RobynFrance

We noticed triangle road signs with a black x. We also saw a black x on a number of houses and barns. Can someone tell me what that means. Thanks so much.

travdog

Did the pirate map you were using also have an X on it?

cigalechanta

I never noticed but the X's on the black wooden forms along the roads are traffic fatalities. It's shocking when you seee maybe three or four in different heights denoting a father, mother, and child.

travdog

Are you serious?? I feel badly about joking about it, if that's the case. I was figuring construction. Ick.

Patrick

I always thought they painted on the black x's to mark where a British tourist had died.

RobynFrance

So are we saying that the x indicates where someone was killed in a traffic. Just verifying please.

BTilke

Yes, that is what the Xs mean...a traffic fatality. There is also another symbol you see less commonly that indicates serious injury, but I forget what it is. We saw many of them in the back roads of the Loire Valley and the secondary roads between Chartres and Versailles.

Michael

My recollection is that they are rectangular posts with a shadow figure in black, in some départements with a red lightining streak through them, indicating someone who died on the road. With multiple deaths you have multiple signs. Xs don't ring a bell.

cigalechanta

In the Loire area, you'll see bouquets on bamboo stakes.

Patrick

I apologize for the poor taste of my "joke" in that case. I never would have guessed that's what you were actually talking about. Cigelachanta and travdog's responses were not there when I started my post.

cigalechanta

Michel , often the red mark will denote where the injury is, marked on head or stomch. It does vary in different departments. You'll often see photos of the victims along with the bouquets.

cigalechanta

Btilke, how are you? I've thought of you hoping you arrived safely and again my sorrow for your loss.

nytraveler

In Spain you sometimes see a piece of consruction equipment - old and obviously unused, parked by the side of the highway.
I asked at one hotel and they said it marked the site where a worker had been killed during the construciton process.

BTilke

Hi Cigalechanta, thank you for your thoughts. We're all doing ok. I had to spend Sunday night in Newark due to Jeanne, then on Monday caught a morning flight to Orlando, arriving just after the airport opened. In Florida (about 45 mins north of Orlando), we were without power for three days, but fortunately we did have water and phone service (except for a brief interruption). No real damage to the house, a couple of missing shingles and some small branches down. We feel badly for some of the folks suffering from serious flooding. My brother, an actuary, has been very helpful sorting out all the paperwork for my mother; I'll be here helping her go through clothes, household things, etc., and keeping her company for the next couple of weeks.

cigalechanta

Thank God you are safe. Many have asked about you on the US forum. Stay well.

sheila

Road deaths in France are horribly high and there is a national campaign to raise awareness to try to get people to slow down. In "our" Region of Midid Pyrenees, they put human silouhettes on poles at the side of the road. It can be very shocking to see family groups or even a string along a straight stretch of road.

they also post the statistics periodically- so many dead in the last 18 months. Pretty scary

Tomato

Road deaths in France are horribly high but still in the average, even lower than in the USA with these supposdely safe big SUVs.

ANNUAL ROAD EATHS per 100.000 population:
Iceland 5.5
Canada 13.7
Sweden 6.1
St Lucia 13.7
England & Wales 6.2
Spain 14.3
Scotland 7.4
France 14.4
Barbados 7.7
New Zealand 14.4
Australia 9.5
USA 14.7
Germany 10.4
Russia 19.9
Italy 11.7
Thailand 20.9
Ireland 12.8
Greece 22.5
Belgium 13.4
Brazil 24.0
Austria 13.7
Portugal 28.9

http://www.purchasing-consultants.co...vingabroad.htm

angelfalls

Tomato---Keep in mind that we in the USA have to drive more often as we lack the sensible public transportation of Europe. Terrible about the deaths though, no matter where they occur!!

Tomato

Yes you're right angelfalls.
--
Here's a map with the density of road accidents on the main roads in France:

http://www.route.equipement.gouv.fr/...aux/index.html

If you click on the map, you get a local map and the roads number and city names appear when you hover over them with the mouse.

grenelle2004

The black "X" on a triangular road sign just means that you are approaching a road junction where you do not have priority. The French have priority from the right so even if you think you are a main right of way, the road coming in from the right may have priority. If you see a yellow lozenge type sign that means you are on a priority road.