If you go on holiday by car, you will sometimes have to deal with strange traffic rules. Every country has one or two, but in France, apparently, the reversed right-of-way rule can lead to dangerous situations.
In Britain, anyone who wets pedestrians or cyclists by driving across a puddle as a motorist risks a fine of between £100 and £5,000, plus three penalty points on their licence. In Spain, you may be fined if you drive in flip flops or stick an arm or other body part out of the window. But the strangest rule is that it is forbidden to wear anything that covers your ears, whether it is a hat or headphones.
Check the bottom of the car
In Germany, you can drive as fast as you like in many places, but if you run out of gas on the motorway you can expect a hefty fine – and sometimes a driving ban. And in Denmark, before driving, motorists are required to check the bottom of their car to “make sure children don’t sleep under it”.
In many cases, these are innocent and even funny things that rarely involve any danger. This varies with different traffic rule in France. There, traffic consolidation on the Périphérique – the ring road around Paris – takes priority over traffic on the main thoroughfare. This rule is generally known to the French, who eagerly use it by swinging their car onto the unseen main road. Something that sometimes leads to sudden braking interventions for drivers from other countries.
The reason why traffic consolidation is given priority is that the 35-kilometer Boulevard Péripherique has no official motorway status.
“Unsociable Parisians”
“Until recently, we were always right on Rue Périphérique in Paris,” says Martin Kouwenhoven, owner of a vacation home in the Dordogne. “Also because we often drive with a trailer. We thought these Parisians were driving antisocial behavior by isolating us just like that when merging. We even heard from a Frenchman that merging traffic has priority there. Since then, we’ve avoided the right lane as much as possible.”
The reason why traffic consolidation is given priority is that the 35-kilometer Boulevard Péripherique has no official motorway status. It is an urban road. “This means that traffic from the right has priority according to the French motorway code.” This arrangement is perhaps the safest, as the ramps are short and often end at a sidewalk or bridge rather than an emergency lane.
Second lane from the right
Therefore, experienced drivers of France are advised to drive as far as possible in the second lane from the right. This way you avoid getting blown up by integrating Parisians. The good news is that in theory you should have less stress when you have to brace yourself on that circuitous route in Paris. After all, everyone has to give way to you, according to French motorway law.
Live in a romantic camper? “Above all, you need to constantly think about practical matters, plan and solve problems flexibly” (+)
