Driving Abroad - Noobs
Discussion
Planning a driving trip to the South of France with SWMBO and want some advice from you folks 
I've read up on the RAC/AA advice and I've got all the headlamp stickers, GB sticker, breathalyser and reflective vest etc. but any other tips you can give?
Would like to avoid ALL tolls if possible so is there a specific route to the bottom?
Any help much appreciated
I've read up on the RAC/AA advice and I've got all the headlamp stickers, GB sticker, breathalyser and reflective vest etc. but any other tips you can give?
Would like to avoid ALL tolls if possible so is there a specific route to the bottom?
Any help much appreciated
br d said:
surveyor said:
Heading to the South? Pay the tolls and get on with the journey. They are worth it.
Yep, France is a big country, if you're going all the way south just pay the tolls and make it easy on yourself.+1 - if the destination is more important to you than the journey just get on the Autoroutes, set cruise to 130kph and waft along. Make sure you stop off at the old Reims F1 track on the way!
Exige77 said:
Set of replacement bulbs.
Advisable, and compulsory in some European countries, but not France...Also, as of January 2013 the breathalyser legislation was postponed indefinitely...
At least according to the AA:
http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/touring_tips/...
Just driven back from Croatia to the UK for the third time, also driven up from La Ciotat - France is easygoing - forget about avoiding the tolls, just pay them and enjoy arriving hours earlier...
I have just driven back from Nice. As others have said just go with the tolls. They are brilliant, mainly empty and fast. I spent most of the time at 130-140kph and miles just flew by.
I had conflicting views on hi vis vests so just went with 2 as they are only a few £'s. Don't forget your triangle and carry a first aid kit, it is expected of you to stop and help should you come across an RTC.
Have fun, I got back on Friday and missing it so much I could get back in the car and drive the 1000 miles back again.
I had conflicting views on hi vis vests so just went with 2 as they are only a few £'s. Don't forget your triangle and carry a first aid kit, it is expected of you to stop and help should you come across an RTC.
Have fun, I got back on Friday and missing it so much I could get back in the car and drive the 1000 miles back again.
- Ignore people who leave their indicators on for months at a time. I've yet to work out why the french insist on this.
- On residential streets you may have to give way to the right at cross roads. You'll know if you have right of way by a full yellow diamond at the junction. A yellow diamond with a cross through it means you don't have right of way.
General rule of thumb; If your on a small road and don't see a yellow diamond, slow down and look both ways.
- Pedestrian crossings and cycle lanes appear to be set up specifically to injure pedestrians and cyclists. Usually, when the main road traffic lights turn green, so too will the pedestrian crossings on connecting roads off the main road. So always check your blind spot when turning right.
- Turning left: usually you're forced to turn left in front of the oncoming traffic wishing to cross your lane. You do not drive past and turn left behind them. Which makes it difficult to see, so just take it easy.
- There are no repeater traffic lights, so ignore the stop lines at red lights and stop far enough before the line so you can still see the light without putting your chin on the dashboard.
- The 10% rule for speeding in France is a bit more strict. 143kmh is pushing it, I cruise at 137.
- 110 zones generally have crap surfaces and also speed cameras. Speed cameras are usually signed but that wont help you with police bikes.
- On residential streets you may have to give way to the right at cross roads. You'll know if you have right of way by a full yellow diamond at the junction. A yellow diamond with a cross through it means you don't have right of way.
General rule of thumb; If your on a small road and don't see a yellow diamond, slow down and look both ways.
- Pedestrian crossings and cycle lanes appear to be set up specifically to injure pedestrians and cyclists. Usually, when the main road traffic lights turn green, so too will the pedestrian crossings on connecting roads off the main road. So always check your blind spot when turning right.
- Turning left: usually you're forced to turn left in front of the oncoming traffic wishing to cross your lane. You do not drive past and turn left behind them. Which makes it difficult to see, so just take it easy.
- There are no repeater traffic lights, so ignore the stop lines at red lights and stop far enough before the line so you can still see the light without putting your chin on the dashboard.
- The 10% rule for speeding in France is a bit more strict. 143kmh is pushing it, I cruise at 137.
- 110 zones generally have crap surfaces and also speed cameras. Speed cameras are usually signed but that wont help you with police bikes.
As no one else has said it, remember that they drive on the right <Allo, Allo> I say Carstairs, I think I know what we're doing wrong. We're cycling on the wrong side of the road. </Allo, Allo>
Also, on autoroutes/dual carriageways, after you've overtaken don't stay in the left lane for a millisecond more than absolutely necessary or you'll have a Clio up your exhaust pipe flashing headlights, 'indicating for a year' and making hand gestures.
You can b
h about the French for various things but Les morons du lane centre don't exist there...apart from British ones of course.
<Allo, Allo> I say Carstairs, I think I know what we're doing wrong. We're cycling on the wrong side of the road. </Allo, Allo>Also, on autoroutes/dual carriageways, after you've overtaken don't stay in the left lane for a millisecond more than absolutely necessary or you'll have a Clio up your exhaust pipe flashing headlights, 'indicating for a year' and making hand gestures.
You can b
h about the French for various things but Les morons du lane centre don't exist there...apart from British ones of course. XplusYplusZ said:
- Ignore people who leave their indicators on for months at a time. I've yet to work out why the french insist on this.
I'd always thought it was a 'get out my way' sign. I have only ever seen cars doing it in the outside lane moving quickly, leaving their left indicator on. I thought the idea was that an indicator was more likely to catch your eye in the rear view mirror?Obvious, I know, but the fuel at their filling stations is way more expensive than at hypermarkets, so make sure you're completely full before you get on the motorway.
South of France in 1 day on the motorways is eminently possible, though note that if you're going at a busy time you can get caught up in traffic at the peages (tollbooths). Trying to get to SoF in 3 days on back roads is achieveable, but French villages driving is s-l-o-w, and you'll spend a load of time mapreading and getting stuck behind tractors or a pensioner in a Peugeot 104. Charming for about ten minutes, annoying after that.
Northern France is desolate and boring - think of Norfolk without the personality and charm - and you want to pass through it as soon as possible.
Heading for SoF, and looking to have soime fun driving and avoind tolls, I'd recommend taking the motorway about 2/3 of the way to Grenoble, then driving the Route Napoleon - that's a lot of fun, and brings you out at Antibes. At 300km or so it's long enough to take you the best part of a day, assuming you stop to admire the (stunning) scenery. If I were going that way I'd make sure I drove the Gorge de Verdun as well.
South of France in 1 day on the motorways is eminently possible, though note that if you're going at a busy time you can get caught up in traffic at the peages (tollbooths). Trying to get to SoF in 3 days on back roads is achieveable, but French villages driving is s-l-o-w, and you'll spend a load of time mapreading and getting stuck behind tractors or a pensioner in a Peugeot 104. Charming for about ten minutes, annoying after that.
Northern France is desolate and boring - think of Norfolk without the personality and charm - and you want to pass through it as soon as possible.
Heading for SoF, and looking to have soime fun driving and avoind tolls, I'd recommend taking the motorway about 2/3 of the way to Grenoble, then driving the Route Napoleon - that's a lot of fun, and brings you out at Antibes. At 300km or so it's long enough to take you the best part of a day, assuming you stop to admire the (stunning) scenery. If I were going that way I'd make sure I drove the Gorge de Verdun as well.
RocketScience said:
Make sure your Wife/Partner has a pile of Euros for the tolls. The pay window will be on their side!
Or get a tag - you have to pay a small deposit but it does have the advantage that you can cruise through the tag lanes - particularly useful at some of the busier ones around the major cities.https://www.saneftolling.co.uk/
PedroB said:
XplusYplusZ said:
- Ignore people who leave their indicators on for months at a time. I've yet to work out why the french insist on this.
I'd always thought it was a 'get out my way' sign. I have only ever seen cars doing it in the outside lane moving quickly, leaving their left indicator on. I thought the idea was that an indicator was more likely to catch your eye in the rear view mirror?French Driving Manual thingy said:
You must indicate left before and while overtaking; on single carriageway roads you must indicate right when moving back into your lane, but this isn’t necessary on dual-carriageways or motorways.
longblackcoat said:
Northern France is desolate and boring - think of Norfolk without the personality and charm - and you want to pass through it as soon as possible
Utter rubbish !Pay the tolls.
I once tried to get back from the Alps avoiding tolls.
I thought it would be a lovely A-Road style drive.
It's not
It's a maze of slow speed limits, never ending lights, roads that divert miles the wrong way, tractors and potholes.
At every junction have you passenger say 'drive on the right'.
Reply with 'Thanks'.
It's a bit annoying - but well worth it in towns.
I once tried to get back from the Alps avoiding tolls.
I thought it would be a lovely A-Road style drive.
It's not
It's a maze of slow speed limits, never ending lights, roads that divert miles the wrong way, tractors and potholes.
At every junction have you passenger say 'drive on the right'.
Reply with 'Thanks'.
It's a bit annoying - but well worth it in towns.
PedroB said:
XplusYplusZ said:
- Ignore people who leave their indicators on for months at a time. I've yet to work out why the french insist on this.
I'd always thought it was a 'get out my way' sign.NormalWisdom said:
longblackcoat said:
Northern France is desolate and boring - think of Norfolk without the personality and charm - and you want to pass through it as soon as possible
Utter rubbish !Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff