17 Tips on Driving in France

First rule for you to remember (should you come from the Uk) when planning to drive in France for a carp fishing holiday is: drive on the right side of the road! Be especially careful when setting off from aid stations or restaurants on the left side of the road.

Also, bear in mind that you may have to give priority to traffic coming from the right (priorité à droite), especially in built up areas or when on small roads. Regularly on large roads you do not give priority to the right, except on the peripherique, the ring road around Paris.

Paris Travel Card

Many anglers I meet have not driven abroad before and apprehend the experience with some dread. In normal it is not as a matter of fact that difficult, you just have to stay focused and make sure you combine and look more determined before maneuvering than you would at home. My Tomtom all the time reminds me when I drive on the left in the Uk, so it is a nice touch to have this reminder when in France.As I said the most vital time is when you start off after a break. I've heard of a whole of accidents caused by this lapse of concentration, especially on quiet country roads. Perhaps you could tape a reminder to the steering wheel... 'Drive on the Right!'

Before leaving the Uk I'd recommend a acceptable aid of your car to make sure it is in tip top health before you set off.

There are a whole of things you need to bring with you when you speculation onto the continent.

5 Things you must bring with you.

Log book: Most European countries need you to carry your V5C car registration document. You will be requested to produce it by the Gendarme should you get pulled over. Also in the case of an crisis the information pertaining to your car will be needed for the article and requested by the police. You are required by law in France to have this document with you when you drive at all times. Driving licence: You need to have a full drivers licence, a provisional is not adequate to drive abroad. Again it will be requested by police if you get stopped, and will be needed for an crisis report. This is an additional one document that you are required to carry when driving in France. Insurance Green card: It is foremost that you carry your assurance with you at all times too, as this is the third document you are required to produce in case of an accident. The Green card is no longer obligatory but a good idea nonetheless. Gb Sticker: You are required to have one of these, but most whole plates have a wee Gb on them now, which is acceptable anywhere in the Eu instead of a cut off sticker. Headlight deflectors: These are foremost on right hand drive cars to avoid dazzling on coming traffic.
5 Things you need to bring with you.

Spare bulbs: Not a legal requirement, but if you get stopped for a blown bulb and can't turn it you'll probably get a spot fine. So for the price of a set of spares it's as a matter of fact worth having them in your glove box. Warning triangle: You'll need to use either a warning triangle or hazard warning lights in case of an accident. Or both if you have them. The triangle is only mandatory for vehicles over 3.5 tonnes. Fluoro vest: Not a legal requirement but a sensible item to carry. If you break down on a busy road or motorway it could as a matter of fact help with your personal safety. Good map of France: I'd recommend a Michelin Atlas. Exquisite information and has most of the minor roads too. Get a up-to-date edition as there have been a whole of modifications to the road network over the last few years along with some new motorways. Spare Fuses: Again a sensible thing to carry is a set of fuses. A blown fuse can have varying consequences on your car from very wee to total immobility. So for a few pence it's a must to have in your glove box.
7 Things that are a good idea to bring with you

Breakdown recovery insurance: I've seen it a whole of times where anglers break down and are stranded and facing a huge bill to get towed and repatriated. You can't just rely on 'It won't happen to me'. Even a minor bump can see you car immobilised and with all you gear it can turn a trip into a nightmare. So get yourself Aa, Rac, or Green Flag assurance and you'll have far less to worry about. For the few quid it costs it's false economy to skimp on this. Jumpstart cables : I guess we've all flattened our battery at some point, leaving lights on etc. A set of jump cables is a must as far as I'm concerned and I all the time have them in my van. Booster pack: Can replace the above, as long as you keep it fully charged. A useful piece of kit to have with you. Can also be used to payment up your phones etc on the bank. Tow rope: Getting stuck around lakes is a risk we all take. I no longer drive a 4×4 which saved me and others on a whole of instances. Vans and light cars especially rear wheel drives are hopeless on greasy or wet grass or mud. If you have a good rope at least you can try to get aid to pull you out. Gps: I wouldn't be without my Tomtom Sat Nav now. I find it as a matter of fact brilliant for navigating my way round France. I use it in conjunction with Google Earth to plan my route, entering the longitude/latitude coordinates of each stop. brilliant invention..highly recommended. Mobile phone -Europe roaming: useful if you want to ring home... I got caught out once in the Uk when I changed phones and forgot to stipulate I wanted Europe roaming. European crisis assurance Form: Helpful to make sure you derive and give all the vital details for an assurance claim in case of an accident.
General Driving Info

Speed limits :

The speed limits in France are somewhat similar to speed limits in other European countries. They are indicated in kilometres per hour.

Highway : 130 km/h, if raining 110 km/h (80 mph, 70 mph)

Dual carriageway : 110 km/h, if raining 100 km/h (70 mph, 60 mph)

Open road : 90 km/h, if raining 80 km/h (55 mph, 50 mph)

Town : 50 km/h (30 mph)

Speed cameras: Most foreign drivers are, for the time being, not targeted by the vast network of self-operating speed cameras across France. As of now, only one country (Luxembourg) has agreed to share its car registration database with France. But as European police forces cooperate more and more, new countries are likely to join forces in that field. Besides, if arrested for disposition checks by the police or gendarmerie, previous recorded infractions might turn up on the officers' computer. What's more, over speeding by more than 50km/h is determined a criminal offense, and will bring you vital trouble if caught.

Radar and Laser detectors are not allowed in France. Getting caught having such a gismo in your car means a 1500 euros fine, gismo impounded (with the car if fixed to it).

Bon Voyage

17 Tips on Driving in France

First rule for you to remember (should you come from the Uk) when planning to drive in France for a carp fishing holiday is: drive on the right side of the road! Be especially careful when setting off from aid stations or restaurants on the left side of the road.

Also, bear in mind that you may have to give priority to traffic coming from the right (priorité à droite), especially in built up areas or when on small roads. Regularly on large roads you do not give priority to the right, except on the peripherique, the ring road around Paris.

Paris Travel Card

Many anglers I meet have not driven abroad before and apprehend the experience with some dread. In normal it is not as a matter of fact that difficult, you just have to stay focused and make sure you combine and look more determined before maneuvering than you would at home. My Tomtom all the time reminds me when I drive on the left in the Uk, so it is a nice touch to have this reminder when in France.As I said the most vital time is when you start off after a break. I've heard of a whole of accidents caused by this lapse of concentration, especially on quiet country roads. Perhaps you could tape a reminder to the steering wheel... 'Drive on the Right!'

Before leaving the Uk I'd recommend a acceptable aid of your car to make sure it is in tip top health before you set off.

There are a whole of things you need to bring with you when you speculation onto the continent.

5 Things you must bring with you.

Log book: Most European countries need you to carry your V5C car registration document. You will be requested to produce it by the Gendarme should you get pulled over. Also in the case of an crisis the information pertaining to your car will be needed for the article and requested by the police. You are required by law in France to have this document with you when you drive at all times. Driving licence: You need to have a full drivers licence, a provisional is not adequate to drive abroad. Again it will be requested by police if you get stopped, and will be needed for an crisis report. This is an additional one document that you are required to carry when driving in France. Insurance Green card: It is foremost that you carry your assurance with you at all times too, as this is the third document you are required to produce in case of an accident. The Green card is no longer obligatory but a good idea nonetheless. Gb Sticker: You are required to have one of these, but most whole plates have a wee Gb on them now, which is acceptable anywhere in the Eu instead of a cut off sticker. Headlight deflectors: These are foremost on right hand drive cars to avoid dazzling on coming traffic.
5 Things you need to bring with you.

Spare bulbs: Not a legal requirement, but if you get stopped for a blown bulb and can't turn it you'll probably get a spot fine. So for the price of a set of spares it's as a matter of fact worth having them in your glove box. Warning triangle: You'll need to use either a warning triangle or hazard warning lights in case of an accident. Or both if you have them. The triangle is only mandatory for vehicles over 3.5 tonnes. Fluoro vest: Not a legal requirement but a sensible item to carry. If you break down on a busy road or motorway it could as a matter of fact help with your personal safety. Good map of France: I'd recommend a Michelin Atlas. Exquisite information and has most of the minor roads too. Get a up-to-date edition as there have been a whole of modifications to the road network over the last few years along with some new motorways. Spare Fuses: Again a sensible thing to carry is a set of fuses. A blown fuse can have varying consequences on your car from very wee to total immobility. So for a few pence it's a must to have in your glove box.
7 Things that are a good idea to bring with you

Breakdown recovery insurance: I've seen it a whole of times where anglers break down and are stranded and facing a huge bill to get towed and repatriated. You can't just rely on 'It won't happen to me'. Even a minor bump can see you car immobilised and with all you gear it can turn a trip into a nightmare. So get yourself Aa, Rac, or Green Flag assurance and you'll have far less to worry about. For the few quid it costs it's false economy to skimp on this. Jumpstart cables : I guess we've all flattened our battery at some point, leaving lights on etc. A set of jump cables is a must as far as I'm concerned and I all the time have them in my van. Booster pack: Can replace the above, as long as you keep it fully charged. A useful piece of kit to have with you. Can also be used to payment up your phones etc on the bank. Tow rope: Getting stuck around lakes is a risk we all take. I no longer drive a 4×4 which saved me and others on a whole of instances. Vans and light cars especially rear wheel drives are hopeless on greasy or wet grass or mud. If you have a good rope at least you can try to get aid to pull you out. Gps: I wouldn't be without my Tomtom Sat Nav now. I find it as a matter of fact brilliant for navigating my way round France. I use it in conjunction with Google Earth to plan my route, entering the longitude/latitude coordinates of each stop. brilliant invention..highly recommended. Mobile phone -Europe roaming: useful if you want to ring home... I got caught out once in the Uk when I changed phones and forgot to stipulate I wanted Europe roaming. European crisis assurance Form: Helpful to make sure you derive and give all the vital details for an assurance claim in case of an accident.
General Driving Info

Speed limits :

The speed limits in France are somewhat similar to speed limits in other European countries. They are indicated in kilometres per hour.

Highway : 130 km/h, if raining 110 km/h (80 mph, 70 mph)

Dual carriageway : 110 km/h, if raining 100 km/h (70 mph, 60 mph)

Open road : 90 km/h, if raining 80 km/h (55 mph, 50 mph)

Town : 50 km/h (30 mph)

Speed cameras: Most foreign drivers are, for the time being, not targeted by the vast network of self-operating speed cameras across France. As of now, only one country (Luxembourg) has agreed to share its car registration database with France. But as European police forces cooperate more and more, new countries are likely to join forces in that field. Besides, if arrested for disposition checks by the police or gendarmerie, previous recorded infractions might turn up on the officers' computer. What's more, over speeding by more than 50km/h is determined a criminal offense, and will bring you vital trouble if caught.

Radar and Laser detectors are not allowed in France. Getting caught having such a gismo in your car means a 1500 euros fine, gismo impounded (with the car if fixed to it).

Bon Voyage

17 Tips on Driving in France