Driving in France. Rules, regs, things to take and need to know. Can anyone help?

[ENormaSnob]

Off to eastern France in August.

I remember from last time that there are lots of things I need to take.

Can anyone give me some tips? Maybe a list of must haves?

Have just bought 2 disposable breathalysers as I am informed this will be a legal requirement from July.

Thanks.

GB sticker
Warning triangle
First aid kit
Fire extinguisher i think

dayglo warning jackets for all car occupants

Check out the AA site - shop.theaa.com/content/driving-in-europe should tell you all you need to know.

Fire extinguisher???

Feck, gonna need 2 roof boxes at this rate!

Also here - www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/touring_tips/france-monaco.pdf for more comprehensive info.

Spare bulb kit.

Remember if it's raining motorway speed limits change.

disposable breathalysers ?

really?

I have nothing more to add to your list : spare bulbs, warning triangle, hi-vis vests (easily accessible from inside the car in case you have to exit the car on the motorway), first aid kit, fire extinguisher- you also need to check that your headlamps can use the stick on headlamp deflectors. If not then there is some other fiddly thing that you can do/get the garage to do -so as not to dazzle oncoming traffic.

^New regulation ? Breathalysers ? effective 1st July 2012, sanctioned 1st Nov 2012
As of the 1st July 2012 it will be compulsory for drivers of all motor vehicles including motorcyclists, excluding mopeds to carry a breathalyser in their vehicle while travelling in France. This will not be enforced until the 1st November 2012, where persons failing to produce a breathalyser will receive a fine on the spot of ?11.
The breathalyser has to be a certified by the French authorities, showing an ?NF? number.^

Flippin' heck! Will buy a few and have fun testing them out at home! Although it sounds as if you can get away with it this summer if it isn't enfored until Nov.

Abide by the speed limits, and remember (as stated earlier) that the limits change when it's wet!

And drive on the right

Lots of coins for the tolls. V useful - although they do giv eyou change.

If you check out your routes beforehand using michelin.com - then the tolls are listed so you know how much it is going to be when you get to the barrier. Saves time.

I seem to remember you need yo carry spare glasses if you need them for driving.

All the tolls take credit cards, which is probably easier.

One thing to bear in mind is that "priority to the right" is still the law on the roads in France unless otherwise stated. This means that at roundabouts and intersections you must give way to traffic approaching from the right.

Get a tag for the tolls, save the big fat queues at the booths.

Whether compulsory or not, carry hi-vis jackets for all people in the car. They really are a life saver. Also, if you get out of the car while on the motorway you have to be wearing your hi-vis jacket as you get out, not put it on after.

Make sure you have a decent set of maps with you. A printed out route will be no use if you have to go off piste for whatever reason. We find the michelin yellow atlas to be ideal.

Do make sure you have vehicle recovery and also work out how it works before you go (this is not something you want to be doing when sat on the side of the road in Northern France!). Also, make sure you have the telephone number for the garage which normally services your car, they can be useful if you have minor problems.

Fre extinguisher is not needed.

Remember that when you enter a town or village the speed lmit changes at the village sign regardless of whether or not there is a speed limit sign.

Also, I've found we needed to have our passports on us at all times when driving too. Maybe we were just unlucky, but were stopped by the Police 3 times in one 2 week holiday a few years ago!! It was during the Tour de France, so Police presence was high.... For example - They watched us come out of a bar, and get into the car, and we were stopped about 300 metres down the road. I was about 6 months pregnant, and not drinking, but they breathalysed me and wanted to check my documents. Even though I have an EU license with photocard, they still wanted to see my passport, and told us that we always had to be ready to show them together, so after that we carried them at all times when driving. Just anecdotal, but might be worth bearing in mind....

It's not priority to the right in roundabouts. But yeah, all other junctions that don't show any signs or road markings are "prioritée à droite" even if you're on a fairly main road and the little tiny road to your right looks like it leads nowhere, you have to give way (road has to be tarmaced to count).

Can recommend the sanef toll doodah, saves a load of time. Also remember that if a french reg car flashes his/her headlights at you it means 'I'm coming through, stay where you are' not the English 'After you kind sir/ma'am'.

If you are following signs and they suddenly disappear, keep going straight on, when you need to turn, they'll tell you!

Oh, and Give Way signs mean STOP AND LOOK or you get pulled - personal experience of that one even though I could see for miles, and I was in a local french reg car so they didn't know I wasn't french.