Taking the car to France

blockman

Hi, Just looking for any tips and experiences on a driving holiday to France.

I'm taking the car and familly to France for 2 weeks in August. This will be my first time to drive abroad and I don't know what to expect.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. THANKS.

mylesmc75

Hi Blockman,

Did that for the first time myself in May and it was far easier than I thought it would be. I think it's the fact that you are in a right hand drive car that makes it easier than you would think. Just be careful at juctions and roundabouts, making sure you are choosing the correct lane to pull into. I was told the police in france are extremely stric in the roads but I literally never saw them once.

bigar

France is fine to drive in, just a few pointers for driving in build up areas:

1. Watch out for traffic coming from the right. On many crossings there is a "priority from right rule", meaning even if you are on the main road the cars coming on to the road from the right have priority over you. Only on roads that have priority signage do you have the priority. Best tip is to drive very slow on a crossing expecting a car to jump in front of you without looking
2. Pedestrians have priority on every zebra crossing except if there are traffic lights and boy do they use that right to the fullest. I did find they do mainly use the zebra crossing and do not just cross anywhere as they do in Ireland. Again: drive slowly and expect a pedestrian to jump right in front of you
3. Parking rules are quite strict so I would suggest only to park where there is clear signage allowing you to park.

hargo

You should have no problem. The country is very well sign posted, ie follow Toutes Directions most of the time. Be careful when starting off especially in quiet places as your narural tendancy is to pull out on to the left side of the road. Wear your watch on the opposite wrist as it may help to remind you to drive on the opposite side.
Bonne Chance

phog

It's a while since I drove there but it's not a problem.

- The exits and entry slip roads off and on to motorways are a lot shorter than you'd find here so reduce speed as you exit and be careful as you merge. Same with pull off to service stations and rest areas - seems to be lots of these whereas here in Irleand we have none :mad:.

- most of the bigger motorways are tolled but usually fairly quite traffic wise.

- turning left at junctions seems to be the most difficult but stay tuned in and you shouldn't have a problem.

- if changing lanes and a driver on the other lane flashes you it probably means you are NOT being let merge, the opposite of here, so be careful.

- fuel was a lot more expensive than here, don't know about now, BTW, petrol is "San Plomb and the speed limit reduces (in theory anyway) during the rain.

- exits are marked "Sortie"

Enjoy the hols.:D

Diairist

All the above is true. Note that (if you want diesel) buy 'gasoil' which may be 'gazole' sometimes. Essence is petrol.

Make sure you say 'je suis irlandais' before doing ANYTHING complicated like asking the traffic cop not to write a ticket or asking if you can use a credit card. You may already know 'irlandais' is pronouned 'ir lon day' if OP is of the male persuasion. You will hear paddies all over France saying 'ir lon daze' . These may be men masquerading as women or English who suffered for their race and are trying to be cute hoors.