Driving in France

Rikki

Some of the toilets can be quite a shock first time you see them. :eek:

Will never forget the gasps that my Mother made when she saw them. :rotfl:

naijapower

It shouldn't be a problem. if you can, take a sat nav along. this would take away the stress of gettng lost and looking at maps. and you can then focus on remaining on the right side of the road etc

Keith

Driving in France is a pleasure after driving in England, no third lane hogs, roadworks which in England would be several miles of cones are workmen hiding behind a truck, etc.

I love France!

DCFC79

naijapower wrote: »

It shouldn't be a problem. if you can, take a sat nav along. this would take away the stress of gettng lost and looking at maps. and you can then focus on remaining on the right side of the road etc

we never took sat a nav with us when i drove, we didnt even own a sat nav at the time but like i said we went on the motorways which probably meant a sat nav wasnt needed,

dacouch

Make sure you inform you car Insurers you are taking your car to france, consider taking break down cover and consider taking travel insurance (Personally I would take travel insurance)

poodledoodledoo

hewhoisnotintheknow wrote: »

also for 8 hours its a waste of time stopping off somewhere, take it in turns

Unfortunately for my hubby, I can't drive . The reason we are going to stop off is because we are taking 3 kids and an infant. I don't think we could cope with doing the whole journey in one...we'd need a holiday to get over it :rotfl: .

Do ALL of the services have continental toilets? And are they literally just a hole in the ground like I was once told? :eek:

pianeet

most of the services on the motorway are just like ours ,ladies, gents toilets,and overpriced food,
a lot of the stuff you have to carry ,hi viz vest,bulbs,triangles etc you can get from most pound shops,
also make sure you have some change in euros as some of the tolls are automated,also some of the tolls are cheaper at weekends than they are on weekdays, apart from the normal common sense you will be fine

mrbadexample

Watch out for these - they can be quite surprising if you don't know about them:



This sign (which, amazingly, isn't included in some leading European motoring advice books) denotes a hazard unique to France. At the next junction (not necessarily a crossroads), priority is to the right (priorite à droite). The sign applies only to the upcoming junction, which will be within 100 to 150m.
At such a junction, there are no road markings, and an approaching vehicle must give way to a vehicle on its right. For example, you must give way to traffic entering 'your' road from a minor road on the right, like a tractor emerging from a side turning. Be warned!
Conversely, when turning minor to major you may be surprised to find traffic on the major road giving way to you because of the priorite à droite rule.



This sign will often be seen (among many others) at the entrance to a town. From here on, priorite à droite applies at all junctions. Its use is increasing in French cities because it calms traffic and promotes caution at junctions, as an alternative to speed bumps. In urban driving you must be constantly aware of the need to give way to traffic entering from the right.

credit_crunch_victim

i would pack some food in a coolbox for the journey as well
we have driven over there a few times and it is a lot better than driving on our battered roads
we stayed at la rochelle not far from where you are going and the journey was hassle free
we would stop off overnight in one of the etap type hotels rather than rush to get there but we were towing so a bit slower

poodledoodledoo

mrbadexample wrote: »

Watch out for these - they can be quite surprising if you don't know about them:



This sign (which, amazingly, isn't included in some leading European motoring advice books) denotes a hazard unique to France. At the next junction (not necessarily a crossroads), priority is to the right (priorite à droite). The sign applies only to the upcoming junction, which will be within 100 to 150m.
At such a junction, there are no road markings, and an approaching vehicle must give way to a vehicle on its right. For example, you must give way to traffic entering 'your' road from a minor road on the right, like a tractor emerging from a side turning. Be warned!
Conversely, when turning minor to major you may be surprised to find traffic on the major road giving way to you because of the priorite à droite rule.



This sign will often be seen (among many others) at the entrance to a town. From here on, priorite à droite applies at all junctions. Its use is increasing in French cities because it calms traffic and promotes caution at junctions, as an alternative to speed bumps. In urban driving you must be constantly aware of the need to give way to traffic entering from the right.

That's very helpful, thanks
I bet the priority from the right rule could be potentially very confusing. We've seen the bottom sign on other websites but that top sign is one we've not come across yet. Very useful information.