French driving pack.

davep12345

Hi,

I'm driving to france this summer for family holiday 3 adults + child.
Was wondering with all the stuff I need to have in the car to comply. Which is the best
driving pack available for a reasonable price.

I know the AA & RAC plus halfords do them, but unsure which to get that ticks all boxes

Cheers

waamo

Buy everything separately off eBay. Packs are expensive for example I get headlamp converters for a couple of quid instead of over a fiver the AA charge at the Eurotunnel.

Iceweasel

These so-called 'packs' are a rip-off.

And you don't need half of what they contain.

Buy separate items.

What is really needed?

1. Warning triangle.

2. Reflective vests for all passengers - stored inside the car - not in the boot.

3. Spare bulbs - either buy a vehicle specific box from the likes of Halfords or make up your own.

4. If your number plate doesn't have the EU stars with GB on - then you need a black & white GB plate.

Loads of there stuff is often bandied around as 'essential' - but I don't bother as there is no French Law saying that you can be punished for not having a breathalyser kit for example - or no headlamp converters.

I carry more useful things like a fire extinguisher. a first aid kit, and a torch.

Roland_Sausage

Iceweasel wrote: »

These so-called 'packs' are a rip-off.

And you don't need half of what they contain.

Buy separate items.

What is really needed?

1. Warning triangle.

2. Reflective vests for all passengers - stored inside the car - not in the boot.

3. Spare bulbs - either buy a vehicle specific box from the likes of Halfords or make up your own.

4. If your number plate doesn't have the EU stars with GB on - then you need a black & white GB plate.

Loads of there stuff is often bandied around as 'essential' - but I don't bother as there is no French Law saying that you can be punished for not having a breathalyser kit for example - or no headlamp converters.

I carry more useful things like a fire extinguisher. a first aid kit, and a torch.

I would agree with this. Just buy the stuff separately. I just got back from France last week, and worrying about what to take it the least of your problems - you've got to deal with French drivers, who are far more impatient and aggressive than what you might be used to in the UK.

The motorways are fine, but when you get into the built up areas, it can be chaos. The drivers will aggressively push into queues, they will toot their horn at you if you dare to slow down at a 'cedez la passage' (give way) or even a STOP sign, the roundabouts have no lane markings and they will happily overtake you on the roundabout. Then theres the motorcyclists flying down between the queuing lanes of traffic with their hazard lights flashing as they narrowly avoid scraping the cars and hitting the side mirrors. We saw plenty of cars with scrapes along the sides.

But the worst thing for me was when I was trying to turn left across 2 lanes of oncoming traffic. I'm sitting in the left turn lane waiting for the road to become clear, and when I start moving when someone from behind just decided to overtake me on the junction.

I'm amazed that we got back to the UK without any damage to the car.

Before I went, I read all the scare stories online about the French police targeting British drivers, but we didn't get stopped once by the police.

vikingaero

Buy everything in advance in the UK. Then laugh at the Eurotunnel or on the ferry at the prices they are charging for eurokit!

loskie

if in France and someone flashes you (with their headlights!) it's not a signal to go as it is here in the UK it means "I am coming through give way to me". Worth remembering that one.

tho_2

loskie wrote: »

if in France and someone flashes you (with their headlights!) it's not a signal to go as it is here in the UK it means "I am coming through give way to me". Worth remembering that one.

Although i agree with the statement, it is worth remembering thats actually what it means here too!

110.Flashing headlights. Only flash your headlights to let other road users know that you
are there. Do not flash your headlights to convey any other message or intimidate other
road users.
111.Never assume that flashing headlights is a signal inviting you to proceed. Use your own
judgement and proceed carefully.

BeenThroughItAll

Roland_Sausage wrote: »

I would agree with this. Just buy the stuff separately. I just got back from France last week, and worrying about what to take it the least of your problems - you've got to deal with French drivers, who are far more impatient and aggressive than what you might be used to in the UK.

The motorways are fine, but when you get into the built up areas, it can be chaos. The drivers will aggressively push into queues, they will toot their horn at you if you dare to slow down at a 'cedez la passage' (give way) or even a STOP sign, the roundabouts have no lane markings and they will happily overtake you on the roundabout. Then theres the motorcyclists flying down between the queuing lanes of traffic with their hazard lights flashing as they narrowly avoid scraping the cars and hitting the side mirrors. We saw plenty of cars with scrapes along the sides.

But the worst thing for me was when I was trying to turn left across 2 lanes of oncoming traffic. I'm sitting in the left turn lane waiting for the road to become clear, and when I start moving when someone from behind just decided to overtake me on the junction.

I'm amazed that we got back to the UK without any damage to the car.

Before I went, I read all the scare stories online about the French police targeting British drivers, but we didn't get stopped once by the police.

Having driven over 100K mi in France over the last 20+ years in a mixture of cars, motorhomes, vans and on motorbikes (all RHD and on UK plates until the last 18m when I've had a LHD motorhome), I have to say I've very rarely witnessed what you describe. I've not found French drivers any more aggressive or impatient than those in the UK.


With the exception of central Paris, the drivers in most of France are fine - in fact in many ways they're often better than those in the UK - they're much better at overtaking, and their lane discipline on multiple-lane roads is far better than that I witness every day on UK roads.

Grumpygit

Totally agree with what you say about the French v English drivers - they have so much lane discipline on their two lane roads however, when you get them on 3 or more lanes they are just as bad with lane hogging.

I get nervous being a passenger in the UK driving on motorways, but am much more relaxed when in Europe.

We've just come back from the States and they are worse than the English!

Roland_Sausage

BeenThroughItAll wrote: »

Having driven over 100K mi in France over the last 20+ years in a mixture of cars, motorhomes, vans and on motorbikes (all RHD and on UK plates until the last 18m when I've had a LHD motorhome), I have to say I've very rarely witnessed what you describe. I've not found French drivers any more aggressive or impatient than those in the UK.


With the exception of central Paris, the drivers in most of France are fine - in fact in many ways they're often better than those in the UK - they're much better at overtaking, and their lane discipline on multiple-lane roads is far better than that I witness every day on UK roads.

It wasn't quite central Paris, but wasn't far outside the Boulevard Peripherique that we were staying (Champigny-sur-Marne/Joineville-le-Pont area) so that possibly explains it.

Once we were away from the city, it was great and the motorways were a pleasure to drive on, far less congested than British motorways (possibly the high toll charges have something to do with it) and as you say, great land discipline too. And no miles of endless roadworks.

BeenThroughItAll

Roland_Sausage wrote: »

It wasn't quite central Paris, but wasn't far outside the Boulevard Peripherique that we were staying (Champigny-sur-Marne/Joineville-le-Pont area) so that possibly explains it.

Once we were away from the city, it was great and the motorways were a pleasure to drive on, far less congested than British motorways (possibly the high toll charges have something to do with it) and as you say, great land discipline too. And no miles of endless roadworks.

I can only compare Paris with the experience of driving in any other major city, be it Berlin, London, Madrid, Milan, Rome, Prague, etc... the drivers are more impatient generally, so not a reflection of French driving in general.


I've spent very little time on toll roads in France - probably less than 2K miles of all those I've driven, and my reflection on lane discipline is shared across both toll and non-toll; and the roads are generally much less congested than in the UK (similar population and more than double the land area, basically).


Generally, taken in context of similar locations, French driving standards are in my experience higher than those in the UK these days (not sure I'd say that were true 20 years ago, but things have changed).