We didn’t really think a great deal about it, but given that we had leased a Peugeot for the duration, we would be in for quite a few kilometres during our 4 plus weeks in France. Given my experience with driving on the right, quite early in the journey I became the designated driver. Here are a few of my observations over the past few weeks in regard to driving in France.
The auto-routes are nowhere near as scary as I was led to believe: people speak of the high speed limits and crazy driving. Forget it. The maximum speed on the very best of roads is 130 kms. I must admit to reaching such speed on a few occasions. However, trucks are limited to 90 kms/hr. which is a godsend. Overtaking them is not the arduous task that it is on the Hume Highway I experience when returning from Wangaratta Choristers rehearsals late on a Wednesday evening. Signage is fantastic. Lots of warning for decisions to be made.
The reputation that French drivers are impatient and rude proved to be unfounded for me. Provided you adhered to the rules and drove at a reasonable speed there was no problem. I was honked at only once, and I must admit that it was well-deserved. I experienced much greater patience on the part of French drivers. AND they certainly give way to cyclists. Australians have a great deal to learn about sharing the road with cyclists and pedestrians. I found it much easier in France dealing with cyclists as the other motorists showed the same respect for those on a bike that I did.
Round-abouts abound. I thought Australia had a great many, but France has got them beat. They offer choice, which is a good thing if you’re not able to read all the signs (and there are many). Just keep going around and around until a reasonable choice appears. Believe me, I did it many a time.
Now, I was blessed with a navigator of the first class in the front seat, with two additional in back-up in the back seat. Given that you know which city you are headed for, navigating is reasonably logical. With the Michelin overall France map as well as the detailed map, Judith was able to get me just about anywhere. We quickly learned that when all else fails, go for ‘centre-ville’ as there always are signs of how to get out once you are in. The only place which defeated all 4 of us was Avignon. Perhaps we never went ‘centre-ville’. Should we ever decide to return to France, we will concede that Avignon is one of those places best left alone. I do wonder how the GPS would cope with Avignon.
Roads do not take pride of place in France. BeautifuI buildings are not knocked down for the sake of a road. In the ‘centre-ville’ the roads are narrow. Not just narrow, but very narrow. Australians, let alone Americans, do not know what narrow is. I learned and quickly, too. However, I thought I knew what narrow was in Ribeauville. I didn’t have a clue until meeting the teeny, tiny roads of Dordogne. I am happily driving along at 50 kms. per hour when all of a sudden walls close in and if unlucky a semi-trailer delivery truck comes along as well. Patience, and a dead stop deals with the situation, as the truck driver can be assured to be a better judge of distance than yours truly.
Our Peugeot was a dream to drive. Yes, I never did learn how to run the cruise control. However, I sat high in the drivers’ seat, and had as good a look as any at the road ahead. It virtually did everything for me. Lights were automatically controlled whether I had them on auto or not. Even the hand break was automatic and I think the windscreen wipers worked themselves, but I’m not quite sure. Give me another few weeks and I might work through that as well. On the last day I found the seat- warmer. I wonder how much they cost in Australia…
Our car came equipped with a GPS, and in English, too. However, no GPS could compete with the competence of my navigator and back-up. Thus it was shut down quick-smart. The team effort made life easy – even on the 700 plus km. days.
My advice for driving in France, from a 64 yr. old American/Australian, is to 1) get a top human navigator or two 2) Get a good car, and 3) Get good map and you can’t go wrong. Oh, and above all, keep your sense of humour. It certainly was required when we were given a police escort to the Peugeot depot at Charles de Gaulle Airport with full flashing blue lights for the last 200 metres of a 5000 km journey around France.
LouAnne
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