Driving in France
 

At the weekend im off to Vannes in France. I have never really driven on the continent before. So just after some basic advice really. I believe there are certain things that you must carry:

- triangle
- first aid kit
- spare bulbs
- hi-viz for each person
- anything that is missing??

Is there anything else that is a requirement? Would it be advisable to carry copies of the cars paperwork? (MOT/ins etc)

Also Ive read on here about people bringing octane boosters with them, is this good practise?

Cheers in advance for all help/advice :thumb:

You should have the V5 with you and insurance document.

Drive on the right :)

Steve

you also need a fire extinguisher too pal I'm 99.99% sure

Ran my Scoob over there for two weeks back in 2003 and had no problems:thumb:

AFAIK, you don't HAVE to have an extinguisher, but the other stuff is mandatory.

You MUST have your license, V5 and insurance/MoT with you at ALL TIMES in the car. Mine live in a blue folder tucked out of sight under the seat. goes againmst the grain to leave the V5 in, but that's the law there. Oh, and you should have your passport too.

You must also have headlight beam deflectors/tape in place.

Octane boosters: I'd take a decent one that doesn't use the whole bottle in one, or a stock. Branded fuel is OK, but only 98 octane, even their V-Power. Supermarket petrol is also available in 98 octane, MUCH cheaper, but CAN be suspect. I had one tank-full that needed o/b this year.
For cheap fuel, try unmanned garages, they take UK cards. As an example, I paid €1.50 a litre at one and up the road it was €1.59. On the motorways it can rise to €1.65.

Roundabouts: be VERY careful, the rule is to give way to people ON the roundabout, but it used to be the opposite, so many older drivers try and push in.

"Priorite a droite", or priority to traffic coming from your right, still exists, look for a sign that is an X in a triangle. If you see such a junction signed, (often in villages, or on lesser roads), take GREAT care.

Stop signs: you MUST come to a complete stop. I have been advised by French drivers to stop, and while looking, count 5 before starting off. Their police DO hide and watch, and it's a daft way to lose €90. Ignore the French who don't stop, YOU should. Their police often "don't see" the Frenchman who contravenes a law, but they sure as hell spot tourists who do:(

Speeding: they are red hot on it at present, with a sliding scale of fines, on the spot to foreigners. Don't have the cash? Follow us to the nearest cashpoint sir.
If you see a sign warning of a speed trap, (see here, also lots of other good advice including a pic of a speed camera, hard to spot: http://www.france4families.com/drivi...nginfrance.htm), their WILL be one, so slow to the limit.
The highest fines are for speeding in 50kph limits, they can be as much as €1000.
If oncoming cars flash you, slow to the limit, it means a hidden trap, they are good at this. You see them lying down in the rear of apparently broken down cars, with their laser glasses at the ready, hidden. Also laser and radar attached to the rear bumper of a parked/broken down car. They also hide in motorway emergency exits.

My advice is to stick to limits.

Many garages close between 12:30 and 14:30 in the sticks, motorway ones remain open all night, but some want a credit card BEFORE you fill up during the night. Shell are b*ggers for that.

If you DO get a pull from a copper, you don't speak ONE WORD of french;)

Beware driving on sunday afternoons, it often feels like everyone but you is p*ssed.

Watch your change on motorway tolls, or use a card.

I'll post more as I remember it. Just spent three months over there.

petrol stations are much less common, and often closed, especially at weekends, so keep topped up with fuel

High Viz jackets need to be kept in the passanger area not in the boot, your supposed to be able to put them on before leaving the car.

Lunchtime is a big deal for the French, the motorway service areas are often packed.

Ive also found that some of the French drivers overtaking skills are not too hot. Quite often see some knackered old Renault overtaking up a hill or around a blind corner without a care in the world :cuckoo:

Apart from that I have always found driving in France to be good fun. Can make some serious progress without breaking the speed limit as toll roads are not always busy and really well maintained. Quite often done 800+ miles in a day.

Don't take any form of radar / laser detector over - they are banned in France, and if found, will be confiscated.
I have once spent 10 mins explaining that the box on my dash was a lambda sensor and not to detect speed traps!

just say " je nes pa parle francais monsiuer"

an keep saying it lol - even if they start talking english haha

bound to end up on the right side of the law

Sort out your headlamps so you don't blind everyone comming the other way.

:thumb:
Thanks for all the advice guys much obligised. Itll be an experience anyway lol

Visit this website and order the tag that sticks to your windscreen, saved me a HUGE amount of hassle and time last month.

Just fly through the tolls and get a bill when you get home. :)

https://www.saneftolling.co.uk/

Useful for the holiday periods.......less so at other times.

plenty of money to bribe the coppers. DONT forget to bribe them!

• Spare pair of glasses (if you need 'em in the first place)
• GB sticker (unless you have one of those horrible EU number plates)
• Keep yer Hi-Viz in the car and not the boot

mb

prescription sunglasses will not be accepted

Great for a RHD car though, you don't have to get out and run round to pay, or take a ticket. I've had one five yerars.

Speeding fines seam to have reduced recently. my mate had a couple at reasonably high speed recently in the south and only €45 a pop - Paid €90 a couple of times in the past and was going slower.

my mate has also been cliped a number of times in the past few years but nothing has ever come through - i herd a rumor that they were selling them to UK debt agencies but herd nothing.

some of the traffic cops drive pimped Imprezas, so if you did get pulled you could possibly blag a photo with the motors... chaps are nice enough, just collecting revenue....

You probably didnt here anything because you were out in the field tending your flock whilst admiring your newly pressed trousers :lol1: