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Topic: Driving Abroad

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Hacksaw Bob

07/10/2013 at 7:42pm
Location: West Midlands
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Quote: Originally posted by junik53 on 07/10/2013
Hi we were wondering the other day why no Spanish driver ever indicates either coming to a roundabout or whilst on the roundabout,or for that fact anywhere,do they suppose we are mindreaders?

I think it's only legal to signal before leaving a roundabout in Germany, may be the same elsewhere?

Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!

SandyJohans

11/10/2013 at 10:41am
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As I see Frogman definitely has a great experience in camping/traveling abroad, thanks for useful tips.

joanshubby

25/2/2014 at 9:04am
Location: Kent
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I have just read in the CC Magazine that the speed limit around the Paris Paripherique has been reduced from 50mph/80kph to 43mph/70kph. So be warned.

KeithChesterfield

05/3/2014 at 12:15pm
Location: Near Stand Road Chesterfield
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joanshubby - I have just read in the CC Magazine that the speed limit around the Paris Paripherique has been reduced from 50mph/80kph to 43mph/70kph.

The last time I went on the Paripherique we would have been ecstatic to get up to 43mph!

Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!

lidds0

28/4/2016 at 3:36pm
Location: Yorkshire
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Just would mention for anyone who breaks down on the autoroute in France, your usual recovery insurance CAN'T faciliate recovery, it has to be arranged via an authorised agent (use the SOS phone by the side of the motorway).

However, you CAN claim reimbursement of fees paid (in our recent case, almost 250 euros) from your recovery insurer. Not all policies include this information (ADAC policy doesn't) so prior knowledge does help!

Safe driving, everyone.

Granturismo

21/7/2017 at 11:19am
Location: Bury Lancs
Outfit: Roofbox & Wynnster Valencia 400

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Not sure if this has been covered already in this thread, but us Brits are no longer 'immune' from fines/penalty points from fixed speed cameras on the continent. UK, Denmark & Ireland opted to delay the introduction of the new EU directive on cross-border jurisdiction by 2 years, but my understanding is that 2 year period expired in May 2017.

In the past I've been flashed by a few cameras in France, once at considerably over the speed limit near Montpellier (by accident, I might add) and never received any nasty surprises in the post back home. I did worry going back into France in 2013 after 'the Montpellier incident' 2 years prior, thinking I was going to get collared at the first checkpoint but thankfully nothing came of it.

It would be interesting to hear if the rule did indeed change back in May and if any UK drivers have been prosecuted by post. Anybody have any first/second hand experience?

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St Tropez 2018

Nicepix

03/1/2018 at 9:46pm
Location: Charente France
Outfit: Burstner T-Star 695

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Just reading this and I'd like to make a few points;

Priority from the right is getting less common, but still occurs a lot on country roads and in village and small towns many of which do not have the yellow diamond signs.

Basically, as Harry said on the first page; if you see a triangular sign with a black cross as per the UK crossroads sign then you have priority. If you see a similar sign but with the cross as an 'X' then the road on your right that you are approaching has priority.

Similarly, if you come to any junction on a country road or in town that has no Give Way or Stop signs or associated road markings then you have to give way to anything coming from your right and have precedence over anything from your left. BUT, I have seen French motorists sail through without any care or consideration to take care.

Foreign drivers can and do overtake in the normal way. There are no special rules for foreign registered cars in that respect.

Roundabouts; the French will indicate left even if they are taking the second exit directly in front of them, and only indicate right after they have begun the manoeuvre to exit the roundabout. Virtually nobody takes the inside lane to turn right. Think of indicators as confirmators and take great care if you are going round the roundabout to the third exit in the inside lane as nobody will let you out and as you pass the other exits they will fill the outside lane.

On motorway and dual carriageways especially expect tailgating. It is what they do and nothing will stop it. Similarly in rain if a car overtakes you it will likely pull in almost scraping your front bumper and covering your windscreen in spray. They have no sense of stopping distances.

You need at least one yellow jacket in the car where it can be reached without getting out. Also, a box of light bulbs and a warning triangle somewhere in the vehicle. You need you driver's licence and means of identity at all times plus your usual documents.

If you break down and only have the standard breakdown cover then you are likely to be towed only as far as the nearest garage and left to sort out the repairs yourself. If you want to use a different garage you will have to pay for them to collect the car. If you haven't got breakdown cover you will have to pay for the vehicle towing off the road to the nearest garage. French garages out in the sticks tend to close on a Saturday lunch time until Tuesday morning.

Other than that, its a doddle.

I live in France and do 20,000 miles a year in France, working and in the camper.

Bonne route!

Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!

Nellie72

03/1/2018 at 10:07pm
Location: S.Wales
Outfit: Bailey Pageant Bordeaux

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Quote: Originally posted by Frogman14 on 14/3/2008
When you are back in Uk, sunny day, out in the country, quite relaxed, everything right with the world. the brain goes into "hoilday mode" so must drive on the right.

I did this last week in Brixham, went up the ramp of the seafront car park on the right hand side. I came back from France in August after spending 5 weeks there, I know I do all the driving, but you'd think I'd have realised that I was on the wrong side of the road by the arrows painted on the road were pointing toward me! I've never driven on the wrong side of the road in France (thankfullY) but I have to be really careful when I come back home

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Doing whatever the rice krispies tell me to.

blueexpo97

04/1/2018 at 12:17pm
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Don't think there is any need for the box of bulbs, as even the French realise that a lot of bulbs cannot be changed by the car owner.

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XVI yes?

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How does a sage know everything about everything? or does he? or does he just think he does?
Remember, if you buy something you bought it, not brought it.

saxo1

04/1/2018 at 12:30pm
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It isn't a legal requirement to carry spare bulbs but if you are stopped for a faulty light, perhaps a rear light bulb which is often not too difficult to change,they ,depending upon the conditions,nightime,raining,fog etc may prevent you from continuing your journey.
It makes sense to carry some.
saxo1

Nicepix

04/1/2018 at 1:56pm
Location: Charente France
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Yes, saxo is correct. My apologies.

Spare bulbs are not mandatory. But if you have a light out and are stopped by the Gendarmes without a spare bulb you could be issued with a fine or prohibited from continuing until it is fixed. Most large French supermarkets and auto stores have boxed sets of spare bulbs.

Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!

Grandad Kenny

05/1/2018 at 7:18pm
Location: Essex
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Don't forget the in date alcohol testers which are meant to be carried, apparently! Was stopped last year, checked the name on my licence was the same as on the insurance and nothing else. Of course on the V5 the name could be different, not sure how that would be taken by the police!

swcamper

10/3/2019 at 1:58pm
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For driving abroad, check out these two handy websites, both have tons of information on them.
http://www.drive-france.com

https://www.driving-france.co.uk

Devondad

14/5/2019 at 12:02pm
Location: Devon
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We would agree with above, both websites are very handy resources. The AA and RAC also have a huge amount of information when it comes to driving abroad.

Lukeledge

via mobile 13/6/2019 at 10:27am
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We were on Austrian autobahn and followed signs indicating vehicles over 2.5 tonnes to pull off to left and joined a queue if trucks.... Then onto weighbridge with the HGVs! The policeman laughed and pointed out our weight and said we hadn't needed to pull off 😁
Handy though, we weighed only 3200 fully loaded .

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