French drivers

Lanerboy

Lanerboy

Free Member
Joined
Aug 3, 2016
Posts
1,363
Likes collected
2,207
Location
midlands
Funster No
44,408
MH
Carthago 4.9 superior
I have been in france for a week now and in this time I have noticed that the French have a very different way of driving than the British seem to have

On motorways if trying to overtake a slower vehicle and indicating to move into the middle lane they will not let you out or move into the 3rd lane even if its empty they just keep coming even when I am sat there with indicator going like the clappers you have to just push out

Also they all seem to be in such a rush I had to wait about 20 seconds today on a very tight bend to allow a lorry to get round before I could go and both cars behind me were beeping there horns at me to hurry up

Also they never stop at zebra crossings to allow you to cross the road they are a pointless excercise they just keep driving zebra crossings mean nothing to the French

They all drive so close to the back of each other even on motorways they tailgate each other

Also 50% of the cars over here are all bashed up and have dents and scrapes on them and I'm not supprised after seeing them drive
 
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.
 
Lanerboy said:
Also they never stop at zebra crossings to allow you to cross the road they are a pointless excercise they just keep driving zebra crossings mean nothing to the French
Click to expand...
You sure you are in France, they used to be like that but they brought in much stricter laws about 5 years ago. Nowdays you have only got to get near a crossing they screach to a halt, if a pedestrian is 50m or more from a crossing and they signal they want to cross the road you must stop for them.
These days it's a pleasure crossing the road in France, we have certainly found it so since the new law.
Crossed the road several times today with French cars screaching to a halt for me.:)
 
Lenny HB said:
Crossed the road several times today with French cars screaching to a halt for me.:)
Click to expand...
Was probably the scantily clad young lady with you they wanted to view(y)

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
Looking back to the 1970s/80s when parking in France, bumpers were your parking sensors: when you contacted the car behind or in front , you then moved in the opposite direction. But I guess changes in car design mean that no longer applies.

In general, it seemed cars were rightly seen as tools for getting you from A to B and a few dents here and there were 'de rigeur' as opposed to the UK where they were polished to within an inch of their lives and often more status symbols than transport tools.
 
Lenny HB said:
What about Charles Leclerc, he is getting Vettal worried.
Click to expand...
Any relation?

Robert_Leclerc_Jack_Haig.jpg

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
A french chap crashed into the back of our van at the traffic lights many moons ago .we were making aright turn and were not quick enough according to him ,we were still in neutral ,he wasSwearing and cursing at the stupid driver until I slid the sliding door back .and He saw how many of us were in the back .thankfully the old vw had enormous rear bumpers.and was quite unmarked .
 
Lanerboy said:
I have been in france for a week now and in this time I have noticed that the French have a very different way of driving than the British seem to have

On motorways if trying to overtake a slower vehicle and indicating to move into the middle lane they will not let you out or move into the 3rd lane even if its empty they just keep coming even when I am sat there with indicator going like the clappers you have to just push out

Also they all seem to be in such a rush I had to wait about 20 seconds today on a very tight bend to allow a lorry to get round before I could go and both cars behind me were beeping there horns at me to hurry up

Also they never stop at zebra crossings to allow you to cross the road they are a pointless excercise they just keep driving zebra crossings mean nothing to the French

They all drive so close to the back of each other even on motorways they tailgate each other

Also 50% of the cars over here are all bashed up and have dents and scrapes on them and I'm not supprised after seeing them drive
Click to expand...
Driving in France (and most other countries) is a little different from the UK. You should acquaint yourself with the French rules of the road and not expect they drive the same as you.
Generally, when moving lanes and joining from a slip road, you wait for a gap. Few people will move over for you unless you are in a large city, or just close your eyes and push out! Better still is to anticipate in plenty of time that you will be overtaking / pulling out/ changing lanes, and look for a gap before you get boxed in.
You’ll notice they don’t lane hog either. Overtaking is done quickly, then they pull in front of you and generally slow down.
It is illegal to speed up when being overtaken and flashing your lights at people to pull out or turn in front of you will more than likely be met with a blank face.

Very rarely have I seen dented cars, unless they are those little Sans Permis cars...
 
I found this year that a significant proportion of French drivers must have been taught to drive in BMWs, as their indicators don’t seem to be used at all at roundabouts. They seem quite happy to drive all the way round the outer edge of a roundabout without any form of signal to give you a clue.

In reality, I expect that there are many drivers who were taught to drive before the country decided that nearly every junction, however minor, needed a roundabout, or perhaps before the rules about priority changed. Signalling is a lot less necessary if traffic entering the roundabout takes priority, as used to be the case.
 
Lanerboy said:
I have been in france for a week now and in this time I have noticed that the French have a very different way of driving than the British seem to have

On motorways if trying to overtake a slower vehicle and indicating to move into the middle lane they will not let you out or move into the 3rd lane even if its empty they just keep coming even when I am sat there with indicator going like the clappers you have to just push out

Also they all seem to be in such a rush I had to wait about 20 seconds today on a very tight bend to allow a lorry to get round before I could go and both cars behind me were beeping there horns at me to hurry up

Also they never stop at zebra crossings to allow you to cross the road they are a pointless excercise they just keep driving zebra crossings mean nothing to the French

They all drive so close to the back of each other even on motorways they tailgate each other

Also 50% of the cars over here are all bashed up and have dents and scrapes on them and I'm not supprised after seeing them drive
Click to expand...

I think you should change your approach slightly, the French adopt a slightly different stance, they expect you to behave reasonably and will do so in return. Going for any half decent gap is seen as acceptable, if the oncoming vehicle thinks that its unreasonable or hazardous then they will flash their headlights. Reasonable gap + no flashing headlights= good to go IMO.

The other anomaly with france is their use of roundabouts, they think nothing of getting in the right hand lane and driving slowly round to turn left without indicating.

Overall (outside the major cities) they re fairly tolerant, its far less aggressive than driving in the UK, if you get a frenchman hooting at you you know you ve properly annoyed them.

Bonnes Vacances

Jon

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
To be fair the one thing I do like about the French is their motorway lane discipline.

Not so keen on the tailgating though.
 
jongood said:
I think you should change your approach slightly, the French adopt a slightly different stance, they expect you to behave reasonably and will do so in return. Going for any half decent gap is seen as acceptable, if the oncoming vehicle thinks that its unreasonable or hazardous then they will flash their headlights. Reasonable gap + no flashing headlights= good to go IMO.

The other anomaly with france is their use of roundabouts, they think nothing of getting in the right hand lane and driving slowly round to turn left without indicating.

Overall (outside the major cities) they re fairly tolerant, its far less aggressive than driving in the UK, if you get a frenchman hooting at you you know you ve properly annoyed them.

Bonnes Vacances

Jon
Click to expand...
I never drive in the U.K. anymore . It scares the sh.t out of me ! Must have been here too long lol
 
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.

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
when we went to france , first time , years ago on a coach tour the escort told us many times , that a zebra crossing in france is an indication of where it is safest to try and cross not a pedestrians right of way like here, its changed a bit now but still go by it.
 
The thing that annoys me about motorway driving in France is the way they pull in after overtaking. I get that they want to get back into the inside lane but on an empty motorway why cut in front so tightly. Its as if they're terrified of being in any lane other than the inside one.

On several occasions we have had to brake as the car pulling back in has nearly hit the front corner of our vehicle. On each occasion the motorway was completely empty. Why do it?
 
Southdowners said:
The thing that annoys me about motorway driving in France is the way they pull in after overtaking. I get that they want to get back into the inside lane but on an empty motorway why cut in front so tightly. Its as if they're terrified of being in any lane other than the inside one.

On several occasions we have had to brake as the car pulling back in has nearly hit the front corner of our vehicle. On each occasion the motorway was completely empty. Why do it?
Click to expand...
Because of their lane discipline and agree with you they can on ocassions be a bit close but if you live here you adjust for this when driving . Likewise at roundabouts . Assume the won’t indicate and if they do will only be when they are leaving so no indication normally means I am still coming round .
Having lived here for 15 years I would much prefer to drive here than U.K. in fact refuse to drive in UK . Too many vehicles , too many speed cameras ( average speed cameras what’s that all about ?) slowing down for road works when no one there ! Tailgating when already driving at speed limit and middle lane drivers to name but a few but guess it is just what you are used to lol
 
Allanm said:
Driving in France (and most other countries) is a little different from the UK. You should acquaint yourself with the French rules of the road and not expect they drive the same as you.
Generally, when moving lanes and joining from a slip road, you wait for a gap. Few people will move over for you unless you are in a large city, or just close your eyes and push out! Better still is to anticipate in plenty of time that you will be overtaking / pulling out/ changing lanes, and look for a gap before you get boxed in.
You’ll notice they don’t lane hog either. Overtaking is done quickly, then they pull in front of you and generally slow down.
It is illegal to speed up when being overtaken and flashing your lights at people to pull out or turn in front of you will more than likely be met with a blank face.

Very rarely have I seen dented cars, unless they are those little Sans Permis cars...
Click to expand...
Exactly my observations, I have been partly living in France for past two years and I applaud their driving, especially on the motorway where they do not lane hug.. Find the tailgating a little disconcerting, but that's all. Half the traffic compared to England pn the roads so its a pleasure to drive anywhere.
 
Reallyretired said:
I always find on returning from France that the place to find inconsiderate and impatient drivers is the UK. I much prefer driving on the continent as it's much less stressful
Click to expand...
Je sais d'accord

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
We find for the most part the standard of driving is on a par with the UK. But better lane discipline on autoroutes.

The big problem we find is on our rural roads. French drivers are very jealous of UK drivers and seem to want to drive like us on the left. Especially on blind corners. I always drive with caution coming up to bends.
 
Allanm said:
Overtaking is done quickly, then they pull in front of you and generally slow down.
Click to expand...
Yes, why? I expect it & have my finger on the air horns. When it happens here or in the UK you can usaully gtee that the phone has rung.
laneside said:
Perhaps if you are being tail gated often then ask yourself if you are driving like an old fart.
Click to expand...
Or it doesn't go any faster ? Or you are already travelling at the speed limit ?

Fenman said:
I always drive with caution coming up to bends.
Click to expand...
I always use the air horns ,especially in the UK in the country side.

I'm with the op ,in that I find & always have that they are far worse even than here.
 
Fenman said:
We find for the most part the standard of driving is on a par with the UK. But better lane discipline on autoroutes.

The big problem we find is on our rural roads. French drivers are very jealous of UK drivers and seem to want to drive like us on the left. Especially on blind corners. I always drive with caution coming up to bends.
Click to expand...

My brother had quite a nasty accident in Normandy a few years back when a female French driver came around a bend on the wrong side of the road.

Worst thing was my young daughter was in the back:eek:

Everyone ok though(y) She managed to hit my brothers car then an Italian car and then a German car.

It was like a EU convention.
 
gus-lopez said:
I always use the air horns ,especially in the UK in the country side.
Click to expand...

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.

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 

Join us or log in to post a reply.

To join in you must be a member of MotorhomeFun

Join MotorhomeFun

Join us, it quick and easy!

Join us

Log in

Already a member? Log in here.

Latest journal entries

Back
Top