Road Trip to the South West of France.
Discussion
Good Afternoon All!
On the 5th of July i'll be embarking on my first experience of driving in Europe aka the "wrong side of road".
I was just wondering if anybody had any decent first hand tips from past experience of doing so...?
Bit of info behind it...
- Ferry to Calais
- Calais to La Rochelle (Night Stop Over)
- La Rochelle to Lacanau Ocean (end)
In total my routes a 539 mile trip which consists of 6 hours driving on the first day.
Any suggestions or tips and tricks will be greatly appreciated!
Cheers!
On the 5th of July i'll be embarking on my first experience of driving in Europe aka the "wrong side of road".
I was just wondering if anybody had any decent first hand tips from past experience of doing so...?
Bit of info behind it...
- Ferry to Calais
- Calais to La Rochelle (Night Stop Over)
- La Rochelle to Lacanau Ocean (end)
In total my routes a 539 mile trip which consists of 6 hours driving on the first day.
Any suggestions or tips and tricks will be greatly appreciated!
Cheers!
- Use the tunnel instead of a ferry
- Be aware that July 5th is the first "red" day of the summer: http://www.bison-fute.gouv.fr/IMG/pdf/CalendrierBF... so huge numbers will be heading out of Paris for the coasts. You will queue that weekend
- Don't be mean, use the pay toll-roads
- Consider buying a motorway tag in advance from https://www.saneftolling.co.uk/
- From Calais to Paris, take the A16 not the A1 unless you like counting Dutch and Belgian caravans
- From La Rochelle to Lacanau, consider the Ferry across the Gironde at Blaye: http://www.tourisme-blaye.com/index.php?option=com... instead of queuing around Bordeaux
- Visit the Dunes de Pyla
Well ahead of you good sir.
We will be using the payage's to full effect.
We aim to miss Paris by heading towards Rouen and then down past Le Mans etc.
We also will be using the ferry service from Royan.
As a 21 year old i have done this journey many a time with my own family but this is my first time of doing it as a driver with my missus.
I just meant practically like French driver tendencies and things i should pay extra attention to etc.
We will be using the payage's to full effect.
We aim to miss Paris by heading towards Rouen and then down past Le Mans etc.
We also will be using the ferry service from Royan.
As a 21 year old i have done this journey many a time with my own family but this is my first time of doing it as a driver with my missus.
I just meant practically like French driver tendencies and things i should pay extra attention to etc.
Mirror, signal, manouvre.
Indicate, pull out, overtake and pull back in. It makes the traffic flow better. They also pull back in very quickly after passing you which can be a bit unsettling first time you encounter it.
Oh, pedestrians will walk out to cross at a crossing without wondering whether or not you're going to stop.
Indicate, pull out, overtake and pull back in. It makes the traffic flow better. They also pull back in very quickly after passing you which can be a bit unsettling first time you encounter it.
Oh, pedestrians will walk out to cross at a crossing without wondering whether or not you're going to stop.
Be aware of your bigger blind spots, particularly when changing lanes.
Overtaking on single carriageways is tricky, helps if you have a passenger, as they can see the oncoming cars better than you, otherwise you have to stick half your car out to be able to see round the car you want to pass.
I found the first few times that I had occasional issues remembering which side to drive on. I had no difficulty on major roads, but in villages or quieter roads, I'd tend to turn at a junction then remember I was supposed to be on the other side. You'll get used to it though.
Overtaking on single carriageways is tricky, helps if you have a passenger, as they can see the oncoming cars better than you, otherwise you have to stick half your car out to be able to see round the car you want to pass.
I found the first few times that I had occasional issues remembering which side to drive on. I had no difficulty on major roads, but in villages or quieter roads, I'd tend to turn at a junction then remember I was supposed to be on the other side. You'll get used to it though.
Blind spot on the passenger side A pillar approaching roundabouts and junctions. Check it everytime.
Think carefully when you come to quiet rural junctions. Often there's no marking on the roads and unless you're concentrating force of habit means it's way too easy to pull out in a RHD car and just carry on down the left hand side of the road...
This might not end well in France.
Know and stick to all the laws and limits - you don't want the Gerndamarie enjoying a bloody good lunch with some of your spending money.
Oh, and enjoy. Get off the Payage from time to time and enjoy French D roads
Think carefully when you come to quiet rural junctions. Often there's no marking on the roads and unless you're concentrating force of habit means it's way too easy to pull out in a RHD car and just carry on down the left hand side of the road...
This might not end well in France. Know and stick to all the laws and limits - you don't want the Gerndamarie enjoying a bloody good lunch with some of your spending money.
Oh, and enjoy. Get off the Payage from time to time and enjoy French D roads
all of the above.
plus, if your on a motorway and planning an overtake with your indicator on, if the car coming down behind you in the outside lane has full beam on/flashing their lights, this means they are coming by no matter what, they are not letting you out.
i like the motorway driving there, on the whole its much better than in the uk.
plus, if your on a motorway and planning an overtake with your indicator on, if the car coming down behind you in the outside lane has full beam on/flashing their lights, this means they are coming by no matter what, they are not letting you out.
i like the motorway driving there, on the whole its much better than in the uk.
We did something similar a couple of years ago but the broke the journey up a bit more starting in La Rochelle like yourself and staying for two days then drove down to Bordeaux for another couple of days also visited St Emilion and then final destination was Biarritz.
If you do plan on visiting Bordeaux I can recommend the Clos du Prince for a b&b and it's in the middle between Bordeaux and St Emilion.
We stuck to the toll roads which was expensive and a bit boring but fast.
If you do plan on visiting Bordeaux I can recommend the Clos du Prince for a b&b and it's in the middle between Bordeaux and St Emilion.
We stuck to the toll roads which was expensive and a bit boring but fast.
Check out what kit you need to take on the AA website - high viz; spare lamps; triangle etc etc.
I think that the carrying of breathelysers was not put into law but best to check as I may be making that bit up
Oh and no sat nav with speed cameras either...could be costly
...and dont damage the SW of France as we will be going there later in the summer
I think that the carrying of breathelysers was not put into law but best to check as I may be making that bit up
Oh and no sat nav with speed cameras either...could be costly
...and dont damage the SW of France as we will be going there later in the summer
hgriffiths1992 said:
Good Afternoon All!
On the 5th of July i'll be embarking on my first experience of driving in Europe aka the "wrong side of road".
I was just wondering if anybody had any decent first hand tips from past experience of doing so...?
Bit of info behind it...
- Ferry to Calais
- Calais to La Rochelle (Night Stop Over)
- La Rochelle to Lacanau Ocean (end)
In total my routes a 539 mile trip which consists of 6 hours driving on the first day.
Any suggestions or tips and tricks will be greatly appreciated!
Cheers!
Driving on the right is easy to remember.......... except when leaving a parking spot or a garage. It's really easy to make a mistake - and it could be a lethal one. So it's worth some little item in the car/on the dash (somewhere) that just nudges your memory.On the 5th of July i'll be embarking on my first experience of driving in Europe aka the "wrong side of road".
I was just wondering if anybody had any decent first hand tips from past experience of doing so...?
Bit of info behind it...
- Ferry to Calais
- Calais to La Rochelle (Night Stop Over)
- La Rochelle to Lacanau Ocean (end)
In total my routes a 539 mile trip which consists of 6 hours driving on the first day.
Any suggestions or tips and tricks will be greatly appreciated!
Cheers!
French drivers have excellent lane discipline on the peage. However they will drive right up on your tail. It's amusing in a supercar to have a Renault Clio an inch from your rear - I've no idea why they do this.
Priorité a droite still exists in some French towns as far as I know. This means roads on your right - all roads - have priority. So watch for this.
Use the credit card lane on the peage. It's very quick. Last time I looked, the tag is a pain to arrange.
Fill up with petrol whenever you can. I've driven on vapours a few times - it's worrying!
I've driven from the Med back to the UK many times in a day - on my own. This year I'm taking 3 days to drive down and really looking forward to 250 miles a day in a little Morgan.
Tag is dead simple to arrange. They have an office in England.
https://www.saneftolling.co.uk
Don't leave home without one.
https://www.saneftolling.co.uk
Don't leave home without one.
audidoody said:
Tag is dead simple to arrange. They have an office in England.
https://www.saneftolling.co.uk
Don't leave home without one.
Cool - just ordered one! Thanks.... I didn't know they were now available to UK drivers.https://www.saneftolling.co.uk
Don't leave home without one.
[quote=NDA]
Priorité a droite still exists in some French towns as far as I know. This means roads on your right - all roads - have priority. So watch for this.
Priorite a droite still exists,but only roads on the right WITHOUT the white line across. If the road to your right has a white line then its your right of way.
On country roads AND tracks priorite a droite exists only. You are warned by a triangle with a black X and just before the road on the right there should be a white round plastic post with a red band.
Just slow down with caution. There is no need to stop unless there is a vehicle on the way out.
Not ALL priorite a droite are marked though! Take caution.
Priorité a droite still exists in some French towns as far as I know. This means roads on your right - all roads - have priority. So watch for this.
Priorite a droite still exists,but only roads on the right WITHOUT the white line across. If the road to your right has a white line then its your right of way.
On country roads AND tracks priorite a droite exists only. You are warned by a triangle with a black X and just before the road on the right there should be a white round plastic post with a red band.
Just slow down with caution. There is no need to stop unless there is a vehicle on the way out.
Not ALL priorite a droite are marked though! Take caution.
magooagain]DA said:
Priorité a droite still exists in some French towns as far as I know. This means roads on your right - all roads - have priority. So watch for this.
Priorite a droite still exists,but only roads on the right WITHOUT the white line across. If the road to your right has a white line then its your right of way.
On country roads AND tracks priorite a droite exists only. You are warned by a triangle with a black X and just before the road on the right there should be a white round plastic post with a red band.
Just slow down with caution. There is no need to stop unless there is a vehicle on the way out.
Not ALL priorite a droite are marked though! Take caution.
That's useful.Priorite a droite still exists,but only roads on the right WITHOUT the white line across. If the road to your right has a white line then its your right of way.
On country roads AND tracks priorite a droite exists only. You are warned by a triangle with a black X and just before the road on the right there should be a white round plastic post with a red band.
Just slow down with caution. There is no need to stop unless there is a vehicle on the way out.
Not ALL priorite a droite are marked though! Take caution.
But don't you think this rule is crazy? It's caught me out a couple of times. Seems totally counterintuitive.
When using a passenger to help call overtakes, get clear vocabulary agreed from the outset. For example "no" can be misunderstood for "go", particularly after a long frustrating time caught behind a tractor or shed-dragger. I like to use "clear" & repeat whilst the overtake remains on.
Also use caution & if in doubt hold back - en route to Le Mans a few years ago my co-driver said "clear after the blue Renault" , indicator, on pulled out, & then got the message "sorry, I meant blue Peugeot" (which was following the Renault!) - near wipe-out...
Also use caution & if in doubt hold back - en route to Le Mans a few years ago my co-driver said "clear after the blue Renault" , indicator, on pulled out, & then got the message "sorry, I meant blue Peugeot" (which was following the Renault!) - near wipe-out...
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