `I won`t yield` - much fist shaking from a french lady I was trying to be helpful to ....
Have a lovely time!
smifffymoto said:
Don't forget your documents,warning triangle and hi-vis vests.Driving is a pleasure around here with virtually no traffic. Where in the south are you ending up?
any sittings of bears down where you are? in Villeneuve ourselves and thinking of a day trip for some photosBears,that would be a fine thing.Around this area the hunters are very against the re-introduction just as much as all the other short sighted f
kers with things that go pop.
The sun has come out today for the first time in 3 weeks and the cloud has lifted,snow has fallen on the high peaks.
If you're coming for a blast pop in for a brew.
kers with things that go pop.The sun has come out today for the first time in 3 weeks and the cloud has lifted,snow has fallen on the high peaks.
If you're coming for a blast pop in for a brew.
Priorité à droite is a big one, it's almost never mentioned (compared to, say warning triangles) but takes a lot of people by surprise. It basically applies in all built up areas except where indicated otherwise, there's a section on it here : http://www.france4families.com/drivinginfrance/Rul... which seems about right. One thing they don't mention though is that lots of places are re-introducing it (except on roundabouts) as a traffic calming measure. Two towns near me have recently painted over all their give-way signs and made the entire town center priorité à droite. If you take it steady there's nothing to worry about, just be aware that the odd car might look like he's cutting you up but may be well within his rights to do so 
To be honest, dealing with this is no different than driving in the UK and assuming that people will (and do) pull out of junctions randomly or without seeing you.
Also, look out for this sign on country/a-roads http://www.coderoute.info/img/p6_6.gif that's the same thing, roads joining from the right have priority _unless_ they have a stop/give-way sign - in which case you do. The onus is on you, on the 'main' road, to look at the side road and work out what might happen.
Another thing is that you have to stop at stop signs, actually stop - not roll slowly before deciding it's clear. I do both depending on the junction, never been picked up on it but it is the law.
And sidelights are only for when the vehicle is stationary, not for 'it's dusk but I can still see where I'm going so I'll put my sidelights on' just go straight to dipped headlights. Again, unlikely you'll get stopped for it but it's 'correct' so you may as well do it.
On the whole though, driving here is a far more pleasurable experience than in the UK on the whole. Just take it easy and enjoy the views and remember that 99.9% of motorway toll booths/carpark ticket machines etc. will be on your passenger side
To be honest, dealing with this is no different than driving in the UK and assuming that people will (and do) pull out of junctions randomly or without seeing you.Also, look out for this sign on country/a-roads http://www.coderoute.info/img/p6_6.gif that's the same thing, roads joining from the right have priority _unless_ they have a stop/give-way sign - in which case you do. The onus is on you, on the 'main' road, to look at the side road and work out what might happen.
Another thing is that you have to stop at stop signs, actually stop - not roll slowly before deciding it's clear. I do both depending on the junction, never been picked up on it but it is the law.
And sidelights are only for when the vehicle is stationary, not for 'it's dusk but I can still see where I'm going so I'll put my sidelights on' just go straight to dipped headlights. Again, unlikely you'll get stopped for it but it's 'correct' so you may as well do it.
On the whole though, driving here is a far more pleasurable experience than in the UK on the whole. Just take it easy and enjoy the views and remember that 99.9% of motorway toll booths/carpark ticket machines etc. will be on your passenger side
Thought I would give a short update and also say thanks again for all the useful advice and info given prior to our trip. We had a fantastic time and the drive was perfect. No hassles at all, well so long as nothing nasty follows us through the post in the near future!
Port Grimaud is a great place to stay and we spent some time in St Tropez, Monte Carlo and Cap Ferat and really enjoyed some brilliant motoring with the roof down, smooth and empty roads.
But how wierd is this... if you asked me what was the best `Motoring Moment` of our 3,542 mile trip, it was 10 miles south of Carlisle!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Cruzing back home, roof down, chatting about what fun we had had, when a silver Aston Martin DB5 sprinted up from behind, flashed its lights, waves exchanged, then it blatted off at the next slip road.
Even after 10 days of Ferrari, Lambo, GT40 and any number of other 2 and 4 wheeled exotica, that Aston still looks(and sounds)very, very special.
I have a question that someone here may be able to answer. Why do some French cars sport Red registration plates?
Port Grimaud is a great place to stay and we spent some time in St Tropez, Monte Carlo and Cap Ferat and really enjoyed some brilliant motoring with the roof down, smooth and empty roads.
But how wierd is this... if you asked me what was the best `Motoring Moment` of our 3,542 mile trip, it was 10 miles south of Carlisle!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Cruzing back home, roof down, chatting about what fun we had had, when a silver Aston Martin DB5 sprinted up from behind, flashed its lights, waves exchanged, then it blatted off at the next slip road.
Even after 10 days of Ferrari, Lambo, GT40 and any number of other 2 and 4 wheeled exotica, that Aston still looks(and sounds)very, very special.
I have a question that someone here may be able to answer. Why do some French cars sport Red registration plates?
AFIK it is for temporary registration for cars bought by none residents who intend to take them out of France. Given the situation in the South of France, lots of NEW money (from Russia etc) I assume there were lots of exotic cars with this type of registration. There is a limit to the time that they can stay in France but I can't see it being enforced.
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