What is it like to drive in France as I am going to be driving there with my caravan for the first time in July any tips would be appreciated. Thanks
Driving in France ?
- Thread starter Anthony_5105557
- Start date
During the crossing, repeat to yourself the mantra "drive on the right, drive on the right, drive on the right......." Works for me 
A big MUST is to have extended wing mirrors on both sides of the car. Driving on the autoroutes is a pleasure, unlike our motorways. Most of their 'N' roads (Routes National) and their 'D' (Departmental) roads are much better surfaced than the UK equivalents. Fuel stops on the autoroutes tend to be a lot further apart than here, so plan ahead. In city centres and little villages, watch out for junctions that do not have priority signs - in which case give way to traffic coming from the right.
After many years of driving in France (and other European countries), I can only say that if you prepare yourself properly, you have nothing to fear and should find motoring in France a real pleasure.
A big MUST is to have extended wing mirrors on both sides of the car. Driving on the autoroutes is a pleasure, unlike our motorways. Most of their 'N' roads (Routes National) and their 'D' (Departmental) roads are much better surfaced than the UK equivalents. Fuel stops on the autoroutes tend to be a lot further apart than here, so plan ahead. In city centres and little villages, watch out for junctions that do not have priority signs - in which case give way to traffic coming from the right.
After many years of driving in France (and other European countries), I can only say that if you prepare yourself properly, you have nothing to fear and should find motoring in France a real pleasure.
It's lovely - the roads are great, less crowded, more places to stop, including dedicated picnic areas, fantastic scenery. The only downside is that in July most of France will be on holiday too - so you may meet more traffic than normal.
Get a good detailed map - Michelin atlas is very good - and plan your route well before setting off - noting all the big towns on route. Road numbers seem to be changing at the moment in France. There are autoroutes (usually A1, A28, etc, Route nationale (N1, N6, etc) and Department roads (D1, D2053A!!!) but increasingly some E1, E104, etc). The road signs on N roads or D roads or E roads are a bit different - usually actually on the junction, and usually pointing you in the direction of the next big town. If you don't see the town you want, then follow the 'Toutes Direction' signs until you do. Motorways are toll in part - and this can mount up. Motorways are well signposted but make sure you know what junction you're heading for - they come up quicker than in England. Look on mappy.com or Viamichelin and you can plan a route, and get the toll costs too. Don't forget to choose the 'towing' option.
Take a first aid kit, spare bulbs, a warning triangle, and headlight deflectors. A high visibility vest (Halfords) is also useful - motorists who witness an accident are required to stop and offer assistance, including placing a warning triangle in the road. Useful, also, if you breakdown. Don't forget to take a caravan spare wheel with a good quality tyre - caravan type tyres to fit English vans are VERY difficult to get hold of - we've met two couples who had a spoilt holiday when a tyre went.
Also remember 'bum in the gutter' and you'll stay on the right (wrong) side of the road, even around roundabouts. Remember, too when you're coming out of petrol stations or supermarkets, where it's so easy to make a mistake when there are no cars on the road to follow!
Keep to the speed limits, (there's a speed limit through every french village, between the sign with the name of the village, indictating that you're driving into the village, and the sign with the name of the village indicating you're leaving) and ALWAYS stop at the STOP signs at junctions. There are often gendarmes on the junction to pull over any 'junction jumpers'. Watch out for 'flashing' traffic lights, which mean 'proceed if it's safe to do so. Some villages have lights which turn to red if you're going too fast.
Hope this helps.
Get a good detailed map - Michelin atlas is very good - and plan your route well before setting off - noting all the big towns on route. Road numbers seem to be changing at the moment in France. There are autoroutes (usually A1, A28, etc, Route nationale (N1, N6, etc) and Department roads (D1, D2053A!!!) but increasingly some E1, E104, etc). The road signs on N roads or D roads or E roads are a bit different - usually actually on the junction, and usually pointing you in the direction of the next big town. If you don't see the town you want, then follow the 'Toutes Direction' signs until you do. Motorways are toll in part - and this can mount up. Motorways are well signposted but make sure you know what junction you're heading for - they come up quicker than in England. Look on mappy.com or Viamichelin and you can plan a route, and get the toll costs too. Don't forget to choose the 'towing' option.
Take a first aid kit, spare bulbs, a warning triangle, and headlight deflectors. A high visibility vest (Halfords) is also useful - motorists who witness an accident are required to stop and offer assistance, including placing a warning triangle in the road. Useful, also, if you breakdown. Don't forget to take a caravan spare wheel with a good quality tyre - caravan type tyres to fit English vans are VERY difficult to get hold of - we've met two couples who had a spoilt holiday when a tyre went.
Also remember 'bum in the gutter' and you'll stay on the right (wrong) side of the road, even around roundabouts. Remember, too when you're coming out of petrol stations or supermarkets, where it's so easy to make a mistake when there are no cars on the road to follow!
Keep to the speed limits, (there's a speed limit through every french village, between the sign with the name of the village, indictating that you're driving into the village, and the sign with the name of the village indicating you're leaving) and ALWAYS stop at the STOP signs at junctions. There are often gendarmes on the junction to pull over any 'junction jumpers'. Watch out for 'flashing' traffic lights, which mean 'proceed if it's safe to do so. Some villages have lights which turn to red if you're going too fast.
Hope this helps.
Driving on the right when first in France seems pretty natural - what feels weird is driving on the left again when I get back to the UK. The biggest differences in France are
1. Doing roundabouts anticlockwise.
2. Turning left, across oncoming traffic, and aiming for the RH side of the road you are turning into.
1. Doing roundabouts anticlockwise.
2. Turning left, across oncoming traffic, and aiming for the RH side of the road you are turning into.
Roads are better and when you are away from large towns and cities are quieter than here. Motorway services are better also.
Take your time,as well as using extended mirrors also use your passenger to help when joining motorways as they will have a better view than you. Charge your partner or children with the task of reminding you to drive on the right every time you get in the car. After about the first 30 minutes you'll be wondering why you had been worried about it.
The first roundabout does feel strange though!
If you are a member of the caravan club, they have an information leaflet on driving abroad, check out their website. They have some leaflets available to non memebers, I don't know if this is one of them.
The A.A. also do a leaflet.
Robert
Take your time,as well as using extended mirrors also use your passenger to help when joining motorways as they will have a better view than you. Charge your partner or children with the task of reminding you to drive on the right every time you get in the car. After about the first 30 minutes you'll be wondering why you had been worried about it.
The first roundabout does feel strange though!
If you are a member of the caravan club, they have an information leaflet on driving abroad, check out their website. They have some leaflets available to non memebers, I don't know if this is one of them.
The A.A. also do a leaflet.
Robert
Anthony...The first time I went to France I made a brightly coloured cardboard arrow with "Drive on the Right" clearly written on it. I stuck this to my dash to remind me but after the first few miles I forgot it was there, although I left it in place as a reminder. The only issue is most of the Tolls booths pay points are on the opposite side, so having a passenger definately helps. A nightmare if on your own.
Don't forget you will need headlight deflectors, particularly if driving in poor visability or at night.
Don't forget you will need headlight deflectors, particularly if driving in poor visability or at night.
Some modern headlights aren't suitable for beam deflectors. My 2001 Espace was a nightmare - auto adjust halogen, so I couldn't do anything about them. I had to drive on sidelights and front fogs, and looked like a Wayne in a souped up Corsa.
Some headlights with polycarbonate lenses are also unsuitable because of the weird angles involved, and the sticky stuff can damage the plastic.
An easy answer is to use your headlamp levelling control to drop them a bit. No stickers, no cost, no bother. I think some cars have this adjustment under the bonnet as a manual lever.
Some headlights with polycarbonate lenses are also unsuitable because of the weird angles involved, and the sticky stuff can damage the plastic.
An easy answer is to use your headlamp levelling control to drop them a bit. No stickers, no cost, no bother. I think some cars have this adjustment under the bonnet as a manual lever.
Driving in France is a pleasure compare to here I have never found it to be a problem all you need to take care with is when coming into a Peage make sure you do not hit the raised kerb around the booth.If you want to stick to the centre of the steering wheel a note showing French speed limits and the French equivalents.Enjoy much better than travelling in the UK!
French roads are a joy compared to UK. 90+ % of the time you will arive on time at destinations with no delays.
When you get off the ferry fold the ferry car mirror tag and tuck it an the windscreen pillar withing your site line. It has to be alongside the kerb. Keep it there all holiday as the time you forget is a few days into the holiday. Just keep telling yourself that it has to be next to the kerb and it sticks in your brain !
When you get off the ferry fold the ferry car mirror tag and tuck it an the windscreen pillar withing your site line. It has to be alongside the kerb. Keep it there all holiday as the time you forget is a few days into the holiday. Just keep telling yourself that it has to be next to the kerb and it sticks in your brain !
I do the Hull to Zebrugger crossing because I would rather tow in France than England.
Another point to note is that when you overtake another vehicle on a motorway (autoroute) you must pull straight back into the nearside lane again - this is law. You can be fined for staying in the overtaking lane. Wish this law applied in our country!
Also watch your average speed in between toll booths as the police can check your speed when you hand your ticket in.
Remember that when the French flash their light at you it means that THEY are coming through - the opposite of our country.
Another point to note is that when you overtake another vehicle on a motorway (autoroute) you must pull straight back into the nearside lane again - this is law. You can be fined for staying in the overtaking lane. Wish this law applied in our country!
Also watch your average speed in between toll booths as the police can check your speed when you hand your ticket in.
Remember that when the French flash their light at you it means that THEY are coming through - the opposite of our country.
Also, when we flash at you, we may also be warning you of a police radar trap, or checkpoint up ahead.
Hi Anthony,
The only problem/danger I encountered in France were at roundabouts.
Our French cousins have no idea or concept about signalling their intentions, either approaching them or leaving them.
Do NOT try to second guess them, especially when towing, your
0-30mph time isn't as quick when tugging!!!
The only problem/danger I encountered in France were at roundabouts.
Our French cousins have no idea or concept about signalling their intentions, either approaching them or leaving them.
Do NOT try to second guess them, especially when towing, your
0-30mph time isn't as quick when tugging!!!
Watch direction signs at junctions if they are pointing at 45 degrees it means go ahead not right or left unless it is pointing at 90 degrees. Study the geography of your journey the direction sign of the place you want tends to disappear only showing somewhere 100 miles away in the same direction. Our nightmares are Deviation or Route Barre. Once we went round the back streets of Castres twice till we picked the right road at a junction were the deviation sign vanished. This was after another deviation from Carcassone to Albi sent us 20 miles out of our way. Otherwise driving in France is great. Can anbody tell me what the sign with a Blue car on a white background means seen on leaving some motorway junctions.
Hi Denis, the sign you mentioned means it is a 'semi-rapide' road, ie a road of near motorway standard, but Im not sure what if any motorway regulations apply.
Bon Voyage!
JimF
having travelled to France for about 10 years we still smile at the road signs which often point keep left when really it means keep straight on.Other than that use your mirrors especially the left one. Good luck.
you are so right apropos road junctions.
slowed at junction all but stopped, saw lorry approaching
pulled away so as not to get stuck behind,
gendarmes in patrol car following lorry,
cost me 65 pounds sterling (cash)
roger
Like Mike I don't bother to 'deflect' my headlights. My car a Ford Galaxy has plastic headlight covers with no marking to show where to put deflectors.
I also Set my headlights to lowest beam setting and often drive on Sidelights and Fog lights.
On occasions when I have needed my headlights (e.g. bad weather) I have never been flashed to show I was blinding other motorists.
I believe the law does not say you must deflect your lights, just that you must not 'dazzle' on coming motorists.
I can honestly say driving in France is a pleasure.I am hoping the people who put down the road surfacing in France could visit this country and show our people how roads should be made particularly around the M25
2006 - 6th June picked up the caravan, never towed one before, 8th August towed it to the Loire Valley, no problems.
You will get nervous every day you set off, but it will be fine.
Ideally don't drink the night beofre....
You will get nervous every day you set off, but it will be fine.
Ideally don't drink the night beofre....
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