Problems driving in France?

Chris51

Chris51

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Have fixed accommodation and trips off advice off here but despite 5 years off hols travelling Europe with no problems have never done much in France where I shall be spending 10 days. Bit concerned about all this "speeding / heavy fines problem " .Are the speed signs easy to follow ?
 
We have been loads of times and are again in Sept I could be wrong but it seems to me its all a bit of nothing about "johnny foreigner" picking on poor brits because of the referendum which cannot be named. I suspect a lot have got used to being able to get away with speeding in other countries and the fine never reaching them.
I think if you drive carefully it won't be a problem since we moved to North Yorkshire I see at least 4 moble speed camera vans a week if you drive assuming theres one around every bend it won't bother you!
 
No difference to this country. They have similar speed camera signs in advance and more often than not, if there's a warning sign, there'll be a camera.

Nothing to be concerned about, motorhomeing there is easier than most other countries. Enjoy.
Terry
 
Yes, no problem if you pay attention. Contrary what has been written elsewhere, in my experience the new speed limit signs were replaced promptly last year. You just have to be aware that limits can change rapidly over a short distance, so be aware!
 
Although the signs aren't as regularly repeated as they are here in the UK, they are sign posted and you have to remember what it is. When entering a town or village, the name of the town will be on a sign post with a red border; this is the start of the 50Kmh limit and no speed limit displayed. On exiting, the name is on the same type of sign with a cross through it, that is the start of the previous speed limit. Many towns and villages have a reduced 30Kmh limit coupled with speed bumps. Where side roads / turnings join the main trunk roads, the speed will reduce for sometimes as little as 50 yds. Well sign posted in advance though.

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It really isn’t a problem driving in France.
Good, well surfaced roads, very light traffic, unless you go into large towns/ cities.
Just remember that the town/village name sign (with a red border) is the start and finish of the speed limit and they can be very strict on enforcement. Just don’t take too many chances.
Also, if you use motorways in a moho you may well get flashed by speed cameras who will think you are an HGV which have lower speed limits. You will hear nowt after they look at the pictures.
Remember that ‘Stop’ means stop. Don’t be tempted, as I often am, to just trickle across the junction.
Take extra care on roundabouts as the French often feel it’s unnecessary to use indicators.

Other than that, just enjoy the freedom that France gives us motorhomers, as I intend to later today.

Richard
 
Chris51 said:
Have fixed accommodation and trips off advice off here but despite 5 years off hols travelling Europe with no problems have never done much in France where I shall be spending 10 days. Bit concerned about all this "speeding / heavy fines problem " .Are the speed signs easy to follow ?
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I’m here now, the speed limits are very well signed
 
Just remember its 80klm or 50mph everywhere unless otherwise signed and the tip above about village name signs.
Enjoy the open roads
 
One thing that caught me out on very first trip to France.. came to some roadworks and temporary traffic lights on Red.. stopped and then it went to flashing amber and I sat there waiting for green. Luckily no one behind me. There is no green !! The flashing amber means you can go but "proceed with caution"..

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Just follow the signs and you won't go far wrong.
I used an app recently to display km per hour on my phone mounted to line of vision.
Worked to good effect, certainly much better than built in Speedo.
 
Some good advice above.
Despite being careful,I got a fine for speeding in France last month. Not careful enough!
Beware cameras that may be placed immediately on entering a village/ town,and also just as you are leaving...........so don’t ease down to the limit as you go through the sign,and don’t speed up until you’reclear of the limit!
Yes...you have to concentrate.
Driving in France is a pleasure compared to the south of UK,with so much less traffic.
 
I've just come back from France after 3 weeks of driving around. I've had no problems at all. The speed limits are well signposted, if you stick to the speed limit you will have no problems.
Take you time and enjoy what France had to offer.
Phil
 
PhilMary said:
I've just come back from France after 3 weeks of driving around. I've had no problems at all. ....
Phil
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If you have just come back it may be a bit premature to assume that you have had no problems ;)

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Clickem said:
If you have just come back it may be a bit premature to assume that you have had no problems ;)
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I got "flashed" twice on the motorway, but as in previous years I would not expect a fine as;
A) the pictures are human checked and as it's a motorhome will be rejected.
B) I try at all times to carefully drive on the assumption speed limits are there for a reason.
C) As above. You're on holiday, slowdown smell the grass.
Phil
 
tonka said:
One thing that caught me out on very first trip to France.. came to some roadworks and temporary traffic lights on Red.. stopped and then it went to flashing amber and I sat there waiting for green. Luckily no one behind me. There is no green !! The flashing amber means you can go but "proceed with caution"..
Click to expand...

The French also have a big LED countdown timer on some of the temporary traffic lights at roadworks, to let drivers know how many seconds are left until their turn comes. I have yet to see that helpful LED timer in the UK. Excellent idea.

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I have no problem with speed limits except that in France I seem to be the only one trying to stick to them, I get overtaken regularly with people who must be doing over 100k on single carriageway roads. My main problem is staying around the 80 mark, I find that unless I keep my eye on the speedo all the time I am doing well under or well over, luckily I have a heads up display so I can watch the road at the same time.. I had no problem when the speed was 90K, 80 just seems unnatural to me.
 
Some more random tips:

"Rappel" on a speed limit sign is a reminder that you are still in that zone.

Not crossing unbroken white centre lines and coming to a complete stop at stop signs are enforced with zero tolerance.

Sunday afternoon is a popular time for the Gendarmes to set up road blocks and breathalyse drivers at random. The legal alcohol limit is lower in France than England.

Apart from a few differences like that, and of course remembering to drive on the right and go anti-clockwise at roundabouts, giving way to traffic on your left, it soon becomes second nature.

A steady 80 kph drive on country roads becomes very relaxing.
 
I agree with the led countdown timers on the traffic signals. We have similar in Lancashire, it's usually a old BMW or Audi and higher the revs the longer they have waited. 10,000 revs =I had to stop, 20,000 revs= I've had to wait, 40,000 revs =I'm not waiting any longer.
Phil
 
I have lived in France for the last 22 years. Really no different driving here than in the UK other than in the UK you might have a near miss once a year, here in France it will be about once a month. They are very laid back here. Things to watch for is make sure you stop at stop signs. THe correct procedure is to stop, hand brake on then if clear move off. Zero tolerance even if nothing is coming. Also watch out for on-coming drivers cutting corners and crossing the central line. I have had to do almost an emergency stop where people are lazy and cut the corner. Not all junctions are laid out logically. I have found the Gendarme generally a good bunch if you treat them the same way. All this Brexit business and UK drivers being stopped is fake news. Your average Gendarme doesn't give a hoot. They are hot on speed traps so do watch your speed. Hope you enjoy your trip over here.
 
PhilMary said:
I've just come back from France after 3 weeks of driving around. I've had no problems at all. The speed limits are well signposted, if you stick to the speed limit you will have no problems.
Take you time and enjoy what France had to offer.
Phil
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Plenty of time for the little envelope to come through your door, anything up to a year.
Spongy

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I can only confirm what Mikescuba says, the French are so 'laid back' because there is little traffic on rural roads that they don't expect to meet on - coming traffic, they drive as they think they are the only car on the road; 90% of the time they are right. We have near us a busy, by rural French standards, a Commune road with a 'Z' bend over a narrow bridge in fifteen years of living here I have seen one accident , but the approach road on each side is 'black' with burnt rubber..

If you get caught in either a Fixed or Mobile 'Speed Trap', like the UK, you will be fined end of story. However, as a tourist, if you get pulled - in by the Gendarmes, more so than the Police Nationale, you have a far better chance of getting - off with a 'Caution' rather than a fine. It all depends on your attitude and the severity of the offence. In our local town we have frequent speed checks with - in the 50kph limits - the Gendarme Barracks is in the town - and they will give you a warning if over the limit and take a note of your registration number: next time look out.

I think that sort of 'policing' disappeared from the UK in the 60's

Obey the law as you would in the UK and just enjoy your holiday.

Robert
 
Few years now since I lived there but used to be where you saw a speed camera warning sign, the camera was within the next few hundred metres.
Autoroutes are clearly signed on the entry road and it also shows maximum speed in rain.
Just make sure you don’t do what a friend of mine did and forget to convert Kms per hour into miles per hour. She thought 50 mph seemed fast for driving in towns........
 
denisejoe said:
Worse than speed limits is priority to right ?
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Even though I'm fully aware of it, I've nearly been caught a couple of times. Now, especially in towns, I approach any junction from right with care and look for a solid white line across it, signifying it has a "Give Way" on that road.
 
It's worth bearing in mind, too, that by no means are all cameras preceded by a warning sign, as the Govt publicity alleges - they seem to have forgotten that in the past couple of years:rollingeyes:

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