France in Focus

As we're on the subject, and so it doesn't clog up La Code thread; this is the sign I mentioned: I'm ashamed to say that until our daughter was learning La Code, a few years ago, we were unaware of the priority this sign indicated - just thinking there was a junction up ahead. Why would we?

Imagine how many road users in France today still don't know it's importance. Vehicles coming out of these (often very minor) side roads from the right can just pull straight out onto the bigger, faster road (if they dare!), and they're well within their rights. Woe betide if you don't stop in time and rear-shunt them. Your fault. If someone is behind you and rear-shunts you while you brake/slow right down for checking a side junction, their fault! I've seen people driving at 80kmh past these little side roads without a care in the world!

Only in France?!!

Bayleaf wrote: ↑Thu Oct 12, 2023 8:32 amOnly in France?!!

Nope. Here too. Although here they do keep the road markings well painted.

Cycling on a straight road to work in Basel was interesting as I had to slow at every junction to the right in case. And of course anything that does come from the right in turn has to slow for vehicles to their right.

We've always known what that sign means !! There were loads of them where we used to live when we first arrived here but over the years the side roads were changed to Give Way. That said, a village nearby re-introduced priorité à droite on the main road as a means of traffic calming ... Round here, the humps are breeding like rabbits.

I'll have to get a photo, but in the bourg of our commune, they've spent months on various road works and what have they come up with ? A little roundabout where a vehicle on the roundabout has to give way to the right !!!! I do remember roundabouts like that about 30 + years ago but as they seem to have disappeared, everyone is astonished to see the resurrection of such idiocy.

niemeyjt wrote: ↑Thu Oct 12, 2023 8:55 am

Bayleaf wrote: ↑Thu Oct 12, 2023 8:32 amOnly in France?!!

Nope. Here too. Although here they do keep the road markings well painted.

Cycling on a straight road to work in Basel was interesting as I had to slow at every junction to the right in case. And of course anything that does come from the right in turn has to slow for vehicles to their right.

If there is a cross sign, there won't be any markings on the road. Vehicles from the right would only slow down if they're wanting to turn left. Daughter has to pass lots of these priority roads on her way to work in Toulouse - anyone from the right who wants to then turn right just shoots out of the side road to join the circulation on the bigger road. Nerves of steel!

Blaze wrote: ↑Thu Oct 12, 2023 9:02 am

I'll have to get a photo, but in the bourg of our commune, they've spent months on various road works and what have they come up with ? A little roundabout where a vehicle on the roundabout has to give way to the right !!!! I do remember roundabouts like that about 30 + years ago but as they seem to have disappeared, everyone is astonished to see the resurrection of such idiocy.

We've got one of those - it confuses the hell out of people! Some sick joke by the designer, for sure!

Blaze wrote: ↑Thu Oct 12, 2023 9:02 amI'll have to get a photo, but in the bourg of our commune, they've spent months on various road works and what have they come up with ? A little roundabout where a vehicle on the roundabout has to give way to the right !!!! I do remember roundabouts like that about 30 + years ago but as they seem to have disappeared, everyone is astonished to see the resurrection of such idiocy.

The last time I drove on Etoile/Arc de Triomphe it was like that. That was where I learned that a Renault Twingo door was no match for my Volvo 740 rear bumper.

Bayleaf wrote: ↑Thu Oct 12, 2023 9:03 amIf there is a cross sign, there won't be any markings on the road. Vehicles from the right would only slow down if they're wanting to turn left. Daughter has to pass lots of these priority roads on her way to work in Toulouse - anyone from the right who wants to then turn right just shoots out of the side road to join the circulation on the bigger road. Nerves of steel!

Luckily here there are - you can see the traffic going right follows the lanes and the straight on traffic crosses the lanes:

In Turkey, if you are on the roundabout you give way to traffic joining it!! Most unnerving to start with!

Edit: At least you did some 10+ years ago!

Blaze wrote: ↑Thu Oct 12, 2023 9:02 am I'll have to get a photo, but in the bourg of our commune, they've spent months on various road works and what have they come up with ? A little roundabout where a vehicle on the roundabout has to give way to the right !!!! I do remember roundabouts like that about 30 + years ago but as they seem to have disappeared, everyone is astonished to see the resurrection of such idiocy.

Yes, we had one of those in St. Cécile (our previous home). I had never seen a roundabout that you yield to the right when IN the roundabout. Learned very quickly. As we lived on the street where this roundabout was located, we could see very clearly that we weren't the only ones who didn't know this.

We've always known about the yield to the right sign. It also helps to know about the various white lines that 'should' be painted on the road at intersections (but aren't always if you're out in the boondocks). Those lines will also tell you if cars behind those lines need to yield or stop, among various other things.

I went to East Berlin during the 70s and came across being allowed to turn right on a red light for straight on - this wasn't the case in Hamburg at the time ! That said, the amount of traffic in the centre of East Berlin was minimal, almost a ghost town except for official cars.