French drivers' civil sense?

[Alex@POD]

I have been thinking about the driving this weekend in France, and comparing it to over here... I noticed if you are coming from a side road in France, nobody will ever let you in, whereas here a maximum of 10 cars go past before somebody waves you in... Same thing about keeping intersections clear too!
Every driver for himself it seems... It's one of the rare times I feel ashamed of being French...

[Sam_68]

I also noticed that French drivers never acknowledge or thank you with a wave or whatever if you do let them out at a busy junction or make a space to allow them to change lanes.

Is this normal, or were they being especially ignorant and discourteous because I was driving a UK registered RHD car?

[Alex@POD]

I seem to remember that it was easier back when I had my french plates... maybe you are on to something here...

[kevinduring]

HI, I'm French , and i'm ok with you.
French drivers, drive for themselves, if you let them passing on a lane or many other things,french drivers are not very friendly, it is like to win a world cup for a french driver to be two cars later than two others. so bad mentality... i'm not one of these one.

[calumcousins]

Despite this however, I think that the general driving ability of the french is better than that of a large proportion of british drivers, i.e.: the left indicator thing on autoroutes meaning they get out of your way - though, having said this, this could just be because there are a lot fewer cars on the roads/congestion....

hmmm....wonder if there is a correlation here - number of french vs. british world F1 champions??

[leozwalf]

At least the French know how to use a motorway. Lane disipline over there is fantastic, if you're going faster you don't get MLM's blocking you because they feel it is their duty to keep you at/under the speed limit. Didn't notice the lack of thanks or not being let out of side turnings but being a Londonner probably means it's just the same as here.

French drivers are generally of higher quality than English, IMO.