Do you have any tips for driving in France for the first time?
Posted by ConduciveMammal@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 35 comments
We’re driving to France next month to visit Disneyland. We’ll be getting the Eurotunnel across the channel. Any tips for first time driving abroad? Last time I went, I almost climbed into a taxi’s driver seat before remembering that they drive on the wrong side of the road.
DifferentWave@reddit
Talk to each other as you drive, explain what you’re doing step by step as you do it.
“I’m indicating right and checking my right side mirror before I pull off into this side road, going onto the right hand side….”.
It reinforces what you’re doing in your brain and you’ll know someone else is sense checking what you’re doing too.
clickyclicky456@reddit
I so cannot do this, my brain swaps everything including the words "right" and "left"... so i end up shouting at my husband "TURN LEFT! LEFT!!!!! No! LEFT!!!!!!!!" while he, bless him, is turning left (based on what I said) but what I actually MEANT was for him to turn right.....
PiliPala17@reddit
When abroad my mum always navigated my dad by going “turn [big swoopy arm movement left or right to show what approach to take to a junction] that way” rather than say turn left or right to avoid confusion!
PsychologicalDish430@reddit
Piece of cake, charging is easy, just take it easy at first.
Flonkerton_Scranton@reddit
Don't.
chinese-newspaper@reddit
The signs for junctions are much closer than you will be used to
Squindrew13@reddit
The sign with the name of the village/small town you're entering is the change down from 90kph to 50kph, and the one on the way out with the diagonal line through is the limit going back up to national speed limit
Frosty_Leg4438@reddit
By biggest tip would be take extra care when not on the roads…
Every time I’ve come close to making a mistake re driving on the right, it’s been in more liminal spaces (supermarket car parks, entry/exit areas adjacent to roads etc), never on actual roads.
CunningOctopus@reddit
Check if you need Crit air sticker for the areas you'll be driving through https://critairsticker.co.uk/information/what-is-a-crit-air-sticker/
when_music_hits@reddit
Waych out for speed cameras! They face you, unlike most of the uk.
rohepey@reddit
And they're often unmarked!
No-Photograph3463@reddit
Although often you also get told multiple times that there speed cameras within the next 20km for example.
when_music_hits@reddit
Last time I clapped them I was driving my bosses car that was registered to his dad( his dad lives in usa) so my boss said set as many as you can off, but DO NOT GET CAUGHT BY THE POLICE, I drove from calais to Budapest and apparently I had the record amount of tickets :) not a gamble I'd take again though
No-Photograph3463@reddit
Look left drive on the right. I basically just had that phrase in my brain whenever I got to junctions, roundabouts were generally pretty ok. Also be careful if going through villages as they sometimes have giveaway to the right.
In general though just take your time and don't feel like you need to rush at junctions etc.
PretendPop8930@reddit
You'll love it. Make use of the regular aires on the motorway network. A lot of the motorways are two lanes but it's not an issue; they never seem very busy. The standard of driving seems better than the UK...
rohepey@reddit
So does the standard of motorways.
moreidlethanwild@reddit
If you’re taking your own car be aware of what you need to carry legally inside - high viz jacket and warning triangle.
https://www.avis.co.uk/drive-avis/driving-guides/road-rules/france#
rohepey@reddit
And a breathalyser (although not enforced atm)
Candy_Lawn@reddit
roundabouts are different, in that the driver coming on to the roundabout has right of way which means if you are on a roundabout you have to yield to traffic coming on
CPD1960@reddit
This still applies to only a small number of older roundabouts plus the Arc de Triomphe.
Mantis_Tobaggon_MD2@reddit
Albeit 99% of roundabouts will have a sign saying cedez le passage as you approach the roundabout i.e. give way
Djinjja-Ninja@reddit
Make sure you have the mandatory equipment for driving in france.
Warning triangle, high Viz vests for all passengers, headlamp deflector stickers, spare bulbs.
Also UK (not GB) stickers.
Weekly-Nothing-2130@reddit
Bearing in mind d most modern cars don’t require deflector stickers, maybe an adjustment to headlamp is necessary either mechanically or via software. Sometimes nothing required, make sure you check your car’s manual. Also many modern cars you can’t carry spare bulbs for e.g. LED lamps.
Fit-Bedroom-7645@reddit
Just be careful when coming off the motorway, that was the only time my brain farted and I was briefly about to move into the left lane. And check you've got the right kit in the car, and possibly light deflector if you're taking your own car.
Tennonboy@reddit
No sorry, I was going to go last summer and was nervous about driving on the opposite side. A mate suggested I try it out. So I did in Manchester- fucking dangerous cars everywhere didn't last long before there were problems so gave up and came home and cancelled the holiday 🙃
CraigL8@reddit
Enjoy it. Million times better thank uk roads.
James_White21@reddit
Yeah cos when you return to potholes and congestion you will feel a bit sad inside.
aerithgetskilled@reddit
Just got back. Take steady for half hour then it feels normal. Avoid peage if it doesnt add much time to route
ken96uk@reddit
It's also worth getting a CRIT sticker, its the emissions sticker for your car.
Quite a few cities and towns in france need it, easy to get , the online website ie easy, and only costs a few €,s
As others have said, a UK sticker, even if you car number plate has the UK on it, its still worth it, a French Gendarms can be very picky.
iuseemojionreddit@reddit
I wouldn’t recommend it. They kept driving straight at me in the left lane!
No_Tailor_5157@reddit
Ignore the speed limits. Theyre advisory only for non residents.
ProfPMJ-123@reddit
Just take your time. Study the route quite well before you leave so you have a solid understanding where you’re going.
Adjust your wing mirrors as soon as you get onto the French roads so you’re getting appropriate views out of each for changing lane on the motorway.
And know which lane to be in for the motorway charge points. You’re going to want to avoid the ones with an Orange T only - they require a radio transponder to pay and you don’t have one. The rest take contactless - have your card at the ready so you don’t get flustered (and make sure the person in the passengers seat has the card - the payment will of course be on their side of the car).
But the main point is my first one. Take your time, don’t rush, and you’ll quickly adapt to it.
Politicub@reddit
Remember to drive on the right
ashyjay@reddit
Telepeage device, life saver for the autoroutes.
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