Priority to the right

[Bayleaf]

Aren’t you blaming France for your ignorance?

Ouch! That's me burned!

[Antonia]

Ironically it's coming out of a PAD that I find the more unnerving. My instinct is to pause regardless of whether or not there is a halt line which then pi55es off the poor s*d who's stopped for me. Even when I do realise I've got priority it still feels wrong jumping out in front of them. They normally end up getting a thank you where I'm sure they would much rather I got on with it.

[DominicBest]

Aren’t you blaming France for your ignorance?

Ouch! That's me burned!

It was a bit abrupt, sorry.
I’ve lived with PaD in both Germany and France for a long time and when it’s used by people who are familiar with it it works well. It’s only when newcomers arrive that problems arise. I admit I wouldn’t like to drive around towns like Compiegne without a bit of knowledge because you really do need to be alert all of the time. In Germany PaD in built up areas was often introduced as a traffic calming measure, it stopped streets turning into commuting rat runs. I’m also a great believer in road users being alert all of the time, mainly because I’m also a motorcyclist and if you don’t ride like that you get hurt. In general the level concentration required to drive is becoming less and less. Automatic cars, cruise control, lane changing alarms and now interactive radar which allows your car to remain at a constant safe distance to the car in front have all diluted driver input. I might be in the minority but I think that’s a bad thing. I’m quite happy travelling along local back roads where PaD exists because as drivers have to be aware that they might have to give way ensures a higher level of concentration. It comes as a shock to people who automatically believe that a physically bigger road has to be a more important road but if they read the signs and remain diligent there is no danger involved. The danger often occurs when a driver on a priority road stops to allow a vehicle on a ‘bigger’ road to pass as the cars following the driver with priority will not be expecting that. It’s also worth pointing out that out of built up areas main roads, whether they’re N roads, D roads or even lower classifications, will not have PaD and once again the road signs will be crystal clear. I’ve always believed that many people who move to France class PaD with shops closing at lunchtime and restaurants only serving food at recognised meal times; they look at it as being different and therefore wrong.
For any driver entering a country with unfamiliar road signs a basic requirement is to learn what they mean. In 1987 in a Spanish campsite a Cornish traffic police officer asked me what the diamonds along the main roads meant. He added, ‘Some bugger’s put them in Cornwall and none of us know what they mean.’

[Bayleaf]

In general the level concentration required to drive is becoming less and less. Automatic cars, cruise control, lane changing alarms and now interactive radar which allows your car to remain at a constant safe distance to the car in front have all diluted driver input. I might be in the minority but I think that’s a bad thing.

Apology accepted, and I'm obviously in the same minority (apart from me being a total ignoramus regarding some road signs - being someone who hasn't travelled much).

I hate (a strong word, but can't think of a better one!) that "the real driving experience" is being dumbed down by an increasing number of incar gizmos and gadgets. I like being in tune with the car and actually driving it with minimal intervention. I also used to be a motorbike rider (well, if you can call a Suzuki GP100 a real motorbike! ), so even now as a passenger I catch myself checking over my shoulder out of habit!

I've learnt a lot about French road laws since both children have gone through (one still going through) the French Driving system, and I'm grateful for that - to the point that maybe leaflets could be available at supermarket checkouts (as that's the only place ALL residents and visitors go at some point), to help them understand some of the less usual things. I'm sure I can't be the only one who only recently discovered PAD...

[RobertArthur]

Rules and sometimes surprising exceptions for tourists. They are rather rude those Parisians.....isn't this a motorway?
Who has priority on the Paris ring road? If you are driving on the Paris ring road, the Boulevard périphérique, you should be aware of the special priority system that applies there. This urban road is subject to the right-of-way rule. This means that vehicles wishing to enter the ring road have priority over vehicles already on it.

[Lori]

This means that vehicles wishing to enter the ring road have priority over vehicles already on it.

Had no idea !!! This is explains a lot ! And yes, I thought they were just being rude and aggressive.

[A.N.Other]

No Googling, who knows the origin of PaD?

[Bayleaf]

No Googling, who knows the origin of PaD?

That was my question at the beginning! Looking forward to an answer!

[niemeyjt]

No Googling, who knows the origin of PaD?

At a guess - something going back to horses and carts - like supposed issues of driving on the left or right side of the road.

Maybe a visibility issue with horses in front of the driver obstructing the view? I guess there were more hedges in those days?

[exile]

I was told that it is indeed because of horse drawn traffic in built up areas where exiting a narrow road between buildings would mean that the horses were in the middle of the streety before the 'driver had a view. This was particularly the case where 2 horses were required, since unlike the normal case in the UK where the horses would be side by side, to negotiate the narrow side streets, the horses had to be one in front of the other.

I wonder if Google agrees.