Ok it's holiday time coming up so I thought it might help to share some of the things I have learnt about French driving that may help anyone coming over here to have a more pleasant holiday.
This is not anything to do with highway code or law, just personal experience, having lived here for a while.
This also applies only to Brittany, Paris in rush hour is a completely different matter. Haute-Savoie also has it's own rules but that's a ski season topic.
Rule 1. Chill out and calm down coz you'll have a much better time if you do.
I've watched programmes on French driving schools but like the majority of us, as soon as they are let out into the real world different standards impose.
Roundabouts.
They don't work as you think they should. Most, but not all, roundabouts in France have now been changed such that priority is given to the vehicle on the roundabout. But there are a generation or two of people to whom this information has not filtered down. Do not be surprised if people pull out in front of you or stop for no apparent reason. See rule 1 above.
It is quite normal to go the whole way around a roundabout in the right hand lane before turning off
Do not expect a vehicle in the right hand lane to turn off when it should. If they don't see rule 1 above.
Indicators. General rule is “just coz they're indicating doesn't mean they're turning and just coz they're turning doesn't mean they're gonna indicate” Best to wait and make sure.
Do not get annoyed by someone sitting 2 feet from your tail on a dual carriageway at 70 miles an hour. They are not necessarily being aggressive, they are just doing what pretty much everyone else does. They will be astounded that you find it annoying/dangerous/idiotic/suicidal so reacting to it as such is pretty much pointless. See rule 1 above.
Priorite a droite. Mainly done away with but unpredictable in that in some places it applies it and in some places it don't The car entering from the road on the right has right of way.
Quite probably the maddest rule of the road ever invented by anyone, anywhere.
They've just re-installed it in my local town and when I park at my local greengrocers at a T- junction I cringe as it is obvious that only 50 per cent of the locals recognise that it exists. A big crash there is inevitable soon.
Be aware of it so that it isn't you who is caught out.
Carryng a breathalyzer law has disappeared. Do not pay any attention to Brittany Ferries trying to sell you one.
I'm sure other French residents can add to this to help everyone have a more enjoyable holiday.
In the meantime it's now 1 o'clock in the morning and I have some very drinkable 1.80 euro a bottle wine to crack on with.
Mick
This is not anything to do with highway code or law, just personal experience, having lived here for a while.
This also applies only to Brittany, Paris in rush hour is a completely different matter. Haute-Savoie also has it's own rules but that's a ski season topic.
Rule 1. Chill out and calm down coz you'll have a much better time if you do.
I've watched programmes on French driving schools but like the majority of us, as soon as they are let out into the real world different standards impose.
Roundabouts.
They don't work as you think they should. Most, but not all, roundabouts in France have now been changed such that priority is given to the vehicle on the roundabout. But there are a generation or two of people to whom this information has not filtered down. Do not be surprised if people pull out in front of you or stop for no apparent reason. See rule 1 above.
It is quite normal to go the whole way around a roundabout in the right hand lane before turning off
Do not expect a vehicle in the right hand lane to turn off when it should. If they don't see rule 1 above.
Indicators. General rule is “just coz they're indicating doesn't mean they're turning and just coz they're turning doesn't mean they're gonna indicate” Best to wait and make sure.
Do not get annoyed by someone sitting 2 feet from your tail on a dual carriageway at 70 miles an hour. They are not necessarily being aggressive, they are just doing what pretty much everyone else does. They will be astounded that you find it annoying/dangerous/idiotic/suicidal so reacting to it as such is pretty much pointless. See rule 1 above.
Priorite a droite. Mainly done away with but unpredictable in that in some places it applies it and in some places it don't The car entering from the road on the right has right of way.
Quite probably the maddest rule of the road ever invented by anyone, anywhere.
They've just re-installed it in my local town and when I park at my local greengrocers at a T- junction I cringe as it is obvious that only 50 per cent of the locals recognise that it exists. A big crash there is inevitable soon.
Be aware of it so that it isn't you who is caught out.
Carryng a breathalyzer law has disappeared. Do not pay any attention to Brittany Ferries trying to sell you one.
I'm sure other French residents can add to this to help everyone have a more enjoyable holiday.
In the meantime it's now 1 o'clock in the morning and I have some very drinkable 1.80 euro a bottle wine to crack on with.
Mick
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