Driving in France

PeteMc

You'll usually see the X sign with Priorite à Droite written underneath. They are also generally supersize signs...you won't miss 'em!

They are by no means everywhere unlike Belgium who never really got rid of it.

Still be careful on roundabouts even though 99% work the same way as ours (but traffic comes from the other way). Older French drivers still think Priorite à Droite applies. The famous one is of course the Arc in Paris.

If you see a warning sign saying Speed Cameras there WILL be one within a km or so. Gendarmes will hide anywhere (behind trees, bridges etc) with mobile radar traps on motorways and there is no warning of them.

shown73

They get terribly irate if you ignore those priority signs like I used to, and just give a cheery wave, but it is a high-risk strategy. I just thought that such a !!!!-eyed rule must have been abandoned years ago. Can be fun playing chicken on country roads, provided you are in a large vehicle, and are actually prepared to give way at the last minute....

DCFC79

If you dont know any french then maybe its a good idea to take a phrase book with you and have a read on the journey, oh id like to just warn you now, the french have a habit of driving close to your rear bumper and if they were to get closer they could read your mind, it still puzzles me as to why they tail gate when the left lane is totally clear ,

mrbadexample

poodledoodledoo wrote: »

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.

You're welcome. It certainly surprised the hell out of me the first time I came across one. Fortunately, my French passenger was kind enough to shout at me. A lot. :rotfl:

Lemonade_Pockets

Not a lot to add but if you haven't got a sat nav it maybe a idea to have a look at some pics of the motorway signs. They are a slightly different format to the UK ones so can be confusing initially when your concentrating on everything else.

If your in the outside lane of the motorway and someone comes up behind with their left indicator on this means they are in a hurry and will tailgate you until u move out of the way.

Watch out for speed cameras normally proceded by a sign with a picture of a radar on it. IF you see one of these stick to the speed limit for a good amount of time. The speed cameras are little grey boxes and pretty tricky to spot at 90mph, not like the big yellow things we have here.

The driving on the wrong side is trickiest when setting of in town etc, on the motorways and other main roads its fairly easy.

The_Economist

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.

I haven't read all the posts but these caught my eye. Driving in france is very diffrent so be aware. If you can revise the highway code for france do so. As other posters have said about glasess and high viz vests these are most important to remember. I went last year with the father in law and he is very experienced in driving in france but still got caught out on a roundabout and i had to tell him about on coming traffic. If you drive on motorways make sure you have enough change for the tolls as they are not always maned. Make sure you observe the speed limit for wet and dry days as it varies.

Ms_Chocaholic

If you do have a sat nav, I think you can set it to remind you to drive on the other side (I think our Tom Tom has a setting to anyway)

Paparika

poodledoodledoo wrote: »

We have been lucky enough to win a holiday in Charente Maritime, France and would like to go by ferry/car as a return Dover-Calais crossing is included with the prize. We will be taking our 4 young children with us on the journey.

Now, this will involve my husband who is an inexperienced driver (around 18 months experience) driving for 8 hours through France which he has never done before. We will be taking our own car.

We have done a bit of reading up on the web on the technicalities of driving in France and we are confident we know all of the major points but we are understandably a bit nervy.

Are we crazy to even consider this journey or is driving in France not too big an ordeal?

No not crazy go for it, i had about the same length of experience when i did it 1 1/2 years ago, had my 12 year old with me, in a 21 year old ford fiesta, had more trouble getting international cover for the car than the trip it's self.

Don't forget viz jackets for all in the car that's a must have, a first aid box and a warning triangle, caught without these and its an on the spot fine, and the police can and will escort you to the nearest cash point for the money.


try not to speed as again you will be in a spot of bother too.

Best of luck and enjoy its part of the adventure

tomstickland

poodledoodledoo wrote: »

Are we crazy to even consider this journey or is driving in France not too big an ordeal?

No, you're not crazy. It doesn't take long to adjust. Just pay careful attention.

I've never forgotten to drive on the RH side over there. It seems to make sense when you're there.

Be careful when you come back to the UK though.

Oh, I navigated through Paris on my own with only a road atlas. That was fun.

Inactive

[QUOTE=dacouch;19059953
Driving on left is not hard, [/QUOTE]

It does make it interesting in France tho'.