| Last time we looked at driving in France from the | | | | you'll get "arret interdit", no stopping. Don't risk it, |
| point of view of the rules and regulations. This | | | | they'll quite happily tow you away. If you're |
| time we'll look at a few French driving tips that | | | | anywhere near the mountain tunnels you'll get |
| might just make your life a little easier. | | | | "allumez vos phares", turn on your headlights. |
| We've done French speed limits but quite often | | | | Bizarrely there are a couple you'll recognise |
| underneath a speed limit sign you'll see "RAPPEL". | | | | instantly: Parking and STOP! Well I don't need to |
| This just means remember, as in "remember you | | | | explain those. |
| are still in a 70 limit" if that's the case. Usually | | | | When it comes to filling up your tank, gas (petrol) |
| French speed limits are 50 kph for towns, 90 kph | | | | is "essence" and is graded either 98 (premium), 95 |
| in the countryside and 130 kph on the autoroutes | | | | (normal) or "sans plumb" which is unleaded. |
| but any speed is possible. 70 kph for example is | | | | "Gazole" (pronounced gazwal) is diesel. Don't ask |
| quite common on the edge of towns. 90 kph is | | | | for petrol by the way, the French will think you |
| the limit on dual carriageways, not to be confused | | | | mean "petrole", which is paraffin. Service stations |
| with autoroutes which are often only two lanes. | | | | at the big supermarkets are usually cheapest and |
| Actually, before we move on from speed limits, a | | | | those on the autoroutes the most expensive. |
| note about radar detectors. They are illegal, you'll | | | | However, the autoroute ones will always be open |
| get a huge fine, and they can't actually "see" the | | | | which isn't always the case in towns. There are |
| French digital speed cameras anyway! Sat-navs | | | | many more card machines than there were a |
| (GPS) which have static speed cameras | | | | few years ago but if you're driving through rural |
| programmed in are perfectly legal so that's the | | | | France I wouldn't rely on finding one. Better to fill |
| way to go if you have heavy feet from time to | | | | up in the big towns than believe you'll find |
| time. | | | | somewhere along the road - you might not! |
| In general you cn get around France quite quickly. | | | | The last important French driving phrase is |
| Traffic is low, particularly on autoroutes because | | | | "priorité à droit" which means priority to the |
| they are toll roads and the French will avoid | | | | right. Not too many years ago all French roads |
| paying if possible. Who can blame them, a trip | | | | had this rule. Someone coming from the right, |
| from north to south is 1,000 kilometres and if you | | | | even from a farm track onto an autoroute, had |
| do it all on autoroutes could cost you a hundred | | | | right of way. This is largely dying out now but |
| Euros or more. Anyway, if your not in a hurry | | | | worth knowing, especially in the countryside and |
| getting into the French countryside is wonderful | | | | particularly with older French drivers who |
| and usually still has remarkably little traffic. | | | | remember the law as it was. If you see big |
| Another French driving phrase you might come | | | | yellow diamond as a road signs it is you that has |
| across is "Acoutement non stabilise" which means | | | | right of way, if not you might have or you might |
| the verges are soft and you shouldn't drive on | | | | not. If in doubt, giving way is the safest. If |
| them. Not usually a problem, except if you get | | | | everyone stops, as is often the case, chances |
| down a quiet country lane and there's a French | | | | are that no-one is sure - not even the French! |
| driver coming in the opposite direction. Don't | | | | Lastly a note about driving in France in general. |
| expect them to find a convenient gateway - they | | | | Paris is a beautiful city but I wouldn't take a car |
| ain't stopping! The French simply drive half way up | | | | there if you paid me. The peripherique (ring road) |
| the verge on their side and expect you to do the | | | | can be an absolute nightmare. Inside the city it's |
| same on your side. Frequently they won't even | | | | almost permanent gridlock. Park in a train station |
| slow down! It can be entertaining, to say the | | | | on the outskirts and take the tube (Metro), it's |
| least, but fortunately most French verges are | | | | fast and relatively cheap. Yes it's busy in the |
| wide and well maintained. In five years I've never | | | | rush-hour but it's a big city. The rest of the time |
| seen an accident in these circumstances and I live | | | | it's by far the best way of getting around. |
| way out in the country. | | | | Almost everywhere else you'll experience far less |
| Other useful French driving words are anything | | | | traffic than, for example, the UK. The scenery is |
| that includes "meubles" - which is furniture, or in | | | | hugely varied and it's a pleasure to drive through. |
| this case things like bollards in the road. In town | | | | You will love it. |