Driving on French roads

If I remember correctly, it was France and Switzerland followed by Italy that once introduced toll motorways. I'm sure it adds up to a considerable sum if you only use dm. Personally I agree with you: it is not only cheaper but much more fun to drive smaller side roads if you are not in a hurry - more to look at there.

Answer: You are the only WP blog where I never have to do anything. I write the comment and click "Submit Comment. Nice!

This is probably my lasting memory of French motorways, the sky-high prices!

Hello to you! Nice to follow your journey.
We have travelled in the same places and have the same experiences. The roundabouts can be a scourge. It is the same in Spain, especially in the countryside. Must be an EU invention and probably EU money that paid for the roundabouts.

The infrastructure for motorhomes in France is great. And their municipal campsites are cheap and often centrally located.

We use toll roads when we are short of time. Our journeys are always associated with reporting jobs, so sometimes we have to squeeze it in. But the most pleasant thing is to go at a leisurely pace and look at the surroundings, stop where it looks cosy and eat a simple but fantastic French meal.

Keep up the good work!

Great to go out and adventure in a motorhome for a whole year! 🙂

We have lived in the south of France for seven years now with regular annual trips to Sweden and also a lot of driving in the rest of France. Unlike everyone else, we do NOT think the French motorways are overpriced. They are of an extremely high standard, very well maintained, often very scenic and with effective clean-up and assistance in case of accidents. Compared to the German motorways, which are a veritable misery, here you drive on quiet, well-dosed roads with the French driving extremely disciplined and well, especially on the motorways. The times you drive on the departmental roads you are often led into different towns, often with lots of roundabouts, red lights and through dull and ugly industrial areas. We avoid these kinds of roads and use the motorways to get to our destination quickly. Then we like to drive picturesque small roads in the beautiful French landscape!!!
We live between mountains and sea and find that the mountain roads are well maintained but narrow and very winding, sometimes a bit too much to be comfortable with a motorhome. On smaller roads, the French drive unpleasantly fast and are happy to get right behind you and overtake you in a life-threatening way. This applies not least to the many motorcyclists who are pure suicide pilots. The wreaths of flowers along the roads bear witness to this. The French also drive fast and don't stop until they reach the turn-off, so you don't know if they are just going to continue straight ahead. Their roundabout driving is completely different from the Swedish, which is unpleasantly confusing.
many times.
Parking in France is a different story. People squeeze in wherever they can, don't respect prohibition signs and park in disabled spaces. You often scratch here and there, which is also reflected in all the scratches and minor damage. Many times you get an injury in a car park and the person who hit you has simply left. The tip is to get out of the car as soon as you are hit and get hold of the "perpetrator" who otherwise just nonchalantly leaves. Also, make sure you have the international version of the insurance claim form available and check carefully that the other party completes everything and signs it. Otherwise it will be expensive
and complicated!
French police are extremely efficient and tough. Especially motorbike cops who lurk on the side of the road and don't tolerate the slightest contradiction once they've stopped you. Just smile and be as compliant as possible. There are also a lot of speed cameras and everyone respects them. People also obey the speed limits, there are very heavy fines on the spot and French people also get points on their driving licence for offences. These are all deliberate efforts to reduce road accidents, and good results have been achieved in just a few years.
To watch out for is the traffic on Sunday afternoons. The French eat their long family lunch, drink wine and drive in a way a Swede would never dare. So watch out for drunk drivers! The blood alcohol level is otherwise 0.5, so anyone who wants to can have a glass or two.
Driving in the countryside has its charm through the many inns and nice small restaurants where you can get a three-course menu including wine at a very low price. The French are incredibly friendly and service-orientated and the best way to do this is to always greet them with a Bonjour and say s'il vous plait and merci as much as you can!

We have driven a lot in France but with a regular car and have alternated the motorways which we found very good and easy to use. Significantly nicer than the German ones. But we have also driven on many smaller roads and there can be crowded in small villages and towns, but you see and experience a lot. There are plenty of roundabouts of all kinds. Maybe someone has a commission to build them.
Parking is a story in itself....