Driving in France

[CaravanCook]

Hi all, We're off to the Vendee in a couple of weeks. We haven't driven in France for many years so wonder if there are any tips out there. We have warning triangle and hi vis vests but is there anything else that we need ? Has anybody got an idea of the price of fuel. Any recommendations for where to go in the vendee (we have a 9 year old girl). The first night we are staying near to Rouen, so any suggestions on where to eat would be great. Thanks for your help.

 

[J.Lo]

Keep your Hi-Vis vests in the car where you can get at them without getting out. They dont like you rummaging in the boot looking for them. You need headlight beam deflectors,all the paperwork you would need over here if you were ask to produce by our police.Diesel cost about

 

[WatsonJohnG]

A simple trick that works for me is to set my watch to French time and transfer it to the right wrist rather than my usual left

This is then a reminder to keep to the right when setting off and approaching roundabouts keep the right hand with watch to the outer kerb side

To change Km to miles multiply by 6 and knock off the last figure

This give 100km as 60 mph so 2 mph error

When entering French towns the town sign will often have a red border which means you are entering the speed limit of 50k/h unless a lower one is stated

 

[RayS]

Fuel is much cheaper at supermarkets but you may find pumps are card only particularly at lunchtimes or at small supermarkets. British credit cards seem to work at most of these and they have easier access than the pay at the kiosk pums which can be very dfficult with when towing.

Get an up to date map - the road numbers on RN are in the process of being changed although some may not be ! Similarly satnavs may get more confused than usual.

Compared to say 20 years ago the signs in France have improved dramatically, and they have also discovered roundabouts which often have very distracting features in the middle - take care.

 

[Woody3]

If you haven't been to France for a while get a new, up-to-date road atlas. Many of what were RN (e.g. N14) are now renumbered as Departmental roads mainly in the 900's. There has been much road building around towns as by-passes and feeders, so if you come to an island and you know the town is straight ahead but the signs say turn right or left, go straight on. It is all about controlling traffic flow and pushing you into expensive local authority car parks.

As an old colleague of mine used to say, rather get lost on the road you know than the road you don't!

 

[WatsonJohnG]

The straight ahead signs can be quite confusing fron a RHD car as they are set at an angle and appears to mean turn left

We have had some interesting tours of municipal dumps as a result of mis reading these signs

 

[Robfooty]

We have just come back from France (Brittany). The fuel was between 1.42 and 1.52 euros per litre. Cheapest at Euromarche, Le Clerc etc.

Most of the big supermarket pumps were ok to get into not great, but out of opening times for the store and especially on Sundays, getting into the 24/7 card only pumps was virtually impossible with the caravan attached. You may get in with the van but more than likely not get out as the exits are too tight for long vehicles.

As regards the signposting. We found the signposting excellent and the roads far superior to UK surfaces.

In relation to driving on the right, it's easy after a day or so but even easier with a sat nav which tells you which side of the road to drive on anyway. Obviously you'll need european mapping.

 

[JoannaLesley]

Fuel is much cheaper at supermarkets but you may find pumps are card only particularly at lunchtimes or at small supermarkets. British credit cards seem to work at most of these and they have easier access than the pay at the kiosk pums which can be very dfficult with when towing.

Get an up to date map - the road numbers on RN are in the process of being changed although some may not be ! Similarly satnavs may get more confused than usual.

Compared to say 20 years ago the signs in France have improved dramatically, and they have also discovered roundabouts which often have very distracting features in the middle - take care.

Ray,

We came very unstuck a number of years ago when trying to use a card in a fuel station out of hours - luckily, we had the cash, so someone else paid and we re-imbursed him. Are things different now that UK cards have the new style chip?

I shall probably still be nervous of trying the first time!

Jo