idun Posted September 17, 2013 Share Posted September 17, 2013 I am in France at the moment and have been perturbed to see two different drivers enter the same roundabout and try to drive around it clockwise.On both occasions they haven´t got far as traffic at the next junction other traffic has driven onto it and gone in an anti clockwise direction.Weird, certainly, dangerous, YES, but WHY would anyone do that. It is very disturbing and I cannot remember seeing anyone do that before. I used to live near the city I am in at the moment and regularly drove round this roundabout........... anti clockwise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woolybanana Posted September 17, 2013 Share Posted September 17, 2013 They were pissed, you were pissed, the whole world was upside down, or, just maybe, they had just received their latest tax demand and were trying to commit suicide? Or maybe they were Brits in French cars or maybe they were French trying to be Brits? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyh4 Posted September 18, 2013 Share Posted September 18, 2013 Never seen that Idun, but I have seen and regularly heard of drivers entering the motorway and travelling in the wrong direction. And it seems even those who have made a mistake (some sadly see this as a way of ending their lives - and probably someone elses) do not have the gumption to either pull onto the hard shoulder or turn around (if that is possible in the traffic). And in Germany of course the other driver may be approaching at 200kph!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pierre ZFP Posted September 18, 2013 Share Posted September 18, 2013 Not had the rounderbout thing but twice had someone coming at me on my side of the motorway. Fortunately both times it was at slow speed but both times they were German cars. In fact the Germans even have a name for this 'Ghost Drivers' so it must happen quite a lot Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chancer Posted September 18, 2013 Share Posted September 18, 2013 Driving frequently in both countries I still sometimes make the mistake, or at least start to make the mistake before realising.The thing is on a properly designed roundabout unless you approach it on the wrong side of the road it is very very hard to take it in the wrong direction in either country, the correct layout of the bretelles eases the traffic onto the roundabout, to go the wrong way you have to be very determined, drive very slowly using all of the road and scraping both kerbs or do a 3 point turn.its the exits from car parks, petrol stations etc that lead onto a roundabout especially one way one that dont follow the correct design, the one from my Intermarché station service leads you onto the rond point in a clockwise direction and you have to do an acute turn to the right to exit correctly, it often catches me out.My worst was exitting the Dieppe ferry terminal at 4am in the morning after being told the boat was cancelled and I had to go on to Calais, i was a little stressed and angry and the exit was like the intermarché one, unknowingly I went the wrong way and then drove flat out on the wrong carriageway of the mercifully empty dual carriageway towards the autoroute whilst studying my map, I arrived at the roundabout for the autoroute turned left (clockwise) for the left exit northbound as shown on the panneau before realising something was wrong, I couldnt make the turn due to the correct design of the roundabout and then to my left I could see headlights exitting the autoroute on the bretelle that I wanted to take.After a very fast 3 point turn to get out of danger I parked up in a safe position and was went into shock about what could so easily have been a fatal tragedy, innocent lives lost etc, it still make me shake to recount the tale.Next time you drive out of a centre commerciale etc onto a roundabout look carefully at the layout and ask yourself could a UK driver easily take the wrong direction? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quillan Posted September 18, 2013 Share Posted September 18, 2013 [quote user="Chancer"]Next time you drive out of a centre commerciale etc onto a roundabout look carefully at the layout and ask yourself could a UK driver easily take the wrong direction?[/quote]Well that’s what I did years ago and met a lorry coming the other way. Lucky because he and I were going very slowly. I think it is also easier if you are in a RHD car to go wrong particularly if under stress like trying to find your way out of one of these zone places. When I got my French car I always used to go the wrong door now and again, much less frequently these days although I did it the other day as was reading something. Stood by the door, raised my head, looked at the door and thought "plonker" then went round the other side. Rear-view mirror is another problem initially, looking to the left then to the right because it wasn't there but that problem only lasts a couple of days. So yes I can understand how easy it can happen sometimes, we are not all perfect. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
powerdesal Posted September 18, 2013 Share Posted September 18, 2013 '' Next time you drive out of a centre commerciale etc onto a roundabout look carefully at the layout and ask yourself could a UK driver easily take the wrong direction? ''I am not a ''UK driver'' having lived for 25 years in countries with LH steering cars but.........I did exactly that last week end in Cherbourg when exiting from the LeClerc filling station. Luckily there was no traffic about so no problem. It was a heck of a shock when I realised what I had done though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idun Posted September 18, 2013 Author Share Posted September 18, 2013 This was in the centre of the city. And the road leading up to it was a nice straight ordinary road and they had to drive on the right hand side of the road on it. The round about is on a place with a big statue in the middle, not a big roundabout, not one of those micro things either. On each occasion it was a french car and on two separate days. Next time I go into town, I am going to go to the road they came along and see what is marked. I just know that they had to stop as a bus and then a car got onto the thing, in what I consider the ´right´ direction for France.And yes, I have driven on the wrong side of the road in both countries, never more than about 10metres, usually far less than that and never along a dual carriage way. And always leaving a car park. I hate it when it happens. I had a friend who stopped to fill up and it was very foggy and they exited the petrol station in the wrong direction, only realised when they saw the signs had no marking on them, as it was the back of them. Fortunately late at night and no accident. The A19 in County Durham can be very very foggy.The worst is when I get into the ´wrong´ driving seat. Put my bag down on the seat next to me as I close the door and am swiftly putting my seat belt on and then go to put my key in and there is no wheel in front of me. Does not happen very often, but too often never the less. Not just me, my other half does the same from time to time too. I really hate doing that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave21478 Posted September 18, 2013 Share Posted September 18, 2013 There are a few roundabouts in commercial zones around here that I just take in the wrong direction if there is nothing coming, as taking them correctly requires a very sharp turn and going at least 3/4 of the way round it. Visibility is fine for all roads coming to them, so if there is nobody about I just straight-line them the wrong way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idun Posted September 21, 2013 Author Share Posted September 21, 2013 dave you have just reminded me that when lots of mini roundabouts were put in, in a local town, and I mean lots, the drivers would go round them any old way as long as nothing was coming.I had really forgotten that, maybe it is because I was there a couple of nights ago too and was still shaking my head at there being a mini roundabout at just about every junction.Have not seen anyone take the roundabout in the city the wrong way again though................ good Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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