Where did all the cars go in France???

[Streetrod]

I have just returned from a week’s holiday in France with the family. We were based in Versailles and spent a lot of time in Paris. The thing was on drive down and drive back along the A16/A15 the road was almost totally devoid of traffic. At some points we appeared to be the only car on the road. As I have not driven in France for years I don’t remember the road every being so clear. Is this normal or was I just lucky?

[Jaguar steve]

Low trafic density is fairly normal out of towns and cities in France and Spain. I've often driven miles without another car in sight along rural D roads. You often find motorways are unbelievably quiet too. Just serves to prove how hoplessly overcrowded the roads in the UK are

[nicanary]

Bastille day July 14th. National holiday and then some. They all go away somewhere for a fortnight, so Paris will be empty.

[JoshRT]

I live in France; in the north (above Lemans) motorways are always pretty clear, but there was a national holiday on the 14th and generally the Parisiens all head south for the summer. But Bordeaux and below are jam Packed all summer, it's a nightmare!

[so called]

I'm heading through France to Spain second half of August.
Route will be west coast north and then west of Paris and then to Bordeaux.
I've driven down many times over the years and never had a problem with the trafic either going or coming back.
Having said that I have seen the oposite carriage way at stand still for miles.
I have never actually known when the French Holidays start and end so I must just be very lucky.

Not sure I want to ask realy as it may put a hex on my luck but.... when are the French Holidays,
24th July until ???

Sorry to steel the thread.
Tony.

[heppers75]

I am off to France on Saturday for two weeks in the XJ-S heading down from Calais via Le Mans to Saintes so I am looking forward to clear roads then!

[slipstream 1985]

france is alot more spread out though, we have to travel the same set of roads to reach any major city.

[Streetrod]

It was very surreal, if I had not been in the family hack I could have done some scary speeds with no prospect of getting caught or have to worry about others road users. We never saw any police cars on the motorway at all

[Deva Link]

heppers75 said:

I am off to France on Saturday for two weeks in the XJ-S heading down from Calais via Le Mans to Saintes so I am looking forward to clear roads then!

I imagine you could be in some difficulty if some of the petrol station owners have gone on holiday too!

[Roo]

I drove back from Bergerac on Thursday last week and it was the same.

At least it means you can get some miles covered quite easily.