Touring to/in France
so....having taken 10 years to persuade me to travel abroad (!) we have had two great touring holidays, first to Holland (fabulous) then a more adventurous one to Holland, Luxembourg and Germany which was good but journeys to each country were quite long. Now my husband wants us to venture to France but I keep reading negative things including how (apparently) the French police are targeting British drivers in particular and fining them on the spot for the smallest transgression of their (many) rules including small amounts over the speed limits, carrying the gear they insist upon etc. To my mind, if we are not welcome in France, what is the point of our trekking all the way down to Southampton (from Yorkshire) and catching a ferry etc? I am wondering whether to try Belgium instead but apparently they are mad and dangerous drivers (?!!) Can anyone advise please? Cheers.👍
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I am glad your two previous holidays went well, but I think you have been badly advised about France. I have been over there every year since 1972 and have had no problems with French police at all. Enjoy your planning - wherever you go.
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Hi jayvee
I have heard all the stories but if you break the law in any country you will get a fine. But in England it comes in the post. Is speeding. I think France has it right you pay on the spot. Think of all the lorry drivers that get away with over. French road rules are different but read there rules and you won't go wrong. I have never been stopped in all the years I have been going to France. Relax enjoy your holiday. Dave
P.s don't break their laws simple.
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Really?? Where have heard all this? As others have said it's the same in any country, you just stick to the rules and speed limits. We have been to France most years, with and without a caravan and always had a great holiday. Go, enjoy, and don't worry.
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I would agree with the above posts - scaremongering springs to mind and as has been said, probably repeated by those who have never been after reading it in a tabloid trying to make an anti-France point. We have toured in France for thirty-seven years, with and without a caravan, and only had two 'brushes' with the police.
One was when they were stopping traffic just before an autoroute peage booth, near Beziers - to ensure that the Vignerons of the local area could present each driver with two free bottles of Languedoc wine.
The second occasion was when towing near Vatan, when we came across a road with a broken down combine harvester on a corner. The police were there, and a nice policeman made other drivers reverse so that we could reverse and had space to turn around, and then drew us a map on how to reach our planned campsite, involving going through a farm (his friend, the farmer, wouldn't mind), and out on to an alternative road, making sure we knew to turn down the lane at the side of the cemetery which had a -no through road sign..............!
We love touring in France so much that we have been to France at least once every year since our son was a small baby! Both my sons love it too, and both were there last year on holiday, and the eldest has already had one visit this year.
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In over 20 years of caravanning in France we have never had any problems with the police or any French nationals. They have always been very friendly and helpful towards us. As far as speeding goes I believe I'm correct in saying that the is no tolerance, if the sign shows 50kph it means that, not 53 or 54. The answer is to keep below the limit. You are on holiday when all is said and done.
I'm sure that all this anti-British hype is pure fantasy.
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I agree with all the above, we've been going to France for years, have barely seen a policeman and have found most people friendly and welcoming. One year a Frenchman went to a lot of trouble to help us get our car out of a ditch and more recently a campsite receptionist helped us to get an appointment with a local doctor. Obviously you need to obey the speed limits and rules in any country, so it pays to find out what they are. PS apparently there is no leeway on going over the speed limits here now (OH just back from the driver awareness course)
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In 30 years of caravanning in France we have never been stopped or had any contact with the police. I did get fined in Switzerland once though - for overtaking a lorry in a no overtaking area.
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What have you been reading? The only police we usually see are those driving round municipal campsites making sure all is safe and secure. The French people have been warm and friendly, from the receptionist who went out of her way to make an appointment with an English speaking doctor and draw a map of how to get there, to the old man who stopped by our car at a memorial cross in the middle of nowhere to explain who it commemorated and what he had done.
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Dear all, thank you so much for all your responses. I am by nature a "worrier" whereas my husband, who does all the towing and map reading (yes! I know, I sound useless but my talents lie elsewhere!) is confident that all will be absolutely fine going to France! All your positive comments point to a ferry booking to France this September!! I will post how we get on (and I will try not to nag en route about speed limits etc......back seat driving is, I know, very annoying!!!).
cheers midears😏
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Wife and I still have a good laugh when travelling from Switzerland one year we had hired a static caravan and taken the golf gti .I had fallen asleep on the way home awoke to find the better half doing 120 mph I said slow down dear she replied it Says 130 on signs my reply was 130 km .not miles per hour she burst out laughing and said she was really enjoying herself lucky no police about
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The reason you don't see the Gendarmes is that they are very sneaky.
They hide behind parked vehicles, under bridges on Motorways and any vantage point where they can see you but you can't see them.
For this reason the French motorists who do spot them will flash oncoming motorists for miles before the Gendarmes hiding places.
If you are 'flashed' (headlight variety) them drop your speed immediately and make sure everything is in order as you drive past the hiding place well below the speed limit.
And it's up to you to flash oncoming traffic if you do spot one - it's not just Johnny Foreigners job to do the warning!
In the last month we were 'flashed' half a dozen times and we 'flashed' a couple of times - great fun and breaks the monotony of waving at Motorhomes.
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To my mind, if we are not welcome in France, what is the point of our trekking all the way down to Southampton (from Yorkshire) and catching a ferry etc?
Well if you do catch the ferry from Southampton you wont have any problems with those sneaky gendarmes, as opposed to our boys in blue,as the only ferries from Southampton go to the Isle Of Wight!!
If you give a bit more info on dates,, destinations and duration ect. I am sure people will be only too glad to help with advice and great to see that you will now be going.
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compared to the UK, France (and most of the rest of Europe) is motorhoming (and pretty much caravanning) heaven...
(virtually) no booking, park how you like, no pegs, no paying in advance, toilets/showers open all day (cleaned around paying guests not booting them out), pools, bars, restaurants, reception open with dedicated staff......etc, etc, etc....
.....oh, and the weatherwink
whats not to like?smile2 -
Unfortunately some sections of the press don't like the facts getting in the way of a good story!!! Of course the French Police know where on the A26 northbound they will find speeding british drivers racing for the ferry although I doubt many of them were towing or driving a motorhome. I also know the police from Kent would sometimes go across and assist!! Many of the laws in France are very similar to what we have in the UK so providing we respect those laws you should have a trouble free visit. As others have said caravanning in France is a very pleasurable experience and I am sure you will come back wanting more. The beauty of France is the diversity of the terrain.
David
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The reason why the French are so touchy about speeding is the high death rate on the roads in the past, its certainly true it is not wise to exceed the speed limit but we have never had a problem in twenty years. Its also true that if you are caught breaking the law in France (and most continental countries) you are probably wasting your time trying to make excuses!
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I saw a gendarme today he had flagged down a somewhat rusting old French Motorhome. But as the rest say stick to the speed limits and you will be fine. My brother and sister in law live in France and she is a serial speeder but so far has only been caught once in 10 or so years which I find amazing I really dislike being driven by her! It has worried my brother so much he has taken their old map with speed cameras allowed (not allowed now or on sat navs) cut out all the cameras and stuck them on the new map! Kept him busy while convalescing from last year's ill health. Don't expect to see the cameras either they are grey and not very visible! It's a wonderful country to tour in and if you are worried about the trip south get a ferry to Holland and start there.
i remember an American asking what was with the speed signs - were they just advisory because everyone ignores them?! It's a bad idea to speed in the US too! Or not totally stop at a stop sign.
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You mind your own business if you like but when I see a 'flashing' car coming towards me I automatically slow down and appreciate the driver for the warning.
And I reciprocate by helping others - none of us may be speeding - but forewarned is forearmed (Praemonitus praemunitus)
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Anyone who is paranoid about being stopped, should avoid being in France (or certainly in some areas) around Christmas,where the Gendarmes will be on almost every roundabout checking driver, offering a breathalyser, and checking car documents.
We have spent several pre-Christmas holidays with our friend in the Aude, and each time he has been stopped (on the same roundabout between Carcassonne and Limoux) and breathalysed. Each time he has passed, and all his documentation has been in order.
Just stick to the law, and even the most conscientious French police cannot find anything against you!
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Don't expect to see the cameras either they are grey and not very visible!
In my experience there is normally a camera warning sign on the road then about 100m further on is a camera. They do normally have black and yellow tape on them but are not bright yellow and up in the air like the UK ones.
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Agreed MichaelT however I wonder if those are the only cameras?! Safer to stick to the law
I slow down if people flash because it might be a serious hazard in front and similarly I flash to warn oncoming traffic of danger they might run into both home and abroad.0 -
JVY I go to France regularly without problem. As has been stated above just go and enjoy your holiday. France is lovely and so are the people. Just ry and speak some French.
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It's also worth knowing that site offices in France are closed for lunch which Is worth knowing. The ACSI book sometimes gives the office hours but I got caught out at this site as lunch is from 1300 - 1430 I arrived at 1400! Some leave a message to pick your pitch and they will see you later but in this case there was a barrier.
Also stated in the book was free wifi and it is very far from free!
It is very well worth trying a bit of French it's only polite to know a few words but I would love to know how to get them to let me try to speak more as a lot of them seem to want to practice their English. Except that is for a stroppy medic visiting my brother in hospital when I was at the bedside who said it was necessary to speak French if you live there. Which I agreed with but he didn't relent much when I said I was just a tourist and that my brother speaks excellent French when conscious and able to hear! Sad to say the medical staff were no better at soeaking to the deaf than those at home!
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One law that many fall foul of is about Stop lines at road junctions. If there is a solid white stop line, and probably the word STOP on a road sign then you MUST do this. Even if you are almost at a standstill and see that the road that you are entering is clear do not continue. Stop! If you don't and are seen by the police they will fine you on the spot regardless of how slow you were going. I understand that they catch a lot of French and foreign drivers who flout this law.
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Fully agree with David2115, if caught flashing on coming vehicles you can be prosecuted for perverting the course of justice. And, you might be flashing an unmarked police car! Let the police do their job and don't worry about drivers ignoring speed limits. If they get caught that is their problem.
Don't get me wrong, I do flash if there is a serious problem e.g. a road accident. But, warning of speed cameras a definate no!
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Wow! Thank you all so much for the encouragement. We still haven't booked as I keep weakening! Being from near York, it is easiest to use the Hull ferry not least as the southern ferry (think it's Portsmouth) would mean a v early start and less rest time for my husband (not that he is bothered, it's just me....again!!). Has anyone done a trip/route to France from our region? Which ferry route is best? Would it be best to stay at a site near the ferry the night before? We are hoping to go in September (around 2nd week, for two weeks). Any suggestions of route/sites (I quite fancied going to either Caen or Cherbourg and staying not too far from there as we both would like to visit Honfleur and even, possibly a whizz over to the Channel Islands for a day). Is my wish list too long......!?
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JVY, Good morning. Caen or Cherbourg are fine for what you have in mind, though the really easy journey for you is to drive in the day from home to Portsmouth and take the 8.15 pm. overnight sailing to St Malo. Dinner in the smart restaurant on board and a cabin one grade better than the basic ones with bunks, and you arrive in a lovely part of France at breakfast time. And there are good campsites half an hour away. Yes, they let you in at that time of day !
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If you are intending to visit that part of France it might be slightly easier to take the ferry from Portsmouth. It is a fair drive from the Hook of Holland to Caen so to me it would seem better to drive from Yorkshire to Portsmouth as I don't think it would involve more driving.
This is quite a nice site in the Cherbourg area near to Utah Beach. I have not stopped there but perhaps the Municipal at Bayeux which would be handy for both Caen and the famous Tapestry.
David
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