Roundabout rules in France

Post by **Cruz** » 26 Feb 2012, 23:27

Can anyone who has been to France recently explain the roundabout rules as searching the internet brings up conflicting and out of date info. I've read some are priority to those on the roundabout (the sane way) and some are still priorite a droite where vehicles entering the roundabout have priority (the insane continental way)

And is Spain the same?

If driving on the wrong side of the road wasn't enough

Thanks

Post by **Ian Hulley** » 27 Feb 2012, 00:26

They have changed the rules in the past 10 years to match the rest of the civilised world ... traffic ON the roundabout has right of way BUT the wise move is to keep your eyes peeled because there are priority signs on all roundabouts and I NEVER rely on anyone else to give way. Full stop.

Ian

Post by **Cruz** » 27 Feb 2012, 06:32

Thanks Ian

By signs do you mean this one?

Post by **Ian Hulley** » 27 Feb 2012, 08:42

Cruz wrote:Thanks Ian

By signs do you mean this one?

Yep, that's the one. It's informing the hard of thinking to give way to traffic already on the roundabout ... as we should over here too. You have to watch the older French drivers like a hawk ...,. I've seen very close encounters 2 or 3 times ... only once involving us but as I said before I treat them all as idiots until proven otherwise.

Ian

Post by **Cruz** » 27 Feb 2012, 09:10

Ian Hulley wrote:I treat them all as idiots until proven otherwise.

Ian

I'll be fine as I have lived in Manchester, Preston, Blackburn and Accrington

Thanks for putting us at ease a bit more though Ian

Post by **Ralf85** » 27 Feb 2012, 13:15

What you have to be super careful about is mini-roundabouts. Nobody seems to know who has priority and people tend to all stop and wait. I find that they see a camper with a foreign number plate and let me go first, but be careful.

Patrick

Post by **Cruz** » 27 Feb 2012, 13:27

PRD wrote:What you have to be super careful about is mini-roundabouts. Nobody seems to know who has priority and people tend to all stop and wait.

Like being in the UK then

Post by **AdrianC** » 28 Feb 2012, 17:22

There's a pair of signs that tell you who has priority.

You are on the main road, and vehicles coming from the right must give way to you.

You are on the minor road, and you DO NOT have priority.

Post by **Dave307** » 28 Feb 2012, 19:06

I've driven all over Europe and I still don't understand. I just wait for a gap and go as fast as I can. Never been pulled by the cops and not crashed yet (touch wood).
Maybe not as easy in a camper as you can't just floor it.

Post by **Zoe** » 04 Mar 2012, 08:47

AdrianC wrote:There's a pair of signs that tell you who has priority.

You are on the main road, and vehicles coming from the right must give way to you.

You are on the minor road, and you DO NOT have priority.

Coming from the right??? As in motor ways ect not a round about!!

Post by **AdrianC** » 06 Mar 2012, 15:57

Zoejckson wrote:Coming from the right??? As in motor ways ect not a round about!!

On normal single carriageway roads. Yep, from the right. So if you have the "No priority" sign, then somebody "joining" your road from a side road HAS PRIORITY OVER YOU.

Post by **tandemsandy** » 06 Mar 2012, 23:47

I used to go to Toulouse a lot with work, and in one area around the airport priority was 'normal', then with no warning in another area it was the opposite. I asked our rep how you were supposed to know, his simple answer was "look for the glass on the road!"

Post by **Plasticman** » 07 Mar 2012, 17:41

bit like norway, there if I recall the priorities change at the town boundary, so have to be real carefull as its that grey transitionb area, as said proceed with caution andexpect all others on the road to have a wish to destroy you , kept me alive when biking...
mm

Post by **Madwitch** » 07 Mar 2012, 20:02

Mini roundabouts are easy - I have priority!

Post by **Ian Hulley** » 07 Mar 2012, 20:14

Madwitch wrote:Mini roundabouts are easy - I have priority!

Yep, not going to argue with that

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