Any tips on holidaying/driving in France??

[valleyman]

Off to France with the family this Summer...starting to have panic attacks of driving on the "wrong side" of the road. Any tips from seasoned travellers? Any nightmares to avoid? Even my 7yr old lassie had a nightmare of sinking on the ferry and Daddy crashing....great confidence in Dad!!!
oh well bon vacances ???

[alex]

Driving on the wrong side is a brain switch problem. Essentially remember to adjust your mirrors, particularly the drivers mirror to keep a kerb view in towns. Also watch your speed and look at the little numbers fo Km/h.
Oh and tell the family that you are going to be bad tempered and more quiet than usual as you get used to it...
Good luck :D

[George Brims]

I think they may have done away with it, but they used to have a thing called "priorite a droit" - priority to the right. This meant that even though you were on a big road, a driver entering it from minor road on the right would have right of way. Non-French drivers used to get a big scare when the car they expected to wait until they passed came out in front of them. However, if you have mastered driving in Caithness, you will be used to this by now!

Ooops - upon Googling I find it has NOT gone away. See this useful site.

http://www.france4families.com/DrivingInFrance/RulesoftheRoad.htm

[alex]

Oh yeah - that's true - the person entering a roundabout has right of way... madness!

[Kevin Milkins]

Off to France with the family this Summer...starting to have panic attacks of driving on the "wrong side" of the road. Any tips from seasoned travellers? Any nightmares to avoid? Even my 7yr old lassie had a nightmare of sinking on the ferry and Daddy crashing....great confidence in Dad!!!
oh well bon vacances ???

You will be wondering what you were worried about after a few miles.

There are a few things regarding the requirments for your car before you go that you will want to clue yourself up on though.IE light deflector's so your beam is shining the right way, a spare set of bulbs, Triangle etc.

I found that after a while it became second nature untill you had been driving on a quiet road for a while and it's easy to revert back to thinking UK, untill you see a car coming the opposite way on the wrong side.:eek:
Bon Voyage

[Alice in Blunderland]

Off to France with the family this Summer...starting to have panic attacks of driving on the "wrong side" of the road. Any tips from seasoned travellers? Any nightmares to avoid? Even my 7yr old lassie had a nightmare of sinking on the ferry and Daddy crashing....great confidence in Dad!!!
oh well bon vacances ???

No problem to a man of your intelligence and charm.;)

Pack the kids full of drugs before you drive. Give the wife a bottle of wine and a girly mag, turn the sat nav on and away you go.:Razz

Oh and dont forget Alices postcard you know where to send it.....:lol:

[trinkie]

Public Toilets are few and far between - you are lucky to find one.

Sunglasses and hats are a Must.

Have a great holiday, I'm sure you will love it.

Trinkie

[Kevin Milkins]

I have been to Lidl today and they have got high vis vests and warning triangles on offer and the triangle folds down small so don't take up room.

[Bazeye]

Is it illegal to have the Union flag on your number plate, do you have to have the EU symbol instead? Dont drive myself but might be worth checking up on.