An extract from notes we put together for people coming to France. You of course will need to be doubly careful as I assume you will be driving with restricted vision, with a UK car in France


SPEED LIMIT
• 90 km/hr on normal roads (80 if raining)
• 110 on dual carriageways (100 if raining)
• 130 on AutoRoutes (110 if raining)
• 50 inside towns - note that this begins where you see the rectangular sign (black on white, outlined with a red stripe) indicating a town name, and ends where you see the same sign with a diagonal slash through it. You may notice that most French drivers do not slow down, but this is an area police are watching for more and more - and handing out lots of tickets.

PRIORITÉ À DROITE
Meaning that the car on the right has priority. In the country many roads meeting a main road have yield signs, or stop signs - but if they don't, that narrow road on the right has priority. You have priority at an intersection if:

you see a sign showing a heavy arrow, intersected with a narrow line - i.e., you are coming to an intersection, but the road you are on has priority at that intersection

you see diamond shaped yellow signs. These indicate that the road you are on has priority at every intersection, until you see the same sign with a diagonal bar through it.

Stop/yield signs are not as common in towns and cities as you may be used to, so you should be particularly careful there.

And yes, roundabouts operate the same way, that the person on the roundabout has priority over the person joining. There will always be a signs saying that you have just lost priority as you join. Exceptions are in large cities, where some hugh roundabouts operate differently - but it will be very clear, usually with stop signs or traffic lighsts

A town starts as you pass the sign for the village and ends when you see the village sign crossed out.

The tricky bit is remembering which side of the road to drive on. Get your passenger to remind you each time you start off.

Thanks, Carlux. Very helpful.

I've since found this site. Looks like the priority signs are at the bottom.

http://www.alltravelfrance.com/France/Car_Rental/Road_Signs.htm

I know it's going to be tricky -- hopefully not too stressful. Much cheaper this way and I get to feel British, I guess. Either that, or just plain confused!

In built-up areas, if there's no yellow diamond sign, you must give way to any cars coming out of a side turning on the right>>

ref the priorite a droite law, this has in theory been abolished in the vast majority of cases. it was eventually recognised that it was extremely dangerous to give precedence to the vehicle coming our of the smaller road onto the bigger one. but old habits die hard, and occasionally cars will just drive straight out at you when you aren't expecting it. however we've driven in France many times and they haven't succeeded in hitting us yet!

the driving on the right thing is more difficult - we've found that you're more likely to make a mistake when getting back in the car after a short stop - for petrol or coffee for example - than first thing in the morning. our kids used to sing "always drive on the right side of the road" whenever we started off - to the tune of "always look on the bright side of life" - which I still think about even though the kids no longer accompany us!

Particularly on AutoRoutes, unless you're passing someone, stay in the right lane.

I don't believe I've seen the French equivalent to the English sign 'no untertaking'. It's generally assumed you're going to be in the right lane unless passing.

The french are serious about cutting down drunk driving and you will see the cops by the side of the road after lunch. Don't risk it.

priorite a droite still exists in back roads and country roads. It can be terrifying. Keep you eyes peeled

'the priorite a droite law, this has in theory been abolished in the vast majority of cases. it was eventually recognised that it was extremely dangerous to give precedence to the vehicle coming our of the smaller road onto the bigger one. but old habits die hard, and occasionally cars will just drive straight out at you when you aren't expecting it.'

I don't know that I would agree with this, but what has happened is that it is much more likely now that an intersection will indicate who has priority - with a stop sign, or a yield sign, for example. But here in the Perigord there are still lots of unmarked intersections where you need to know about priority. Also recognizing that many drivers now do know that if they launch out from a small road into a major one it may not be safe. Much like pedestrians learn that they may have priority when they step into the road, but it doesn't help much if they've already been knocked down. So always pay attention.

Hi ID,

The French are very big on "Car on the right has the right-of-way". Unless you are approaching a roundabout, assume that you are burdened.

If the side street has a wide white line painted across it, you have the right of way.

There are often stop lights placed at eye level on lamp posts.

The speed limit in any town is 50 kph, even of it is not posted.

Do not cross a solid white line down the middle of a street or road.

PS,

Fill up on petrol on Saturday.

Most filling stations are not staffed on Sunday and the machine might reject your credit or debit card.

Enjoy your visit.

When we drove in England in our left-hand drive car, we kept a big piece of paper on the driver's seat that said "Keep left." Every time the driver opened the car door to sit down, there on the seat was that slightly crumpled reminder. We kept a separate note on the dashboard so the passenger could give a verbal reminder on roundabouts and tricky turns. On busy roads we wouldn't have needed the reminder, but we were on country roads most of the time.

I remember seeing LEFT reminders in our Ireland rental car -- plan to invoke something similar (but opposite) for the France trip.

Carlux and others -- concerning the careful when launching comment, is this because of a proliferation of non-native drivers or do the French flub the priorite a droite law as well?

'Being careful' is that drivers on the right may indeed have priority on roads where you don't expect it. Often they are sensible enough on 'difficult' intersections to leave you some leeway, but sometimes they may take that priority.

And even French drivers who understand the system may sometimes get it wrong. Even reasonably good drivers.

But as I said earlier, a lot more intersections are now signposted.

I don't know that I would agree with this,>>

lol, carlux, which bit do you disagree with? that it's very dangerous? that it hasn't largely disappeared over the last 20 years [that's our experience, driving in France over that time] or that cars don't on occasions just emerge from the right with no thought for themselves or you?

anyway, faites attention, mes braves!

Indy Dad,

Just watch out for those French drivers! I've driven in Italy twice without a single incident. But in just one week of driving in France, I was rear-ended twice by French drivers while innocently sitting at a red light. I guess those Renault bumpers are made out of solid steel because they hit me hard and there wasn't even a stratch.

Good thing.

"Priority on the right" is still alive and well in France on small roads and even more particularly on city streets.

Annhig, what I disagree with is that priorite a droite has disappeared. Like kerouac, I live here, and encounter it every day.

Also, in 18 years of living here, plus numerous trips before, we have never been rear-ended.

It seems to me that many people feel that drivers in their own country are better behaved than 'abroad.' We find when we go back to Canada that people drive above the limit, overtake illegally, and behave just as badly as in France - or worse.

"Annhig, what I disagree with is that priorite a droite has disappeared. Like kerouac, I live here, and encounter it every day."

Me too. A "refus de priorité" is considered as a major driving mistake by insurance companies.

Another (potentially major) difference between French and U.S. driving is the meaning of flashed headlights.

In the U.S., when you flash your headlights as a signal to another car -- for example, to an oncoming car waiting to make a left turn -- the flashed headlights mean "go ahead and make your turn, I will yield to you."

In France (and all/most of Europe), flashed headlights mean "watch out, I'm coming through and not slowing/stopping for you."

Could be very bad news to drivers who don't understand this.

"In France (and all/most of Europe), flashed headlights mean "watch out, I'm coming through and not slowing/stopping for you."

Not at all. In France it means exactly the same as in the US.
It can also mean : watch out, police checks ahead, slow down.

Yes, flashing headlights generally mean "you have police waiting for you down the road."

But they can also mean, "I see you; go ahead and turn."

And yes, when they do it in your rear view mirror, it means "get the hell out of the left lane -- I am a speed demon."

Annhig, what I disagree with is that priorite a droite has disappeared. Like kerouac, I live here, and encounter it every day.

Also, in 18 years of living here, plus numerous trips before, we have never been rear-ended.>>

ok, well you know better. i still feel that it's reduced, which in a way makes it more dangerous because saps like me aren't expecting it.

as for what the US drivers call "rear-ending", it's only happened to me once with a white van in central London about 30 years ago.

not a major hazard, I would suggest.

More info as I come across things:

http://www.nickbooth.id.au/Tips/FrenchDrive.htm

We've made several long driving trips in France, and have come to adore roundabouts. Especially if you are confused. Go around two or even three times if you must!

Follow up:

No issues -- we found the driving in Normandy to be quite pleasant and relaxed. Even the equivalent of English B (rural) roads were comfortably wide compared to what we've experienced in the UK.

Roundabouts were generally a more casual affair -- few multi-lane ones that required lane discipline.

Many towns had the 50 kph speed limit but all were clearly marked as "towns" so that tip was helpful. It was also helpful to have a GPS/Sat Nav to indicate that the speed limit had changed.

It seems that major roads tended to have the right-away on the right unless marked. I still approached cautiously to be sure. There was probably once where I had the right away (on the right) and didn't realize it but better that way than the other!

Thanks again.

http://ukfrey.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/normandy.html

I'm glad you had no problems. I have always found driving in France to be much easier than in a lot of other countries. The driving test is very difficult, so local drivers have been well drilled in the rules of the road. But of course, quite a few drivers are not local drivers.

Thank you for this discussion - very useful

Oh, one more difference. Quite a few (most?) seemed to leave their left indicator on when overtaking even on a multi-lane highways. Is that taught that way?

I tend to indicate left, change lanes, indicator off, overtake, indicate right, change lanes.

Me too...thanks for this discussion and the links to further info. I am about to drive in France and I appreciate knowing more about the complexities.

'Oh, one more difference. Quite a few (most?) seemed to leave their left indicator on when overtaking even on a multi-lane highways. Is that taught that way?'

Yes, this is considered to be the correct way to pass - we took the French driving test when we came, and it was made very clear.

Can also confirm as a resident that priorité à droite is still alive and well. I also took (and passed) my French driving theory test at the end of July, so can confirm that questions on it come up a lot in the practice questions, as well as coming up twice (out of 40 questions) in my actual test - indicating perhaps that it's still of importance.

OP, I think that the main things you need to remember as a non-French driver have already been covered. Enjoy your trip