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I have some questions about driving in France that I've never really been able to find the answers to. Anyone able to help with these please?
On motorways, what triggers the lower speed limit - a single drop, enough to need wipers, a wet road even if it isn't raining, spray?
Where there's a speed limit on the slip road, say 50kph or 70kph, do they really expect you to try to join with a
50mph speed differential?
Are there any rules for using the véhicles lent lane on hills? Any particular speed considered lent?
What's the speed limit on a single carriageway with 90kph speed limit signs?
What's the speed limit on a motorway with fixed 110/130 signs but a different limit on the gantry signs, but when there's only a gantry every 20km or so. And how are you supposed to know if you join midway between gantries?
Does priorité à droit really give right of way to every unmarked driveway, layby and dirt track unless you've got diamonds?
What's the deal with motorbikes, is there some form of motorised tag rugby going on where if they get close enough to touch you have to stop?
Does priorité à droit really give right of way to every unmarked driveway, layby and dirt track unless you’ve got diamonds?
If somebody is pulling out, yes! It's the rule#1 of French driving.
When motorways reduce the limit because of pollution/traffic density, etc, it's assumed that you're listening to traffic FM or you've got Waze on your phone to keep yourself informed on route conditions
The 90 limit when it's really 80 is a complete pain in the hole. Bottom line is, if you know the road and where the speed cameras are, drive at 90 like everybody else.
On hills for vehicles lents, if you're unable to safely overtake anything else on the road, stay right. If you're driving a fully laden 18 wheeler, do what the **** you like 😉
Wet roads = common sense
I don't actually know of any slip roads that have low speed limits for entering an autoroute local to me.
Hth
I've never had a problem in France I just drive along letting the locals fly past at definitely illegal speeds therefore attracting all the attention.
It's Austria where I got stopped by a van full of police that looked like the cast of Predator and made me hand over a fistful of money for unclear reasons.
If in doubt, flat out. Follow the fastest local and you should be fine. There is a more relaxed attitude to rules over there unless you are driving on English plates in which case you are fair game
An EU GB sticker helps 😉
Just follow rule #1 Don't be a dick.
If you get caught you're Brit they'll fine you and/ or make your life extremely painful.
Up until this year I've driven in France multiple time every year and never had a problem - except when we got flic'd for rolling through a stop sign at about 5 miles an hour onto a road with no cars in sight. And after a tense 20 minutes they gave a finger waggle and let us carry on.
It's really not hard, French drivers carry a lot of the lion's heart, but on autoroutes they have really good lane discipline, except through any off these big 5 cities.
For a giggle you should drive the Peripherique at rush hour. Just watch out for the motorcycle gangs.
Oh, just be glad you're not driving in Belgium.
"Somebody in the way...... never mind"
"Cyclists everywhere.... haha.... typical French"
When motorways reduce the limit because of pollution/traffic density, etc, it’s assumed that you’re listening to traffic FM
I don't mind a bit of Sanef Sont Set Set. But surely it can't be compulsory to listen to that Radio Vinci shite?
Depending on your car there may or may not be an option to change from mph to kph.
I always change a hire car from French to English language but never back again after.
Be wary on the autoroutes when approaching and leaving slip road junctions. Mobile radar traps often hidden and linked with police motorbike teams who will chase after offenders and pull them over into the next aire.
I don’t actually know of any slip roads that have low speed limits
They seem quite common, this is one from the A26 entry slip road north of Reims. There's also a 50kph one on the A4 A26 junction that most people driving back from the Alps must go through.
Does priorité à droit really give right of way to every unmarked driveway, layby and dirt track unless you’ve got diamonds?
Yes but it's rarely a problem. An exception is the Peripherique where joining cars have priority and it can be alarming to see someone approaching at speed from the right when you were thinking you obviously had priority.
But surely it can’t be compulsory to listen to that Radio Vinci shite?
Part of the fun of driving in France is singing along to 80's hits on NRJ 🙂
A few years back the priortity from the right was reinforced so now it doesn't matter what the car on the right is doing it has priority. This clarification has done the accident repair garages no good at all. There are less and less unmarked juntions, I used to go through half a dozen within the first few kms of leaving home, only three left.
The rain thing is really easy, don't overtake a police car in the rain.
Having just crossed the country from Mulhouse to Pau on nationales it seems the 80/90 signs are now all in place and there are very few places where you're not sure. The latest fixed radars can be seen from so far away you'd have to be dozy to get caught, gendarmes are a little more cunning and by the time you see them it'll be too late.
I think you were listening to RFM or Nostalgie, DrJ. 😉
Having just crossed the country from Mulhouse to Pau
We're driving to Pau next week to do some riding in the Pyrenees.
Hi Footflaps. I've sent you a PM, if you haven't got it I'll just type it on this thread.
I don’t actually know of any slip roads that have low speed limits
As I wrote; local to me.
There's one limited to 50 that links two busy dual carriageways with a bend in it similar to your posted pic and despite that, you still get lorries deciding to have a rest and lie down there every so often.
One thing I noticed driving on French motorways, about 10 years ago. Locals would be flying past me, then about 1/2 a mile ahead, the brake lights would start coming on. When I got to that part of the road, the sat nav would warn me of a speed limit change or speed cameras
Any device which warms of radars is banned in France. However if you use Google maps you'll find the speed limits are always displayed as you drive along in France (unlike Germany, Poland or Austria). Don't do more than 40kmh above the limit if you want to drive on if caught and don't do more than 50kmh above the limit if you want to keep your car. In fact just do what 90% of the others are doing which is less than the speed fines are applied when you take into account speedo error and the leeway you legally get.
Don’t do more than 40kmh above the limit if you want to drive on if caught and don’t do more than 50kmh above the limit if you want to keep your car.
I've always been happy clacking along at 130kph - we do the long drag down to Perpignan regularly and sitting at the limit in a UK car without hassle isn't worth speeding.
Have done the northern section Périphérique to Aubervilliers at 5o'clock on a Friday afternoon in a UK rhd Transit - the most stressful driving I've ever done!
I'm suprised, it normally resembles a very slow moving parking lot at that time on a Friday. You're lucky it was moving at all.
The roads I find most stressful are the long straights in les Landes, maintaining concentration so I don't collect the over optimistic overtaker coming the other way I meet every ten years or so, or a deer.
It was moving fairly well - it's the motorbike and scooter trains that are
the nerve racking bit when you are trying to change lane.
The autoroute climb up to the Millau when heading North is always interesting - it is deceptively steep and just keeps grinding on for ages. I always give our old trusty Volvo a pat and thank it when it's plodded its way up it! Nothing teaches you mechanical sympathy more than when you are 1000mile from home with no breakdown cover!
The last time I drove that climb I was watching the battery level indicator on our old Zoé 40 going down as fast as we climbed as we headed for the charge point in Saint-Flour Leclerc. Stop and have a walk the next time you go over. St James Way goes through just after the high point, it's magnificent whatever the season.