idun Posted June 8, 2016 Share Posted June 8, 2016 Just done my accounts and we spent €141,90 on french motorways over 2 weeks, including our trip too and from the north coast.The autoroutes were in good condition, and at prices like that, they blooming well should be.For the most part whilst we were there we used RN and D roads, although I have noticed that many roads I used to know as RN are now D. These were a mix of conditions and comparing to where I now live, overall marginally worse. But the worst thing, and quite a few friends mentioned it, was that when new junctions have been made, if they haven't built a roundabout, then there is a new priorite a droite and there are lots of them. A road I always used a lot, now requires very cautious driving. However, one old priorite a droite has stopped and the main road has priority. And tailgating, lots of it. Why do people do it, not good driving and dangerous. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EuroTrash Posted June 8, 2016 Share Posted June 8, 2016 I seem to recall spending over €100 each way for a two day journey Normandy to the Ardeche in a motorhome many years ago - fortunately it was for work and someone else paid ;-)Not so bad if you live here, after all if you only go on long péage journeys once a year it's no more expensive than annual road tax for an average UK car. But I guess if you live in the UK and pay annual road tax as well, ouch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idun Posted June 8, 2016 Author Share Posted June 8, 2016 But our road tax is only £30 a year in the UK and I know quite a lot of people who pay nothing. Thing was for us that for all we lived in France, we often had to use the autoroutes. What with sporting activities all over the region and some national competitions too. And friends all over the region as well as in other regions. We were not 'just' chez nous all the time. So the motorways have always cost us, I suppose that I never noticed it, just part of necessary expenses. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grumpyaudeman Posted June 8, 2016 Share Posted June 8, 2016 Autoroutes are great time and mileage routes, you do not have to use them, for free try other roads it's your choice I do not understand your complaint Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idun Posted June 9, 2016 Author Share Posted June 9, 2016 My complaint is that these roads are simply too expensive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyh4 Posted June 9, 2016 Share Posted June 9, 2016 No,UK roads are far too cheap (ducks for cover).The fact is that national roads in France, Germany and the UK (and probably lots of other countries as well) are heavily subsidised by the tax payer. You as a user then do not appreciate the true cost of motoring.In comparison rail networks are often unsubsidised (or only subsidised when the deficit is written off). That is why you see long lines of trucks going from Spain to the North of Europe on the A9, A7, A6, A1 when it should be better for the environment and one would also expect to be cheaper to ship the trucks by rail in long trains from the Spanish border to Lyon/Paris/Lille. Even with French tolls it is still cheaper to go by road - hundreds and hundreds of trucks every day all on the same basic track. Of course rail has another disadvantage which is the CGT and their strikes. Nevertheless road with or without tolls is cheaper to the user. So when you say French toll roads are too expensive, what you are seeing is something close to the true cost of motoring - with perhaps a bit of profit to the shareholders. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idun Posted June 9, 2016 Author Share Posted June 9, 2016 I agree that the whole transport infrastructure needs rethinking. Wagons, yes, they should be on canals and on railway tracks. Last time we were in Belgium there were big signs saying that canals should be used more and how many wagons would be taken from the roads. The cost would soon be sorted out. I do not believe that it is impossible.But motoring cheap, all that tax that the french and UK governments get from it. In the Uk they get approx £26 billion and put £15 billion back into the roads, and that is quite profit isn't it. Maybe it would be better for the country if they did more with the surplus? And french autoroutes, not as if there is a fixed tarif per km. That would be fairer and I would be happier with that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyh4 Posted June 9, 2016 Share Posted June 9, 2016 I believe the tariff is based on the cost of the build. Which makes sense does it not?After all you would not expect to buy a Rolls Royce for the same as a mini based on the fact that they are both cars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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