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Roundabout rules in France
Posted: 26 Feb 2012, 23:27
by Cruz
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anyone who has been to France recently explain the roundabout rules as searching the internet brings up conflicting and out of date info.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

Re: Roundabout rules in France
Posted: 27 Feb 2012, 00:26
by Ian Hulley
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
Re: Roundabout rules in France
Posted: 27 Feb 2012, 06:32
by Cruz
Thanks Ian
By signs do you mean this one?

Re: Roundabout rules in France
Posted: 27 Feb 2012, 08:42
by Ian Hulley
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
Re: Roundabout rules in France
Posted: 27 Feb 2012, 09:10
by Cruz
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

Re: Roundabout rules in France
Posted: 27 Feb 2012, 13:15
by Ralf85
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
Re: Roundabout rules in France
Posted: 27 Feb 2012, 13:27
by Cruz
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

Re: Roundabout rules in France
Posted: 28 Feb 2012, 17:22
by AdrianC
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.
Re: Roundabout rules in France
Posted: 28 Feb 2012, 19:06
by Dave307
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.
Re: Roundabout rules in France
Posted: 04 Mar 2012, 08:47
by Zoe
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!!
Re: Roundabout rules in France
Posted: 06 Mar 2012, 15:57
by AdrianC
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.
Re: Roundabout rules in France
Posted: 06 Mar 2012, 23:47
by tandemsandy
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!"
Re: Roundabout rules in France
Posted: 07 Mar 2012, 17:41
by Plasticman
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
Roundabout rules in France
Posted: 07 Mar 2012, 20:02
by Madwitch
Mini roundabouts are easy - I have priority!
Re: Roundabout rules in France
Posted: 07 Mar 2012, 20:14
by Ian Hulley
Madwitch wrote:Mini roundabouts are easy - I have priority!
Yep, not going to argue with that
