French drivers

[Ivory55]

Well I wish you wouldn't use your air horns on bends in the countryside. Not only does it upset the livestock, there may be a horse rider around the corner or another vehicle coming the other way who won't hear you.
You should drive at a speed where you can stop in the distance you can see & don't forget if you're doing 30 & so is the other person that's 60 closing speed. Your horns won't stop you in time.
Sorry for the rant, I live on a blind corner in the countryside and find this use of horns annoying, foolish & against the highway code.

Yes I have never figured out how blasting a horn slows down a vehicle when driving in to a bend.

 

[gus-lopez]

Well I wish you wouldn't use your air horns on bends in the countryside. Not only does it upset the livestock, there may be a horse rider around the corner or another vehicle coming the other way who won't hear you.
You should drive at a speed where you can stop in the distance you can see & don't forget if you're doing 30 & so is the other person that's 60 closing speed. Your horns won't stop you in time.
Sorry for the rant, I live on a blind corner in the countryside and find this use of horns annoying, foolish & against the highway code.

Tell the corner cutters.I only do it on blind left hand bends.
It is too prevent them cutting the corner & could save their life.

Yes I have never figured out how blasting a horn slows down a vehicle when driving in to a bend.

Left hand bend stops the "over the white line mob" . Prevents an accident & their death.

 

[moulin 87]

Like most above I find driving in France much easier, partially perhaps because it is much quieter, in the main people aren't in such a rush!! I don't remember having any particular problems not being allowed out on a motorway or when joining a motorway, just indicate and a second or two later move left 6 inches, that normally does the trick.

On the tailgating topic, when vehicles are close behind if you indicate to turn left especially (across the traffic coming towards you) the cars behind slow down much earlier than you so you are not crowded and therefore able to make the turn at your pace.

As for zebra crossings, I've lived in France during the change of priority, and it is easier now as a pedestrian and driver. I can remember in the old days on a day-trip to La Rochelle, A french family were patiently waiting to cross near the harbour but there was a long line of cars when suddenly a car braked hard to a stop and the family immediately set off and were promptly hit by the car that had stopped!! It had been hit by the car behind twice at least and there were quite a few drivers asking the guy in front 'What did you stop for?' as they surveyed the damage to their cars... Of course the guy at the front was a Brit. who had just picked up his hire car at the airport..

 

[Hollyberry]

I found it depended where you were in France. SW say Limousin down to Pyrenees, drivers were pretty laid back. OK, don’t indicate on roundabouts but courteous and patient. South coast, much faster, hand on horn. And impatient drivers in Normandy, maybe they get hacked off with all the Brits coming off the ferries and taking a while to get used to being on right etc...

 

[Guigsy]

We've been driving around Europe since February. Spain was interesting, but mainly due to their interesting junction designs and the totally bonkers way that roundabouts work there. The drivers are fast, but very laid back and non-agressive.

We've then made our from the north coast of France, through Belgium, Germany, Luxembourg, Switzerland and now Italy. Popping between borders many times. Every country has slightly different conventions and ways of behaving. Sometimes it can be hard to guess how people will react.

I didn't find French drivers that different from the UK. No, they don't let you out, but they also expect you to push. But it was hardly, take no prisoners.

Only country that has been really "entertaining" is Italy. They are certifiable.

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[Lenny HB]

Only country that has been really "entertaining" is Italy. They are certifiable.

Try it in a hire car with Italian plates, oh boy, that was an experiance.

 

[tacr2man]

I drive in Italy according to this mantra

 

[Lanerboy]

Very little of the above describes the France that we live and drive in. Perhaps if you are being tail gated often then ask yourself if you are driving like an old fart.

When doing 50 - 55mph on a 3 lane motorway in a 4.5t mh I don't think that is driving like an old fart
I had a driver yesterday that was so close to me I could not see him unless I looked in my rear view camera

Yes I agree once they have over taken you they immediatly pull back into the off side lane

We have today been in an around villages in the mountains and when using zebra crossings we had drivers stopping for us all the time with no issues

Yet when we were down in Monaco, Antibes and Nice it was a different story they never stopped at zebra crossings to let you cross it was like a game of frogger at times, why is it so different on the coast in the larger towns and cities compared to the smaller villages

 

[busby]

My experience of zebra crossings is very different to yours, I find French drivers very good at stopping to let you cross.

I find French drivers to be pretty good in general, but I agree with you about tailgating, it’s very common.

They are useless on roundabouts,,clueless.BUSBY.

 

[Ridgeway]

There's a small Island just off the European mainland where people indicate and ask to come out from their lane and into the one you are driving in.

The rest of European drivers just inform you they are pulling out and if needed you should compensate accordingly.

UK drivers are just too polite.

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[Lenny HB]

When doing 50 - 55mph on a 3 lane motorway in a 4.5t mh I don't think that is driving like an old fart

I think most would disagree with that statement.

 

[pappajohn]

If they annoy you use your middle finger....its universally accepted as 'what's your problem'

 

[keithchesterfield2]

Forget the drivers for a moment - bl**dy cyclists.

Have you ever caught up with about 50 of them in France and tried to pass them ?

A ruddy nightmare as you probably haven't got the horsepower to get passed them in one go and they're all two or three abreast.

I hate them.

Rant over.

x

 

[Allanm]

There's a small Island just off the European mainland where people indicate and ask to come out from their lane and into the one you are driving in.

The rest of European drivers just inform you they are pulling out and if needed you should compensate accordingly.

UK drivers are just too polite.

Is this an alternate U.K because, on the whole, I find drivers in the U.K. are just as bad, but more aggressive and intolerant.

 

[tonyidle]

Tell the corner cutters.I only do it on blind left hand bends.
It is too prevent them cutting the corner & could save their life.
Left hand bend stops the "over the white line mob" . Prevents an accident & their death.

Highway Code "Use only while your vehicle is moving and you need to warn other road users of your presence." ....... seems to fit with your use. Other than to let someone know you are there what other use is a horn?

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[jongood]

When doing 50 - 55mph on a 3 lane motorway in a 4.5t mh I don't think that is driving like an old fart

Really??

 

[Lanerboy]

Really??

Speed limit is 90kmh for 4.5t

 

[Lenny HB]

Speed limit is 90kmh for 4.5t

Nope, on a 13O kph Autoroute it's 110kph, no wonder you have problems.
On a 11O kph Autoroute or dual carriageway it's 100 kph.

 

[Nirvanauk]

Forget the drivers for a moment - bl**dy cyclists.

Have you ever caught up with about 50 of them in France and tried to pass them ?

A ruddy nightmare as you probably haven't got the horsepower to get passed them in one go and they're all two or three abreast.

I hate them.

Rant over.

x

Just as bad in the UK they are all over the bloody place.

 

[Chris]

I once had an altercation with a French driver in a autoroute services car park. I can’t remember what happened but horns were used. Anyway we were parking up and he was about to leave and wound his window down so I did the same. My French vocabulary is extremely limited so I had to think quickly to get my most abusive word out. He shouted first “Merde” and I just shouted back “Voila” in an aggressive manner and wound my window back up satisfied that I had given him a good response with a cracking swear word.

I then realised my wife was in fits and explained that what I had actually shouted was “Here it is”

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[Lanerboy]

Nope, on a 13O kph Autoroute it's 110kph, no wonder you have problems.
On a 11O kph Autoroute or dual carriageway it's 100 kph.

Lenny this is what I have been going on, got it from caravangaurd website

 

[Lanerboy]

It also says the same here
https://motorhomeseurope.com/speed-limits-for-motorhomes-in-europe/

I'm now confused

 

[Lenny HB]

In France Motorhomes over 4.5t have different limits to HGV's those sites appear to be posting the HGV limits.
There have been several threads on it which include copies of the French legislation.

 

[moulin 87]

Nope, on a 13O kph Autoroute it's 110kph, no wonder you have problems.
On a 11O kph Autoroute or dual carriageway it's 100 kph.

@Lanerboy, @Lenny HB is correct, the above are the speed limits for Motorhomes over 3.5T. The only thing missing is that in towns where the limit is 70 kmph then these MHs are still restricted to 50 Kmph. To reiterate in built up areas only.

If there is a speed reduction posted which has say a 3.5T weight limit attached but with an outline of a commercial vehicle then you can ignore that speed reduction or lane prohibition etc..

 

[tonyidle]

I once had an altercation with a French driver in a autoroute services car park. I can’t remember what happened but horns were used. Anyway we were parking up and he was about to leave and wound his window down so I did the same. My French vocabulary is extremely limited so I had to think quickly to get my most abusive word out. He shouted first “Merde” and I just shouted back “Voila” in an aggressive manner and wound my window back up satisfied that I had given him a good response with a cracking swear word.

I then realised my wife was in fits and explained that what I had actually shouted was “Here it is”

When touring with a friend in my late teens he enjoyed using his superior knowledge of the French language. He continually confused "des yeux" with "des oeufs" which made food shopping interesting and great fun for the shopkeepers we met.

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[Lanerboy]

Thanks for clearing that up at least I won't get a speeding ticket

It's annoying when site put the wrong Info on the net especially the 2 sites I looked at

 

[Lenny HB]

Nowt wrong with French drivers, here are a couple of my dash cam videos showing how perfect they are.



Language a bit stronger in this one.

 

[Clarky]

There is a terrific amount of confusion about speed limits for over 3.5 t motor homes in France.
It’s little wonder that people get nicked and fined.
My Garmin Camper sat nag still thinks the motorway limit is 90kph, no doubt because of its goods vehicle heritage. You would think that they might have changed it for a rather expensive camper version though.
After years of regularly driving there I am still unsure of some limits such as the 50kph in towns that show 70kph.
Is that correct?
Also, what it the motorway limit when the overall limit comes down from 130 to 110kph on twisty sections.
Is it still 110 or less?
There doesn’t seem to be anywhere that gives the correct and understandable limits that refer to Camping-Cars as opposed to cars and trucks.
Perhaps @moulin 87 or other residents in France can advise.

Richard.

 

[moulin 87]

There is a terrific amount of confusion about speed limits for over 3.5 t motor homes in France.
It’s little wonder that people get nicked and fined.
My Garmin Camper sat nag still thinks the motorway limit is 90kph, no doubt because of its goods vehicle heritage. You would think that they might have changed it for a rather expensive camper version though.
After years of regularly driving there I am still unsure of some limits such as the 50kph in towns that show 70kph.
Is that correct?
Also, what it the motorway limit when the overall limit comes down from 130 to 110kph on twisty sections.
Is it still 110 or less?
There doesn’t seem to be anywhere that gives the correct and understandable limits that refer to Camping-Cars as opposed to cars and trucks.
Perhaps @moulin 87 or other residents in France can advise.

Richard.

From a reputable French Camping-Car magazine http://www.lemondeducampingcar.fr/p...des-limitations-de-vitesse-particulieres.html

On a twisty section I wouldn't be doing 110kmph anyway but MY VIEW would be you would be restricted to 100 kmph. Similarly of course when it is raining, the figures quoted above are for the dry!! Speed limits are reduced to 110kmph on the motorway when it is raining...

Now on a normal route the speed limit is 80kmph, with a central barrier or a third lane it is often increased to 90 kmph but with a 'heavy' MH you are still restricted to 80 kmph...

With a trailer above 750 kgs, then it will 90 kmph on the motorway or dual carriageway whatever weight you are, below or above 3.5T.

Of course there are also the specific rules relating to MHs which are greater than 7m even if they are less than 3.5T, but we'll leave those for another time

 

[gus-lopez]

Oh to be able to cruise along at 90kphwe can only dream

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