I'm planning a road trip to France from Newcastle via Euro Tunnel. I have rewinded and replayed this video several times so your tips sinks in. I've always been scared of the idea of driving on the right and also not knowing the driving behaviours of the French. It feels criminal to watch content like this for free. Thank you so much
15:18 in fact it just reduced to 50 here! In France the town name sign also creates the lower speed limit of 50 unless another speed limit sign is present at that point, the crossed out one raises it to 80.
Two points about the lights. 1) in a lot of cases the beam pattern is inverted on the lens so where you think you should put the tape top right, it should actually go bottom left due to the way the beam works. but also 2) those lights look like they could be LED projector bulbs. If thats the case most modern LEDs have a square (or near square) pattern and actually dont need any adjustment (or if they do, it can usually be done from within the cars menus on the dash). Most of the over the counter adjuster kits are not designed for LED bulbs. Either way, the only real way to be 100% sure youre lights are adjusted correctly is to find a nice plain wall and park in front of it with your normal headlights on. Look at the beam pattern and then see if theres a "up tick" on the left. If there is, use a bit of electrical tape to slowly mask off bits of the headlight until the uptick is gone. The kits you buy from halfords come with instructions for most cars but having driven a number of different UK cars on the continent I find the plain wall trick to be FAR simpler and more accurate than following those guides.
You need to keep a high-vis vest in the cab. You must put it on before exiting the vehicle if you break down on main roads. You can keep your passenger's hi-vis vests in the boot. If you do not have hi-vis vests for your passengers, they cannot exit the vehicle. You must also carry a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit for 5 people, a full set of replacement lamps and a warning triangle. You must also carry a breathalyzer. Buy an electronic one as it can be re-used. If you use a disposable breathalyzer, carry at least 2. If you are required to use one of them then you still have another to continue you journey legally.
That’s great to know and would completely make sense. You would need it immediately when leaving the car. Thank you for noticing that and bringing it to my attention. I’ll put that in the description.
The light stickers are very important. Every car, or more precisely, every model of car by different manufacturers, has different stickers (size and shape) for head lights. Placing the stickers in the correct position on your head lights is crucial for your own as well as the safety of other drivers and pedestrians. I think it would be useful to show the stickers kit, instructions and the entire process of preparation, usually done on the ferry during the crossing of the La Manche.
Great resource tks... just wondering what those large curved white arrows which are painted on the center line indicate...there is a couple at around the 11 minute mark on the video... tkss again
Good question. Based upon my experience of Uk roads I would say they are there to warn you to stay right as a little further ahead you have hatch markings and a left turn filter box. I’m assuming here as french roads are not my speciality but it seems the logical reason. I hope that helps!
One area which is incorrect is that the speed limit on a single carriageway road out of town is 80kph. This is true for certain parts of France, but it is not true everywwhere. There is some flexibility with te limit, and last year in Eastern France many of the roads maintain the 90kph limit.
Hi-vis jackets should be easily accessible so in the cabin is preferred. I have already been corrected on that and have amended the description accordingly, being it was too late to update this video. Warning triangle or plural I am unsure. Both the AA and the RAC mention only one required however I have seen some websites saying two. 🤷♂️more research is needed. Maybe for the next one.
One thing that a lot of UK drivers get caught out with is you see a red stop sign, you have to come to a dead stop, even if you can see for miles and there's nothing coming, you can't roll forward, if a copper sees you he'll do you for it. Another is Priority to the right. Priorité à droite is a default rule that you must stop or slow to allow drivers to enter your road from a junction on the right, unless there is a give way or stop sign at that junction.
Planning on driving from Scotland to Munich next year to take in Euros, watching this video gives me more confidence using my own van in France and Germany. 👍 🏴
Great video, even though I’ve driven down south for past 30 years your content was still informative. We always go just north of Agde, where abouts were you filming. Regards Frank
Happy you found it useful! The vid was shot near a town called Uzes. Not too far away from Avignon. I don’t think I’ve been to Agde but not a million miles away! Maybe worth a visit this year.
Great video scenery looks stunning, thanks for the tips! Would you see rural France as an easier place for someone who has no experience driving in continental Europe (driving right hand side)? I'm looking at bringing my car on the ferry from Ireland to Brittany/Normandy? Cheers
Thank you, happy you liked it! Definitely easier then negotiating Paris for example. However if you’re comfortable driving in the Uk then you’ll quickly get used to driving abroad. When are you travelling?
@@GetWheelDriving good to know. Of course we drive the same side as UK here in Ireland but havnt driven in UK personally. Have driven through abroad in Aussie, New Zealand and Malta where they are on the left as well. Probably not planning on going until next year. 👍
Ah sorry I meant Ireland. Driving wise very similar. I’m actually headed over again this year and am planning more videos on this trip. It maybe of interest to you. Also content for TikTok if that’s your thing. Otherwise just go for it. It may feel uncomfortable for a small time but that won’t last. You’ll very quickly adapt.
Go for it!!! If you’re comfortable behind the wheel then you’ll be fine. So many of us get confused with left and right it’s quite normal kind of😝 but if you’re driving a right hand drive UK car/vehicle just remember to keep the verge on your right and you’ll be fine… it’s an adventure and well worth doing! More France content coming soon.
I've never attempted this.. Do you judge your car positioning, of what you can see easily, the right side of the road, a right road line marking....Or from the center of the road?
I would say yes you do. You judge the left just like you do in the Uk. I might have a video coming out that might shed more light on this. But you can easily see the right hand side from where you’re positioned.
I’m driving to France next week! I’ve got breakdown cover sorted and all the necessary insurance to cover me driving abroad I’ve got all the bits you need to keep in the car and I’ve even bought the euro lite beam deflectors! I’m so excited but also very nervous to be driving in the other side of the road as I’ve only been driving for 7months now which I don’t think is a huge amount of time before driving abroad🤣 any tips you could give to help calm me down?😁🤣
It sounds like you’re ready!!! I remember the first time I drove abroad. It was a similar amount of time from when I passed my test. Although I’d always sat in cars driven abroad as a kid, which could count as some form of experience I guess. As long as you’re comfortable behind the wheel you’ll be just fine. Read the signs though they still have priority to the right here which will be marked by a stop sign/line for you. They occasionally come out of the blue. Otherwise look left on roundabouts 😝Enjoy!!! You’ll have an amazing time. It’s a real adventure. I love it!
@@GetWheelDriving sorry I never got the chance to reply to this but I did it! And it was brilliant, the Astra never skipped a beat and the roads and scenery were so nice! Thanks for the tips! and the video definitely helped me a huge amount:)
2:20 In my eyes, the British are really pro's at using roundabouts. On the continent, it is OK to just stay on the right lane on two lane-roundabouts. This is what I usually do, it avoids conflict points like 6:10 (that roundabout was not even two lane). I also don't think you need to signal left when approaching the roundabout and planning to take a left turn. This is a weird UK thing and not really done in continental Europe. The French do have their own strange habit though of indicating left while being on the roundabout in order to show cars that they are not yet leaving the roundabout. And of course, if they leave the roundabout, they will indicate right.
Aaah I guess we all do things differently. However, certainly in the UK, roundabouts are designed to allow traffic to be more free flowing. So signals tell traffic approaching from other directions your intention and tells them to either stop or keep moving. I see signalling left, if I’m taking the first exit, on approach as a courtesy. Not everyone in the UK signals properly though.
I’m a French driver and I ALWAYS use the left sign when I enter a roundabout and want to exit the left way out. Foreign drivers should be warned that french drivers seldom use their signal. I was a motorbiker for 25 years in the 80s and 90s, and avoid many accidents at the last moment because of car drivers turning without any signals. 😡. So always try to anticipate what other drivers might do.
The yellow vests should be stored in the cockpit of the car, not the boot, so your mum has probably got them inside. Plus you need one for each occupant of the car. Otherwise, I enjoyed your driving tips.
An easy way to remember you should be driving on the right-hand side if you're from the UK with your car: stick to the side where your driving-wheel is!
With due respect to you and this lovely video. It doesn’t show the difficulty of merging on a motorway or onto a road at an angle whereby the entire road is in your blind spot and obscured by the corner of your car at the back. And you have extremely impatient French drivers behind you harassing you to go because they do not know you cannot see. Or how agressive French drivers are and basically do not know how to drive.
Before you start your drive, take a few minutes to learn the meaning of the road signs and to understand the seriousness of the "priorité à droite" rule. If you're in doubt about these things, you shouldn't be on the road.
How to Quadruple the Number of well-deserved Viewers, in two easy steps? 1) Fling those sunglasses under the wheels of the nearest passing lorry 2) Shave off that beard. Granted, a few female viewers may disagree.
I'm planning a road trip to France from Newcastle via Euro Tunnel. I have rewinded and replayed this video several times so your tips sinks in. I've always been scared of the idea of driving on the right and also not knowing the driving behaviours of the French. It feels criminal to watch content like this for free. Thank you so much
Very happy you found it useful! Have a great holiday when you go. You’ll enjoy it, and it won’t take long to get used to driving on the other side.
15:18 in fact it just reduced to 50 here! In France the town name sign also creates the lower speed limit of 50 unless another speed limit sign is present at that point, the crossed out one raises it to 80.
Thank you Toby!! Love information like this! Very useful to know Sir! 😊
Two points about the lights.
1) in a lot of cases the beam pattern is inverted on the lens so where you think you should put the tape top right, it should actually go bottom left due to the way the beam works.
but also
2) those lights look like they could be LED projector bulbs. If thats the case most modern LEDs have a square (or near square) pattern and actually dont need any adjustment (or if they do, it can usually be done from within the cars menus on the dash). Most of the over the counter adjuster kits are not designed for LED bulbs.
Either way, the only real way to be 100% sure youre lights are adjusted correctly is to find a nice plain wall and park in front of it with your normal headlights on. Look at the beam pattern and then see if theres a "up tick" on the left. If there is, use a bit of electrical tape to slowly mask off bits of the headlight until the uptick is gone. The kits you buy from halfords come with instructions for most cars but having driven a number of different UK cars on the continent I find the plain wall trick to be FAR simpler and more accurate than following those guides.
You need to keep a high-vis vest in the cab. You must put it on before exiting the vehicle if you break down on main roads. You can keep your passenger's hi-vis vests in the boot. If you do not have hi-vis vests for your passengers, they cannot exit the vehicle.
You must also carry a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit for 5 people, a full set of replacement lamps and a warning triangle.
You must also carry a breathalyzer. Buy an electronic one as it can be re-used. If you use a disposable breathalyzer, carry at least 2. If you are required to use one of them then you still have another to continue you journey legally.
Fire extinguisher is NOT mandatory in France.
You don’t need a fire extinguisher, first aid kit, bulbs or a breathalyser. What might help though is a crit air sticker
The Gilet Jaune must be accessible from within the cabin and NOT put in the boot!
That’s great to know and would completely make sense. You would need it immediately when leaving the car. Thank you for noticing that and bringing it to my attention. I’ll put that in the description.
The light stickers are very important. Every car, or more precisely, every model of car by different manufacturers, has different stickers (size and shape) for head lights. Placing the stickers in the correct position on your head lights is crucial for your own as well as the safety of other drivers and pedestrians. I think it would be useful to show the stickers kit, instructions and the entire process of preparation, usually done on the ferry during the crossing of the La Manche.
@@branislavtrninic4505 Good idea!!! I’ll have a look into putting one of those videos together👍
@@GetWheelDriving You also need a jacket for every occupant of the car not just the driver
Great resource tks... just wondering what those large curved white arrows which are painted on the center line indicate...there is a couple at around the 11 minute mark on the video... tkss again
Good question. Based upon my experience of Uk roads I would say they are there to warn you to stay right as a little further ahead you have hatch markings and a left turn filter box. I’m assuming here as french roads are not my speciality but it seems the logical reason. I hope that helps!
Those large arrows let you know that you're approaching a solid white line: so you must keep right and not overtake the vehicle in front of you.
I drove to uzes twice lovely town. Hope to go this year.
It sure is!! I may see you there then 😃
One area which is incorrect is that the speed limit on a single carriageway road out of town is 80kph. This is true for certain parts of France, but it is not true everywwhere. There is some flexibility with te limit, and last year in Eastern France many of the roads maintain the 90kph limit.
Thank you Doug really appreciate the comment and the correct info!
One piece of advice that I got from my father was when you're driving "keep your right elbow to the kerb"
Good advice if it helps you to stay on your side! But just like in the UK be mindful of parked vehicles😀
Thank you for this brilliant video.
You’re welcome!!! I’m glad you liked it! 😊
I believe you need 2 warning triangles for 30/150 metres? I believe the HI-Vis jackets must be accessible from within the car ( not boot/trunk)
Hi-vis jackets should be easily accessible so in the cabin is preferred. I have already been corrected on that and have amended the description accordingly, being it was too late to update this video. Warning triangle or plural I am unsure. Both the AA and the RAC mention only one required however I have seen some websites saying two. 🤷♂️more research is needed. Maybe for the next one.
you need 1 warning triangle
2 warning triangles, it’s for Spain.
One thing that a lot of UK drivers get caught out with is you see a red stop sign, you have to come to a dead stop, even if you can see for miles and there's nothing coming, you can't roll forward, if a copper sees you he'll do you for it. Another is Priority to the right.
Priorité à droite is a default rule that you must stop or slow to allow drivers to enter your road from a junction on the right, unless there is a give way or stop sign at that junction.
Great advice!!!
And you have right of way if you're coming from the right unless you're facing a sign saying ""cede le passage" (give way)
Beautiful drive man. Thank you for the time.
I’m glad you liked it!! You’re welcome! 😊
Planning on driving from Scotland to Munich next year to take in Euros, watching this video gives me more confidence using my own van in France and Germany. 👍 🏴
That’s a long ol’ trip from Scotland but do it! You’ll be absolutely fine! You’ll love the freedom!
You have just motivated me to get my First time driving in Crete sorted. Great video Roland! :)
Would love to see that!!!! Get it on!! 👍😀
It's an actually useful video. Thanks for sharing it.
I’m glad you enjoyed and or found it useful! 😊
great driving and advise.
I’m happy you liked it!
Going on a road trip to France from London. First time driving in Europe, it would be quite useful. Thanks
Ooo nice! Have a great trip. I’m doing the same thing so more content coming 👍
Great video, even though I’ve driven down south for past 30 years your content was still informative. We always go just north of Agde, where abouts were you filming. Regards Frank
Happy you found it useful! The vid was shot near a town called Uzes. Not too far away from Avignon. I don’t think I’ve been to Agde but not a million miles away! Maybe worth a visit this year.
@@GetWheelDriving we are there again in May as I said just north of Agde, it is marsellien plage. Just like Weymouth with shallow warm waters.
Great video scenery looks stunning, thanks for the tips! Would you see rural France as an easier place for someone who has no experience driving in continental Europe (driving right hand side)? I'm looking at bringing my car on the ferry from Ireland to Brittany/Normandy? Cheers
Thank you, happy you liked it! Definitely easier then negotiating Paris for example. However if you’re comfortable driving in the Uk then you’ll quickly get used to driving abroad. When are you travelling?
@@GetWheelDriving good to know. Of course we drive the same side as UK here in Ireland but havnt driven in UK personally. Have driven through abroad in Aussie, New Zealand and Malta where they are on the left as well. Probably not planning on going until next year. 👍
Ah sorry I meant Ireland. Driving wise very similar. I’m actually headed over again this year and am planning more videos on this trip. It maybe of interest to you. Also content for TikTok if that’s your thing. Otherwise just go for it. It may feel uncomfortable for a small time but that won’t last. You’ll very quickly adapt.
@@GetWheelDriving looking forward to new videos, keep it up! Tks Roland.
Do i need an international drivers license to hire a car? I have a UK issued licences.
Shouldn’t do. You can hire a car on a UK licence as long as it’s not a provisional.
We want to start travelling in Europe soon in a campervan and I’m shit at left and right I’m dreading it…truly dreading it
Go for it!!! If you’re comfortable behind the wheel then you’ll be fine. So many of us get confused with left and right it’s quite normal kind of😝 but if you’re driving a right hand drive UK car/vehicle just remember to keep the verge on your right and you’ll be fine… it’s an adventure and well worth doing! More France content coming soon.
I've never attempted this..
Do you judge your car positioning, of what you can see easily, the right side of the road, a right road line marking....Or from the center of the road?
I would say yes you do. You judge the left just like you do in the Uk. I might have a video coming out that might shed more light on this. But you can easily see the right hand side from where you’re positioned.
I’m driving to France next week! I’ve got breakdown cover sorted and all the necessary insurance to cover me driving abroad I’ve got all the bits you need to keep in the car and I’ve even bought the euro lite beam deflectors! I’m so excited but also very nervous to be driving in the other side of the road as I’ve only been driving for 7months now which I don’t think is a huge amount of time before driving abroad🤣 any tips you could give to help calm me down?😁🤣
This is also a brilliant video by the way! It’s been very helpful to watch this and gain and idea of what it will be like👍🏼
It sounds like you’re ready!!! I remember the first time I drove abroad. It was a similar amount of time from when I passed my test. Although I’d always sat in cars driven abroad as a kid, which could count as some form of experience I guess. As long as you’re comfortable behind the wheel you’ll be just fine. Read the signs though they still have priority to the right here which will be marked by a stop sign/line for you. They occasionally come out of the blue. Otherwise look left on roundabouts 😝Enjoy!!! You’ll have an amazing time. It’s a real adventure. I love it!
@@GetWheelDriving sorry I never got the chance to reply to this but I did it! And it was brilliant, the Astra never skipped a beat and the roads and scenery were so nice! Thanks for the tips! and the video definitely helped me a huge amount:)
@@owenharper4403 I’m very happy you had a great trip!!! It’s nowhere near as bad as you think it’s going to be. On to the next time then😊
2:20 In my eyes, the British are really pro's at using roundabouts. On the continent, it is OK to just stay on the right lane on two lane-roundabouts. This is what I usually do, it avoids conflict points like 6:10 (that roundabout was not even two lane). I also don't think you need to signal left when approaching the roundabout and planning to take a left turn. This is a weird UK thing and not really done in continental Europe. The French do have their own strange habit though of indicating left while being on the roundabout in order to show cars that they are not yet leaving the roundabout. And of course, if they leave the roundabout, they will indicate right.
Aaah I guess we all do things differently. However, certainly in the UK, roundabouts are designed to allow traffic to be more free flowing. So signals tell traffic approaching from other directions your intention and tells them to either stop or keep moving. I see signalling left, if I’m taking the first exit, on approach as a courtesy. Not everyone in the UK signals properly though.
I’m a French driver and I ALWAYS use the left sign when I enter a roundabout and want to exit the left way out.
Foreign drivers should be warned that french drivers seldom use their signal. I was a motorbiker for 25 years in the 80s and 90s, and avoid many accidents at the last moment because of car drivers turning without any signals. 😡. So always try to anticipate what other drivers might do.
The yellow vests should be stored in the cockpit of the car, not the boot, so your mum has probably got them inside. Plus you need one for each occupant of the car. Otherwise, I enjoyed your driving tips.
An easy way to remember you should be driving on the right-hand side if you're from the UK with your car: stick to the side where your driving-wheel is!
With due respect to you and this lovely video. It doesn’t show the difficulty of merging on a motorway or onto a road at an angle whereby the entire road is in your blind spot and obscured by the corner of your car at the back. And you have extremely impatient French drivers behind you harassing you to go because they do not know you cannot see. Or how agressive French drivers are and basically do not know how to drive.
Before you start your drive, take a few minutes to learn the meaning of the road signs and to understand the seriousness of the "priorité à droite" rule. If you're in doubt about these things, you shouldn't be on the road.
How to Quadruple the Number of well-deserved Viewers, in two easy steps? 1) Fling those sunglasses under the wheels of the nearest passing lorry 2) Shave off that beard. Granted, a few female viewers may disagree.
Ouch Frank… just ouch 😝
@@GetWheelDriving Now I really feel guilty: at the contrast between your politeness and my rudeness !!
@@frankdsouza2425 bahahaha! Don’t be you’re probably right. Although I’m quite attached to the beard. 😀
Aucune erreur de conduite. Rien à dire !
Merci! 🙏