jastine

We want to go to France but in France people drive on the other side of the road (right hand side). This is going to make it hard for me to see when I have to turn corners etc.

Maybe there is an extra mirror or something we can get fitted for this situation?

kerouac

Cars have side view mirrors on both sides. Just adjust them properly for your needs.

Robert2533

Will you be driving your own car? Or a rental?

hetismij2

I assume you mean you will be driving a right-hand drive car, from Ireland or the UK.
Adjust your side mirrors correctly and lean forward to see clearly when turning. You will be fine.
We drive our left hand drive car in the UK without a problem, and you will cope just fine - after an hour or two you will wonder why you were so worried. Just be sure to drive on the correct side of the road, with the driver near the curb, not the white line all the time.

greg

Whether one adjusts to driving on the other side is individualistic. Some do easily, others don't. I shared a breakfast table with two Australian couples at an inn in France. They both talked about saga of taking more time than expected to get to the inn because they both blew the right front tires by hitting curves.

PalenQ

And beware Priority on the Right - like in most urban round-abouts, which have proliferated like crazy - cars on the right have the right of way - I think opposite of Britain where cars in the round-about have right away (not sure on that - have not driven in Britain for a while-

and in several other cases - whenever I take the wheel of my son's mother's car in France she always reminds me of -'remember priority on the right'.

http://www.france-pub.com/forum/2012...-to-the-right/

hetismij2

Most roundabouts in France have priority for vehicles on the roundabout, just as they do in the UK. There is usually a sign indicating priority as you approach the roundabout.

I am assuming OP is using a RHD car, their own, not getting used to driving a LHD hire car since they ask about fitting an extra mirror. In that case they don't have to worry about changing gear with the door handle, or driving too close to the curb, both common problems when driving an other handed car.

PalenQ

Yes Hetismij is right but older rounda-abouts in city centers may use the priority on the right:

From my link:

There many many roundabouts that still use the priority to the right rule, especially in urban areas.

When you approach such a roundabout, you have the priority and can continue your route, go around and exit. Whilst you are going around you must give way to the right. In the diagram above, you can see that the red car n°1 which is going around, must give way to the green car n°3. Concerning green n°2, it can go on to the roundabout as there is traffic arriving from the right.

Famous places such as the Arc de Triomphe in the centre of Paris is a good example. If you consider that the Arc de Triomphe is multi-lane, you can imagine the stress if you’re doing this for the first time.

Best to always look at the signs which indicate who has the right of way.

kerouac

My only problem when driving on the "wrong" side of the road has been a tendancy to be too close to the kerb since I am so afraid of straying to the wrong side of the road.

It should be mentioned that this is a real problem on mountain roads. Since most of them are not very busy, one tends to wander a bit, especially on the curves when there is good visibility. This can lead to you stay on the wrong side of the road after a curve -- until you see opposing traffic and realize the horrible mistake you have made.

annhig

My only problem when driving on the "wrong" side of the road has been a tendancy to be too close to the kerb since I am so afraid of straying to the wrong side of the road.>>

perhaps this is a "man" thing as my DH has the same problem and gets quite arsy when I tell him, even though he's hit the kerb several times, though fortunately not hard enough to cause the tyre to burst, except, strangely, in SA, where they drive on the left just like us.

jastine - if you are a brit going to drive in France for the first time in your own car, unless you have a caravan you sold be able to adjust your wing mirrors sufficiently to be able to see behind you on both sides of the car. The biggest problem is seeing what is coming towards you when you are overtaking when the only thing you can do is to have a trustworthy passenger.

as for remembering what side of the road to drive on, the little ditty "always drive on the Right side of the road" [sung to the tune of "Always look on the bright side of life"] does it for us.

Good luck!

PalenQ

I wonder if there are any stats on say how Brits have more accidents in France or vice versa - Brits IME are much more careful and cautious drivers in general and more polite - good tip from kerouac about mountain roads - like in Britain when I was driving transport vans for a decade off and on I noticed that on small rural roads that were too narrow almost for two vehicles to pass ("passing turnouts" or whatever they call them being placed at intervals - I found if I were the only vehicle on the road I absent mindedly at times reverted to a right-side mentality but not in traffic so it may be the less traveled roads that make all the difference (to quote Robert Frost).

France also now has zero tolerance for drinking and driving with road block checks ov every vehicle not so uncommon.

And no you do not need IME an IDP - never have been asked for one even though I have gone thru several roadside checks where they make sure your title fee is paid and no alcoholic smell. A proposed law that every vehicle have their own breathalyzer I guess caused so much a stink that it was never implemented - correct me if tha is the case.

If you see someone flashing their headlights or several coming the other direction you know there is a police speed trap ahead and speeding laws which used to be wantonly ignored (I once saw a whole line of cars blowing by a caravan of gendarmerie cars on one autoroute at speeds way over the posted limit) but now are rather strictly enforced - often by use of cameras I guess. At least TMK there are no no-go zones in cities like palgues Americans driving in Italy and getting tickets months later in the mail for going into them.

Learn the rules of the road before driving - some are different - like the old priority on the right - not many unmarked intersections but I've seen some right off the N-20 main artery in Orleans where a side street did not have a stop or merge sign nor did the big road and cars would rightfully dash right out in front on onciming traffic who of course yielded to them.

Robert2533

Since this is your first time driving in France, in youe oqn car, don't forget everything you'll need.

www.rac.co.uk/driving-abroad/france
http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice...equipment.html

PalenQ

Good tip from robert:

Yes like carrying a orange warning triangle I believe in your trunk or car in case you have to pull over on the shoulder with car trouble or an accident.