Wondering about following French driving laws with a rental car
Mar 15th, 2015, 08:15 AM
#22
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<<Anyway, your hire company should supply you with everything that needs to be with the car.>> I have rented many cars over the years in France and have never been supplied with a reflective jacket nor spare bulbs.
Mar 15th, 2015, 09:37 AM
#25
That lunatic has the right of way and if you should not see him in time to avoid hitting him, you can be ticketed and fined by the police for failure to yield, and you will be liable to pay for any and all damages.>>
well I am complaining about it. it is surely ridiculous to expect [for example] a lorry, even one observing the speed limit on a major road, to slow down for a vehicle entering from a road from the right. it is much easier, and safer for the entering vehicle to slow down and stop. It's not a rule that I observe - i.e. if I am entering a french road from the right, I stop. if some lunatic decides not to do so, I try to take avoiding action. [and yes, I do know about those yellow diamond signs, but it appears that quite a few drivers don't].
well I am complaining about it. it is surely ridiculous to expect [for example] a lorry, even one observing the speed limit on a major road, to slow down for a vehicle entering from a road from the right. it is much easier, and safer for the entering vehicle to slow down and stop. It's not a rule that I observe - i.e. if I am entering a french road from the right, I stop. if some lunatic decides not to do so, I try to take avoiding action. [and yes, I do know about those yellow diamond signs, but it appears that quite a few drivers don't].
Mar 15th, 2015, 10:18 AM
#26
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The spare bulbs are probably in a compartment of the car that you would not notice. The reflective jacket will be there too; often this is to the side or underneath the floor of the trunk.
Lorries and cars know to watch for cars coming from the right. The roads where there's priority from the right are often in villages, on country lanes.
It's fine if you don't want to observe this rule, and let cars from the left go first (though the French car behind you may disagree). If you are the one on the through road, who has to yield to someone from the right, you better follow the rules, or be stuck with a fine and the costs of the damage.
Lorries and cars know to watch for cars coming from the right. The roads where there's priority from the right are often in villages, on country lanes.
It's fine if you don't want to observe this rule, and let cars from the left go first (though the French car behind you may disagree). If you are the one on the through road, who has to yield to someone from the right, you better follow the rules, or be stuck with a fine and the costs of the damage.
Mar 15th, 2015, 10:50 AM
#27
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Hello
Just to complete : the rule about a spare pair of spectacles is not mandatory if you wear lenses. Mind you, i've been driving about 15 000 kms a year in France on average the last 15 years and have never had to show a second pair. I used to have a former pair - which is totally accepted btw - but my dog ate those lately...
Breathanalysor : not needed - seems the law has been passed but not enforced ... I had bought 2, tested one a day I was drunk (do you say drunk as cannon ? ' and I passed the test !!
Drive safely
Just to complete : the rule about a spare pair of spectacles is not mandatory if you wear lenses. Mind you, i've been driving about 15 000 kms a year in France on average the last 15 years and have never had to show a second pair. I used to have a former pair - which is totally accepted btw - but my dog ate those lately...
Breathanalysor : not needed - seems the law has been passed but not enforced ... I had bought 2, tested one a day I was drunk (do you say drunk as cannon ? ' and I passed the test !!
Drive safely
Mar 15th, 2015, 10:51 AM
#28
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<<Speed cameras are only a nuisance if you speed.>>
It's not always possible to know if one is speeding or not, and to miss a speed reduction sign during an 8 hour drive is expected, but one is all it takes. There's no recourse with a camera, either. Fines will be incurred from both the rental car agency and the local police department.
If you are doing a great deal of driving, best to budget $150 for 1 ticket and rental car admin charge.
It's not always possible to know if one is speeding or not, and to miss a speed reduction sign during an 8 hour drive is expected, but one is all it takes. There's no recourse with a camera, either. Fines will be incurred from both the rental car agency and the local police department.
If you are doing a great deal of driving, best to budget $150 for 1 ticket and rental car admin charge.
Mar 15th, 2015, 10:52 AM
#29
If you are the one on the through road, who has to yield to someone from the right, you better follow the rules, or be stuck with a fine and the costs of the damage.>>
you surely picked up from the tone of my post that I would definitely, and have many times, yielded to the lemmings coming in from the right, even when I have right of way. And they are not always on country roads.
I've driven in France many times and still boggle at how this rule continues to exist.
you surely picked up from the tone of my post that I would definitely, and have many times, yielded to the lemmings coming in from the right, even when I have right of way. And they are not always on country roads.
I've driven in France many times and still boggle at how this rule continues to exist.
Mar 15th, 2015, 11:13 AM
#30
You are all exaggerating about the priority rule. In nearly all cases the cars on the smaller street or road are obliged to stop, as evidenced by the solid white line in front of them.
It's odd that a lot of you seem to be cranky old drivers who don't agree with the driving rules and who expect to be caught breaking them. I am a not very young driver who was taught in those ancient times to practice "defensive driving" at all times. Just because you know the rules of the road does not mean that every other driver is going to follow them, and it is not because the rules are wrong. There are just a lot of bad drivers out there. I never automatically take my priority even when I know that I have it -- I look to see what the other cars are doing first.
It's odd that a lot of you seem to be cranky old drivers who don't agree with the driving rules and who expect to be caught breaking them. I am a not very young driver who was taught in those ancient times to practice "defensive driving" at all times. Just because you know the rules of the road does not mean that every other driver is going to follow them, and it is not because the rules are wrong. There are just a lot of bad drivers out there. I never automatically take my priority even when I know that I have it -- I look to see what the other cars are doing first.
Mar 15th, 2015, 11:23 AM
#31
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Of course you know if you are speeding. There are signs for you to read. You have to know that entering a town or village reduces the speed limit. You should know the basic speed limits for different types of road.
If you can't read the road signs perhaps you shouldn't be driving. Take a break or two on your 8 hour drive so you remain alert to such things.
It is up to you to know the rules of the road and observe them, not blame a speed camera for catching you speeding. It is absolutely your fault, not that of the camera or the authority who put the camera up.
I'd still believe a speed camera over a human any day when it came to a speeding fine.
It is the same with priority rules. They are clear and it is up to you to know them for the country in which you are driving.
In the Netherlands cyclists also have priority from the right the same as motor vehicles do. Not on every road, but on roads where that rule applies. No signs saying you have priority, or road markings to say you don't assume priority from the right.
A yellow lozenge is the indicator of a priority road.
If you can't read the road signs perhaps you shouldn't be driving. Take a break or two on your 8 hour drive so you remain alert to such things.
It is up to you to know the rules of the road and observe them, not blame a speed camera for catching you speeding. It is absolutely your fault, not that of the camera or the authority who put the camera up.
I'd still believe a speed camera over a human any day when it came to a speeding fine.
It is the same with priority rules. They are clear and it is up to you to know them for the country in which you are driving.
In the Netherlands cyclists also have priority from the right the same as motor vehicles do. Not on every road, but on roads where that rule applies. No signs saying you have priority, or road markings to say you don't assume priority from the right.
A yellow lozenge is the indicator of a priority road.
Mar 15th, 2015, 11:52 AM
#32
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At one time speed limits were very clear and easy to understand. But now we have not just 50 in town, there is also 30. Out of town is used to be only 90, but there are many segments which have 70 zones. Even on some autoroutes in and around cities the speeds can vary from 130 to 110 to 90 all within a matter of a few kilometers.
Speed limits can be confusing and a driver must be alert at all times.
Speed limits can be confusing and a driver must be alert at all times.
Mar 15th, 2015, 12:29 PM
#34
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Our top concerns are priority and the speed limit.
It's handy to have a checklist to go through before leaving the rental lot with the car. While my husband learns how things work inside--lights, windshield wipers, etc.--I look for the spare tire and safety kit (which needs to be reachable from the driver's seat). I count the hubcaps, check for dings. It's a long list. We've had to go back to the counter for a missing spare tire or to report a scratch that wasn't noted on the rental order.
It takes a while, but when we leave the lot my husband knows all the gear positions and how to turn on the windshield wipers and how fast the brakes work.
It's handy to have a checklist to go through before leaving the rental lot with the car. While my husband learns how things work inside--lights, windshield wipers, etc.--I look for the spare tire and safety kit (which needs to be reachable from the driver's seat). I count the hubcaps, check for dings. It's a long list. We've had to go back to the counter for a missing spare tire or to report a scratch that wasn't noted on the rental order.
It takes a while, but when we leave the lot my husband knows all the gear positions and how to turn on the windshield wipers and how fast the brakes work.
Mar 15th, 2015, 01:02 PM
#35
My checking and familiarization is generally completed in under 2 minutes. I still get caught on one thing from time to time, but I have never been charged for it -- you usually have to be driving out on the open road to finally realize that the radio antenna is missing...
Mar 15th, 2015, 01:42 PM
#36
It's odd that a lot of you seem to be cranky old drivers who don't agree with the driving rules and who expect to be caught breaking them. >>
!. Yes, i'm cranky.
2. yes, I'm old. [well, i'm not young] i know all about defensive driving, though it's not necessarily what my DH would call it.
3. Yes, I don't agree with [ie I don't like] the "priorité à droite" rule; more than that I think it's daft. [has no frenchman ever complained about the 'driving on the left" rule in the UK?]
4. I do not expect to be caught breaking it - i have never knowingly done so, unless you call what kerouac says he does, [ie i look to see what is coming before I pull out] breaking it. If someone wants to launch themselves out lemming like into a moving stream of traffic just because a rule that was made when there was 1/10th of the traffic there is now says they can, I'm certainly going to do all I can to avoid them, which of course means observing the signs. That doesn't mean that I have to like them!
!. Yes, i'm cranky.
2. yes, I'm old. [well, i'm not young] i know all about defensive driving, though it's not necessarily what my DH would call it.
3. Yes, I don't agree with [ie I don't like] the "priorité à droite" rule; more than that I think it's daft. [has no frenchman ever complained about the 'driving on the left" rule in the UK?]
4. I do not expect to be caught breaking it - i have never knowingly done so, unless you call what kerouac says he does, [ie i look to see what is coming before I pull out] breaking it. If someone wants to launch themselves out lemming like into a moving stream of traffic just because a rule that was made when there was 1/10th of the traffic there is now says they can, I'm certainly going to do all I can to avoid them, which of course means observing the signs. That doesn't mean that I have to like them!
Mar 15th, 2015, 03:16 PM
#37
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You may want to take into consideration that "priorité à droite" is not a French folly.
hetismij told you it's the same in the Netherland, and it's the same in Germany, Austria.. actually everywhere on the Continent - AFAIK (which leaves room for proving me wrong, obviously).
I can only guess that British drivers are most likely to drive in France IF they drive anywhere on the Continent. So I can only assume that whatever "foreign" driving regulation you encounter you seem to see as a specific French oddity, while in fact it is the norm across Europe.
hetismij told you it's the same in the Netherland, and it's the same in Germany, Austria.. actually everywhere on the Continent - AFAIK (which leaves room for proving me wrong, obviously).
I can only guess that British drivers are most likely to drive in France IF they drive anywhere on the Continent. So I can only assume that whatever "foreign" driving regulation you encounter you seem to see as a specific French oddity, while in fact it is the norm across Europe.
Mar 15th, 2015, 04:32 PM
#38
>>the rule about a spare pair of spectacles is not mandatory if you wear lenses. Mind you, i've been driving about 15 000 kms a year in France on average the last 15 years and have never had to show a second pair.<<
My reasoning re a spare pair had <i>nothing</i> at all to do w/ the legal requirement and <i>everything</i> to do w/ being able to see/read/drive/anything if the primary pair is lost or broken.
My reasoning re a spare pair had <i>nothing</i> at all to do w/ the legal requirement and <i>everything</i> to do w/ being able to see/read/drive/anything if the primary pair is lost or broken.
Mar 15th, 2015, 10:37 PM
#39
Many of the rules will only be enforced if you get in trouble. No policeman is ever going to pull you over just to ask to see a second pair of glasses and a triangle and vest. However, if you pull out on a road and hit a tractor with a hay wagon and it is determined that you are as blind as a bat, an equiry might be made as to your visual equipment. Even the seat belt law is only enforced it you get pulled over for something else. While nearly no one is foolish enough these days to be in the front seat without a seat belt fastened, citations are often issued for unbelted back seat passengers. One thing that <b> will</b> get you pulled over immediately is if the city police or the country gendarmes see the driver holding a mobile phone.
Mar 16th, 2015, 12:18 AM
#40
Facinating, I dug this out for Germany.
"More and more towns are adopting the ‘priorité à droite’ (priority to traffic coming from the right). If there is no yellow diamond at a road junction, you MUST give way to traffic from the right, even if you are on the major road. As it used to do in France years ago this is causing accidents, especially in the rain. It is used as a way to slow traffic down in built up areas.
Buses leaving stops have priority.
Priority has to be given to pedestrians.
You are permitted to overtake trams on either side on one-way streets; but if you encounter a tram on a two-way street, it must be overtaken on the right. You must avoid overtaking trams when their occupants are either climbing aboard or alighting.
Do not overtake school buses when they are at a stand-still and have their red lights flashing.
In case of a road accident the police must always be called regardless if injuries have occurred or not. "
http://www.euroadlegal.co.uk/country/germany.html
Did you know all of these??
"More and more towns are adopting the ‘priorité à droite’ (priority to traffic coming from the right). If there is no yellow diamond at a road junction, you MUST give way to traffic from the right, even if you are on the major road. As it used to do in France years ago this is causing accidents, especially in the rain. It is used as a way to slow traffic down in built up areas.
Buses leaving stops have priority.
Priority has to be given to pedestrians.
You are permitted to overtake trams on either side on one-way streets; but if you encounter a tram on a two-way street, it must be overtaken on the right. You must avoid overtaking trams when their occupants are either climbing aboard or alighting.
Do not overtake school buses when they are at a stand-still and have their red lights flashing.
In case of a road accident the police must always be called regardless if injuries have occurred or not. "
http://www.euroadlegal.co.uk/country/germany.html
Did you know all of these??
