To be terrified of driving abroad?

[FranceCalling]

Name changed as I am so embarrassed
My 2 DD and I are due to go on holiday soon to France, and in a moment of bravery or madness, I decided to drive as due to multiple disabilities in our family theoretically it should be easier and a lot less stressful.

Except I have never driven abroad before and I am absolutely terrified. I am the only driver, and even the thought of driving off the ferry is making me so anxious. To be honest, even driving on to the ferry isnt much better, I am anxious over everything - getting in the right lane, parking with enough room for my chair and so on.

Then driving in France - the tolls. The motorways. The junctions. I keep telling myself to woman up, that thousands of other people do it every day, but I keep telling myself to just book Eurostar instead!

Does anyone have any tips at all please? I have watched hundreds of youtube vidoes, practiced going round the park roundabouts in my wheelchair the opposite way (must have looked a right twat!) and I still just cant see it happening

Calais to Cannes is our typical journey. So pretty much the whole length of France. Do it several times a year and also to go skiing to the Alps as have a French DH who dislikes flying but has a very large family with elderly parents. He actually always comments on how nice English service stations are- clean toilets, waitrose, no flies!! I even peed in the toddler toilet once this weekend to save time as was in the baby change with DS and didn’t fancy going back to a huge snaking queue and wasting another 15 minutes afterwards (in reference to the other thread no I don’t normally lock it but yes I did that time) 🤣

I wouldn't do it; I drove in Australia because it was on the left hand side; and I drove once, in Finland, up in the north where there were no other cars.

I have cycled around European countries ok, I can cope with being on the right hand side (your wheelchair practice round parks sounds much like my cycling around a roundabout in the Netherlands :) ) but I wouldn't do the long trips in France that people seem to enjoy so much!

I can see lots by rail and bus and that is fine for me :)

Ferries can be awkward but I think the cross-channel ones are fine as you drive on and off in a straight line - avoid the ones to, or via, the Channel Islands as they have you manoeuvring into the smallest of gaps to fill up the boat efficiently.

However, as you say there are disabilities, it does sound like it would be much easier than faffing around trying to get to St Pancras and get Eurostar - also what do you want to do when you get there - do you want to drive to places?

Sorry but that's terrible advice. The OP is just nervous. If you don't do things because you're nervous you never do anything yes but if there's a safer and less stressful alternative? The question here though is whether it actually would be less stress.

Love the advice of "bum in gutter" :)

Maybe the answer to this is to go from Newhaven instead ;)

Ferries can be awkward

Sorry, I read that as Ferraris can be awkward and thought "chance would be a fine thing!" 😂

How old are your daughters?

Are they old enough that one would be in the front seat (and deal with the tolls)

DH doesn't drive so when we've driven to France it's been me driving - but him navigating, doing tolls etc and he will check when getting on from slip roads etc

I found the trickiest bit was when coming into a T-Junction and turning into the wrong lane. BUT... that was only when there were no other cars around (so not a danger to anyone). When there are other cars on the road you immediately feel oriented and naturally head into the correct place. You'll be fine, truly.

It's good to be concerned, but honestly you'll be fine. my top tips are...

1. Set your destination on the sat nav before you leave the UK, as you drive straight off on the French side.
2. Get a toll transponder. https://www.bipandgo.com/en/. Saves the panic at the toll booths, and makes you feel smug!
3. Some petrol stations you have to pre-authorise on a credit / debit card. before the juice will flow, which is a bit weird.
4. Driving on the right is easier than you might think, just follow everyone else.
5. Due to being an ex-biker, I always turn my head and look behind before changing lanes, this is especially important when driving a RHD car on LHD roads.
6. But, be careful when turning onto a road to look the right way,(check both) especially after doing U- turns.
7. Avoid driving at night.
8. Work out the number of miles a day you feel comfortable doing, and try to stick to it.
9. French roads are better than the UK, and I think drivers are generally better than the UK, although they do love to tail gate.
10. Get hi-vis jackets for all occupants, and road hazard lights (The changes are very slim that you'll need them, but having been involved in a motorway prank in the dark I wouldn't drive without them)
11. Speed cameras are often concealed.
12. Relax! It will be fun and your confidence will grow, it's good that you take it seriously and I'm sure you'll have fun, please let us know!

Totally agree with this although I was told the rule was to ensure the passenger side is always nearest to the kerb, has the same effect though and has made driving abroad much easier.

I did it!!!!! I am in no hurry to do it again, but I did it! The hardest part was actually driving on to the ferry at Dover as it was very early, very dark and the number of lanes was overwhelming

Went pretty much straight on to the motorway, had to stop at the services so practiced a bit in the car park, then off we went. Four hours and two tolls later we arrived, DDs a lot less stressed than when we travel on Eurostar which I had also booked as a backup.

The advice to just go the wrong way if needed and follow sat nav to get back on the correct route worked a treat thank you, and I also adapted my route to avoid a scary looking 4th turn at a roundabout although I did manage smaller roundabouts.

Definitely not as scary as I was thinking, but definitely thank you to all pps for all your tips as they were very helpful

Great update!! Go you, next time will be easier again, promise xx

Look at you go! You did it!

Make sure your speedometer is set to kph. I find in a uk car there’s a millisecond blind spot on eu roads , get one of those side mirror extenders.
I mark my left hand to remind me of roundabouts. Good luck op x

Driving in France is way more easier then the UK. Their "motorways" are like A roads. The 'slower' drivers stay in the left hand land and get over taken. Then that car moves back to the left. You get used to it. Honestly driving in rhe UK is so complicated

Brava!

Thanks for the update, glad to hear you did so well. We were all rooting for you! (or should that be routing for you?).

YANBU. I'm a very confident driver but the thought of going abroad and driving on the other side of the road terrifies me. I wouldn't do it as I think I'd be dangerous. Luckily DH is fine with it and does all the driving if we hire a car on holiday. I'm very grateful for that!

Just seen your update. Good on you!

Well done OP - I am in awe of you and anyone else who drives in France!

Well done op. You rock!

That’s just not the case op. The French are, in my experience much calmer motorway drivers than the brits. And I have driven many thousands of miles on them! As a bonus the toll motorways are quiet and beautifully designed. Once you get going you’ll be fine. The fact that everyone else is driving on the right makes it all just obvious.

Oh I’ve just seen your update. Bloody well done op!

Roads in France are much nicer/easier than roads in the UK!

Saying that though, you couldn't pay me enough to drive in Paris! From a pedestrians pov, it looks absolute chaos!

Great update OP!