Trip got postponed (yet again) because of Covid.
Thinking about renting a car for the first few days when I want to visit Bayeux and Mont St Michel. Driving would be a lot more convenient with uncertain times arriving in Paris, clearing the Passport station (or whatever it is called).
I haven’t driven a manual transmission in several decades and don’t want to relearn in Airport traffic so an automatic transmission it is. next choice is Electric, but it apparently takes a really long time to recharge and I cant see sitting at a charging station from 1 to eight hours charging the car enroute.
I will admit my knowledge of E cars is strictly from websites.
While this is true in its absoluteness, virtually all circles in France have yield signs for incoming traffic so they behave like American ones.
In general, French drivers tend to react unkindly to being denied right-of-way, so better stop a couple of times too often.
Other than that, French driving culture has become a lot more gentle since the turn of the century or so. I now feel comfortable navigating even the narrow streets of Paris.
This is at least partially due to harsh measures from above to get things under control. Mind the speed limits. Every kph above can cost you dearly, and rental companies may charge extra processing fees for speeding tickets.
Also, do compare prices before buying gas – the differences can be considerable.
What’s that supposed to say? Of course you shouldn’t drink and drive, and police can apprehend you if you are suspected of wrongdoing. Who if not them?
It is not true on pretty much all roundabouts in France and pretty much never anywhere else in Europe so don’t try to enter a roundabout thinking you have right of way, assume that you don’t.
This, very much so. I live in the Netherlands, but everywhere I have taken my car to has the same rule: if you are arriving to the traffic circle, the cars already inside the circle have priority!!
You as the driver who is about to enter the traffic circle must give way to the cars already inside it. That is the rule by default. If it is not the case, there will be traffic signs and even traffic lights inside the roundabout to regulate it.
If you only see the traffic sign that you are arriving at a roundabout, the default rules will apply (cars inside the roundabout have priority)
The traffic sign in question will be one of the following:
Boy, am I glad to hear that about traffic circles! My driving experiences are 30-plus years old, and traffic circles were bewildering to Americans. For the most part we figured it best to assume you don’t have the right-of-way, so proceed cautiously.
My admonishment about drinking and driving is that European laws are different. Here in the US, if you decline or do not cooperate a sobriety test, you get handcuffed and taken to jail. In Germany, the police can physically restrain you while blood is drawn. That’s MUCH different than what US law enforcement is permitted to do!
Sound advice in general I reckon. Defensive driving in new situations is always the way to go. Give yourself time and space to get it wrong, if it means getting beeped or flashed, so be it.
Never heard that before, but never mind: don’t drink and drive, really don’t: assume you are going to be flogged and your children sold to slavery if you do. Or whatever really frightens you.
And respect speed limits. Fines in France are very very very high (and in the Netherlands, and in Swizzerland, and in Spain, and in Finnland… etc. etc. Only in Germany they are about just bearable, if you are rich).
And in cities always look over your right shoulder before turning right: pedestrians and cyclists have right of way and this new pedelecs are much faster than you reckon.
Driving is France is pretty much a doddle - they have great roads and the locals aren’t maniacs. The tolls on main highways can add up.
Remember the yellow jacket protests in France a couple of years ago? This came from the fact that every car has a ‘safety pack’ in the boot (your car lease company will provide), which includes a yellow jacket which you should put on if you break down. Also a triangle you have to place behind your car. Also in this safety pack there will be a breathalizer, so all this talk of getting pinned down by Police is hopefully moot.
If you do get an e-car, you’ll find charging points plentiful.
Fun fact for Bayeux - there’s a ring road around Bayeux that is called Le ByPass, because it was built by British troop in WWII to avoid having to march all their stuff through town. It was the first such road in France.
In my experience, you can have the most deserted country back road, and three seconds after pulling on to this road a french driver will be tailgating you. If he manages to pass you, in three seconds another will take his place. It’s really quiet amazing.
Other than that driving is easy. Signage is well done in most places, as long as you know the name of your destination, you’ll find signs pointing the way at intersections. Parking, on the other hand, is a complete pain in the ass. Hint, if you get a parking ticket, you have to pay it in the town where you got the ticket. If you try to pay it in another town, they will laugh at you and say it can’t be done. So I didn’t pay it and fifteen years later they still haven’t caught up with me.
Entering traffic circles on single lane roads is easy. Doing so on double lane roads is tougher, and you’ll still have the tailgater making it that much more fun. Even so, I enjoyed driving in France.
If you drive a car with French license plates anywhere else in Europe prepare to be stopped by the local police. Driving through both Belgium and Germany my car was stopped twice just for a “routine traffic stop”. The officers were friendly but reading online apparently they cops just assume anyone driving through their country with French plates is a smuggler.
Know in advance in the toll roads if you need to continue forward or make a left/right turn somewhere else. You’ll wind up in a scenario where you pick the wrong road and drive 40 miles until the next place you can actually turn to get back to that road
Especially at the borders watch out for speed traps. Within 3 miles of entering Luxembourg I got a hidden camera speed trap ticket for literally going only 3 kilometers over the posted speed limit and it cost me $200 American.
Finding parking is a nightmare in Paris but everywhere else I never had a problem getting nearby parking.
I don’t want to put you off, but in France there’s also
But the rule gets complicated when there are no road markings or signs, which is the case in small towns and villages but also in residential streets in cities like Paris. >
In this case drivers need to be aware of vehicles arriving from the right and be prepared to stop to let them out – and that’s not just for cars that are in motion. If a vehicle is stopped at the junction you are still obliged to slow down or stop to let it out, even though it might feel counter-intuitive.
Make yourself aware of the various signs etc that negate p-a-d, because if it’s not negated then it applies!
I’ve never had a real problem over 50 years of driving periodically in France, even though it’s the wrong side of the road for me. But you need to know about it!
Thanks, not planning to leave the country nor am I planning to park in Paris.
Driving from CDG to Bayeux parking at Bayeux at both the hotel and the museums if needed.
Bayeux to Mont St Michel parking at big lot (apparently) in Pontorson.
If time permits MSM to Chartres there are several parking areas including underground near by the Cathedral
Chartres to CDG to drop off car.
Train is faster than driving for first leg apparently depending on what site I look at, but half the time on the second leg and third legs. That is just the time for the actual train time, getting to the Gare from the airport waiting for the next rain out, not being able to purchase ticket in advance because of uncertain times (plane delays, delays through passport check getting through a foreign airport, cost of Taxi to train station or riding the metro which would add several hours to the transit) I think I will come out better renting a car for this part of the trip.
A friend who recently visited Italy and Greece was telling me about making a wrong turn into a walled city in Italy which required a permit, her immediately turned around and left but got caught by a camera. He had to pay both a fine the car rental place for involving the rental in a traffic violation and the ticket from the city for driving in a restricted area.
another question since you say you drive in France fairly often. Toll booths, sites i have looked at say to either carry change or have a card with a chip. My debit card has a chip, is that what they mean? or how much change and in what denominations do I need to carry? for example the tolls between Paris and Bayeux are 24.18 Euros… if I carry all euros will they give me change or do i need to work out fractions of euro denominations?
I plan to carry some currency regardless for incidental purchases as well as fees for public bathrooms in Paris but would rather not carry 100.00 euros in coins if I don’t have to.