jxedwards Posted August 28, 2008 Share Posted August 28, 2008 I'll agree with Erni Y's earlier reply and I much prefer to drive in France than the UK. As for French being awful drivers try Tripoli or anywhere in Brasil.......!!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bugsy Posted August 29, 2008 Author Share Posted August 29, 2008 [quote user="jxedwards"]As for French being awful drivers try Tripoli or anywhere in Brasil.......!!!!!![/quote]Not sure why that is relevent if you live and drive in FRANCE. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bugsy Posted August 29, 2008 Author Share Posted August 29, 2008 [quote user="Sunday Driver"] Never mind the French - they're models of driving competence compared to the British.Speaking generally, of course [:)]They come to France on holiday and get regularly picked off by the gendarmerie for speeding on the way to the ferry ports.True.................[:)]They come across to France to live and don't even buy a copy of the code de la route so as to learn the rules of the road over here.Not sure that it mentions using the right-hand lane on roundabouts for turning LEFT. I can also find no reference to it being OK to cross solid white lines.They post questions on forums like this, such as 'what does this traffic sign mean' or 'what's the speed limit in villages'.True..................[:D]They have no idea what priorité a droite means other than it it is silly because it's not what happens in the UK.True..................[:D]Oh, yes......and they think the French really are awful drivers.............[Www]Generally speaking, of course...[:D] [/quote] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Just Chris Posted August 29, 2008 Share Posted August 29, 2008 Generally, we find it much safer and more relaxing driving in France. True, the standard of driving here is pretty poor, but we make allowances for that and give the French a wide berth. The poorest level of driving seems very much the prerogative of the elderly, who don't appear to have a clue. We always hug the kerb on blind bends because they have a habit of doing the opposite. Tailgaters we encourage to pass (not that they need much encouragement...). Getting around here is much more relaxed, and examples of aggression are rare. Having said that, the worst examples of driving we've witnessed here are with British registered vehicles returning to the ferry ports. Also, the Dutch who appear to be quite arrogant and not give a damn, particularly when driving cars with caravans, or camper vans. (Not ALL Dutch, I hasten to add).Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cassis Posted August 29, 2008 Share Posted August 29, 2008 [quote user="Sunday Driver"]They come across to France to live and don't even buy a copy of the code de la route so as to learn the rules of the road over here.They post questions on forums like this, such as 'what does this traffic sign mean' or 'what's the speed limit in villages'.They have no idea what priorité a droite means other than it it is silly because it's not what happens in the UK.They believe it when people tell them French driving examiners will only pass people who drive badly.[/quote]A copy of the Code de la Route can be bought for 15 euros in bookshops or on the Internet. Daft not to get a copy and read it.If anyone thinks that their French will not be up to reading it, there is an English language version:http://www.americansinfrance.net/driving_study_guide/BookandDVD.cfmI've never seen this so I don't know if it is a proper translation of all that appears in the original. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Val_2 Posted August 29, 2008 Share Posted August 29, 2008 Apart from the driving standards here, the locals all think its compulsory to drink and drive in vast quantities which actually may improve their normal driving standards I had a car overtake me just the other day with the windows down and it smelled like a brewery on wheels. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnOther Posted August 29, 2008 Share Posted August 29, 2008 I thing you'd better tell us where you are Val because it seems to be rather different to where a lot of us live and, from what you describe, perhaps best avoided - IMO [Www] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnOther Posted August 29, 2008 Share Posted August 29, 2008 Your link is dud I'm afraid my old sausage [blink]EDIT: Belay that, gremlins..................[:$] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bugsy Posted August 29, 2008 Author Share Posted August 29, 2008 Just to confirm SD's previous http://www.pistonheads.com/news/default.asp?storyId=18589read the comments..............................[:D][:D]Slow down children, you know it makes sense..................[:)] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil & Pat Posted August 29, 2008 Share Posted August 29, 2008 [quote user="Bugbear"]Just to confirm SD's previous http://www.pistonheads.com/news/default.asp?storyId=18589read the comments..............................[:D][:D]Slow down children, you know it makes sense..................[:)][/quote]From the linked article..."The French police now complain that while their countrymen obey the limit..."Not around here they don't. [:P] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnOther Posted August 29, 2008 Share Posted August 29, 2008 I spent a few minutes wading through that thread and have seldom read a bigger load of uninformed, bigoted, and childish drivel [:-))] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
babcock Posted August 29, 2008 Share Posted August 29, 2008 OK If you are going to be picky it should be ill-informed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bugsy Posted August 29, 2008 Author Share Posted August 29, 2008 [quote user="ErnieY"]I spent a few minutes wading through that thread and have seldom read a bigger load of uninformed, bigoted, and childish drivel [:-))][/quote]Aren't you being a bit bigoted there Ernie ?[:)] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnOther Posted August 29, 2008 Share Posted August 29, 2008 [quote user="babcock"]OK If you are going to be picky it should be ill-informed.[/quote]I'd say both terms were equally applicable [:)] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SC Posted August 31, 2008 Share Posted August 31, 2008 [IMG]http://i427.photobucket.com/albums/pp354/relaxcheznous/sillydriver.jpg[/IMG]It's a poor photo from my phone but if you look closely you can make it out.........I'd just picked up a new car in the Vendée last year and on the way home called into the Brico Depot at Cholet; it was just after lunch and though the car park was empty needless to say I parked me new pride and joy in a far corner.When I came out the scene was difficult to believe. In the virtually empty car park a huge six wheel drive ex-army munitions carrier or recovery tractor driven by an elderly French Benny Hill lookalike with beret and thick round glasses had turned into a parking aisle way too soon and nearside wheel number two had gone right over the wing of the only car parked anywhere nearby. Bizarre because the truck had plenty of space to make the turn! It had all the makings of a candid camera stunt. I got the impression that he had reversed back over the car afterwards, anyway the whole offside front corner of the car was almost flat! When I got there and took the photo they were calmly filling in the constat..... Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cassis Posted August 31, 2008 Share Posted August 31, 2008 I'll bet you had a right old chuckle with them ... [:D] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cricri Posted September 4, 2008 Share Posted September 4, 2008 If you want to experience bad driving, come to the Alsace (68). Safer driving around the Arc de Triomphe all day in my view.I remember years ago, the French road safety advert on the tele was telling the French to drive like the English.Again, generally speaking of course Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sunday Driver Posted September 4, 2008 Share Posted September 4, 2008 I've visited Alsace on many occasions and never found the local driving any worse than anywhere else.Only problem was with German bikers on their big GS's hurtling past us whilst we were climbing the Col de la Schlucht leant over on our pegs........[:-))]Still, we caught them up at a coffee stop on the Route des Cretes and lent them our maps so they could find where Mulhouse was. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cassis Posted September 4, 2008 Share Posted September 4, 2008 [quote user="cricri"]I remember years ago, the French road safety advert on the tele was telling the French to drive like the English. [/quote]Surely that would cause chaos. Those who saw the advert driving on the left, the rest on the right. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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