European Roads

[wotme]

IMO the French got it right with their miniature traffic lights at windscreen level but they got it completely AAF when they expect drivers to give way to vehicles coming from the right. I came across a European sign recently I've not seen before and that was a number 30 inside a blue circle. If it had been 70 I would have been in trouble. I know a lot of you guys have done many a mile on foreign roads, so have you ever encountered any weird road signs that I should know about. For instance do all low bridges have their height in metres or are there some that are unmarked. I found one of those when camping near Honiton and a few low branches as well that would have taken my top box out had I not been awake.

 

[David and Sally]

30 in a blue circle is a minimum speed to achieve.

 

[Speve]

Often have those when on steep gradients usually 70 kph if you are unable to meet speed get into crawler lane?

 

[Madcaravanner]

Blue speed signs are standard MINIMUM speeds
you can see them in the Dartford Tunnel too

 

[Madcaravanner]

For instance do all low bridges have their height in metres or are there some that are unmarked.

IF a bridge is over 4.3m I believe they are unmarked (as on motorways) In Europe all road signs for height are in metres if the bridge has no sign it SHOULD be over height but always drive carefully on small roads

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Allanm]

Priorité a droite is an archaic law dating back to the days of the horse and cart but for some reason has never been repealed.
It is the law all over France, but you only need to worry about it when road signs tell you it is in force.
A lot of villages seem to be reintroducing it, you just need to keep your eyes open for the signs.

 

[Lenny HB]

The UK is one of few countries that don't/haven't used give way to the right we are odd ones out. Apart from European counties it also applies in the USA, Canada , Mexico, Australia.
White numbers in a blue circle for minimum speed are quite common in the UK and all other European countries, you should know that sign if you learned to drive in the UK.

From the Highway code,

 

[glenn2926]

I really cannot understand give way to the right. If priority from the right is in place could someone just pull straight out of a sideroad/ driveway etc as fast as they want without even looking.? Just think if it applied here. Some side roads there are buildings right up to the main road so if driving along the main road you could not see traffic coming out until you are level with the road end.

 

[EX51SSS]

I really cannot understand give way to the right. If priority from the right is in place could someone just pull straight out of a sideroad/ driveway etc as fast as they want without even looking.? Just think if it applied here. Some side roads there are buildings right up to the main road so if driving along the main road you could not see traffic coming out until you are level with the road end.

It's usually on minor rural roads. However, just because you don't understand it doesn't make it wrong. If you're driving fast on those types of roads, you're asking for trouble. Just think of it like there aren't give way markings and it has at least give you warning that vehicles from the right has priority.

 

[maison]

The priorité a droite would not be a problem if it was in place everywhere in France.

However, having “seen the light” most junctions operate as we are used to in the U.K.but not all.

In our area of France 95% of junctions are as the U.K. the problem occurs with the remaining 5%, trying to identify them as you approach. When roads are wet the white lines across joining roads can be hard to see. Add to that the French driver’s passion for approaching junctions very quickly and only braking at the last minute and things can become nerve shredding.

Even so we find the French drivers in our area to be very good in all other respects, being polite and considerate. That may be due to living in a rural area.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[EX51SSS]

IF a bridge is over 4.3m I believe they are unmarked (as on motorways) In Europe all road signs for height are in metres if the bridge has no sign it SHOULD be over height but always drive carefully on small roads

The minimum height for an unmarked bridge is 16ft 6in, below this height they are legally required to be signed although some low bridges in remote rural areas may not be.19 Jul 2005

 

[glenn2926]

It's usually on minor rural roads. However, just because you don't understand it doesn't make it wrong. If you're driving fast on those types of roads, you're asking for trouble. Just think of it like there aren't give way markings and it has at least give you warning that vehicles from the right has priority.

I sort of get this. However as some roads joining main roads are almost a blind approach the vehicles on the main road would have to travel at such a low speed to enable them to stop in virtually their own length if a vehicle decided to drive straight onto the main road without slowing or looking just because they can.

 

[treetops1]

Had the problem in France with this ruling ,in rural areas it used to be the norm when they only had tractors to deal with .now the horse and carts have gone, that regulation should be scrapped .I learned to live with it but I would advise you to reduce your speed to about 20 kilometres ph when passing through remote quite villages as they seem to be the worst ,Keep on your toes ,All part of the French experience lol.

 

[autorouter]

I really cannot understand give way to the right. If priority from the right is in place could someone just pull straight out of a sideroad/ driveway etc as fast as they want without even looking.?

Yes, got it in one.

It applies almost everywhere except the UK. Europe, Russia, USA, etc as others have said. Including supermarket car parks.

For some reason UK drivers do not actually believe that the rule applies, even though they may intellectually understand the idea. For a demonstration of the rule, sit down in a cafe at the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, and watch the traffic entering and leaving the roundabout.

 

[EX51SSS]

I sort of get this. However as some roads joining main roads are almost a blind approach the vehicles on the main road would have to travel at such a low speed to enable them to stop in virtually their own length if a vehicle decided to drive straight onto the main road without slowing or looking just because they can.

That is exactly the point . Drive so you can stop if required to do so.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[EX51SSS]

Yes, got it in one.

It applies almost everywhere except the UK. Europe, Russia, USA, etc as others have said. Including supermarket car parks.

For some reason UK drivers do not actually believe that the rule applies, even though they may intellectually understand the idea. For a demonstration of the rule, sit down in a cafe at the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, and watch the traffic entering and leaving the roundabout.

Yeah, I did exactly that and SWMBO said she'd just cry.

 

[Camdoon]

... For a demonstration of the rule, sit down in a cafe at the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, and watch the traffic entering and leaving the roundabout.

Be sure and take your defibrillator with you as if the price of a beer doesn't get you then watching the traffic will.

 

[EX51SSS]

Be sure and take your defibrillator with you as if the price of a beer doesn't get you then watching the traffic will.

Do not go to McDonald's for a tea. They serve unknown fruit type stuff.

 

[Lot lover]

If a similar applied in UK surely it would be priority a gauche?

 

[EX51SSS]

If a similar applied in UK surely it would be priority a gauche?

Yep, pretty much

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Off da Grid]

In France look out for the yellow box sign it means give way to the right.
If it’s got a line through it you’ve got right of way.
Apparently you have to give way to the right in Switzerland, some traffic lights have a flashing yellow which means give way to the right also.

 

[Fenman]

In France look out for the yellow box sign it means give way to the right.
If it’s got a line through it you’ve got right of way.
Apparently you have to give way to the right in Switzerland, some traffic lights have a flashing yellow which means give way to the right also.

I think you'll find in France that that is wrong.
The yellow diamond shaped box means you have priority. If it has a black line diagonally through the yellow box it means cars coming from your right have priority.
It's often in the centre of small towns and villages that some roundabouts still have this old system.
See here: https://www.drive-france.com/faqs/get-your-priorities-right/

 

[tuscancouple]

In France look out for the yellow box sign it means give way to the right.
If it’s got a line through it you’ve got right of way.

It's the opposite to this post, yellow box = you have priority, yellow box with line diagonally through = you do not have priority!

Mick

 

[Lenny HB]

I remember when France only had a few roundabouts and it was give way to the right on them, quite a shock to the system if you have ever driven around one.

 

[Lenny HB]

A lot of villages & towns had done away with give way to the right but a couple of years ago they started bringing it back as a cheap way of traffic calming.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[thebriars]

For a demonstration of the rule, sit down in a cafe at the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, and watch the traffic entering and leaving the roundabout.

Better still, try driving round the Arc de Triomphe! Ranks on a par with throwing live hand grenades for danger.

 

[tuscancouple]

Better still, try driving round the Arc de Triomphe! Ranks on a par with throwing live hand grenades for danger.

We rode our Harley's to Paris last August just so that my wife could ride her's around the Arc de Triomphe, great fun so we did it four times from different directions

Mick

 

[Lenny HB]

Better still, try driving round the Arc de Triomphe! Ranks on a par with throwing live hand grenades for danger.

Been there done that.

 

[Lenny HB]

We rode our Harley's to Paris last August just so that my wife could ride her's around the Arc de Triomphe, great fun so we did it four times from different directions

Mick

Must have a screw loose.

 

[tonyidle]

We have our own version on roundabouts .

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}