 Poster: A snowHead
|
@cameronphillips2000,
| Quote: |
In fact, when I return back to the UK after a month or so driving in Europe, I always feel the difference in how much safer and courteous the Britiish driver is in comparison to other areas in the EU, despite how overcrowded our roads are.
|
By comparison, having now lived in France for nearly 10 years, I am always shocked by the awful standard of motorway driving when I go back to the UK. British drivers are great in town (except London, obviously...) but are some of the worst motorway drivers. The French have much, much better lane discipline.
And if you only saw one speed camera driving around France all summer, you might want to go here. 
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
|
|
|
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
Depending on where you live I would always build in an overnight stop, as close to resort as possible, then you can get a half day pass for the Saturday afternoon.
As we travel from the North West we drive [3 kids & parents] we make the journey part of the holiday, steak & chips with a glass of red after a long drive is appreciated.
Another thing I would recommend is to invest in a toll tag, just brilliant arriving at the Péage station & zipping past all the beemers... he he!
More info here: https://www.saneftolling.co.uk all you have to do is sign up cost a few quid & they debit your account afterwards - brilliant. 
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
| stevomcd wrote: |
By comparison, having now lived in France for nearly 10 years, I am always shocked by the awful standard of motorway driving when I go back to the UK. British drivers are great in town (except London, obviously...) but are some of the worst motorway drivers. The French have much, much better lane discipline.
|
A personal impression is that the French have much better lane discipline but far worse distance control (ie they tailgate more)
In terms of safety British roads have always been far safer in terms of deaths per kilometer travelled by quite a margin. What the latest figures are I don't know.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Quote: |
Another thing I would recommend is to invest in a toll tag, just brilliant arriving at the Péage station & zipping past all the beemers... he he!
|
Only to have all the beemers zip past you 10 seconds later.
My general impression of French driving is like @T Bar's, But they still leave much more of a gap between cars than is common in Italy. The higher insidence of road casualties in France has been attributed to the much lower traffic densities and subsequent higher speeds in general and the plane tree lined rural roads. I have vague recollections of reading that many of the plane tress are to be removed to improve death rates
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
@johnE, you know why the French planted the old "N" roads with plane trees like that ?
....
...
To keep the German army in the shade
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
|
|
|
|
|
|
It is probably apocryphal, but I've heard it told that the tree-lined roads were built by Napoleon, and at some point the conversation went thus:
"I want trees planted along the sides of all the roads so that the troops march in the shade."
"But your emperorness, the trees will take twenty years or more to grow big enough to offer any shade."
"Then you'd better start right away!".
We now use this as an inspirational tale for dealing with French bureaucracy...
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
javascript:emoticon('@breeze11, ') When you leave make sure that you clear all the snow off the car including the roof. When leaving Avoriaz I failed to do this and the whole lot slid down onto the windscreen when I braked at the first peage. There was way to much for the windscreen wipers to work so I had to lower my window and stick my head out to get to the hard shoulder. It was a very unpleasant experience for all in the car! It had taken about an hour for the heat of the car to melt the thin layer of ice under the snow so that when it went it was incredibly quick.
Personally I really enjoy the drive out and my now teenage children were always so excited to be going skiing that the journey was usually great fun. The wife has won this year though and I have the joys of Heathrow to look forward to, I refused to go to Gatwick for the Christmas week as once was enough and luckily she agrees.
|
|
|
|
|
|
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
|
|
@banksi, I've seen the French police stopping cars with snow on the roof and making them clear it.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
me too - at one of the péage gates on the A40 between Chamonix and Geneva.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
|
we got told off by the peage kiosk lady and told to pull over and clear the snow of the roof once, which was annoying, since I'm sure we dumped 95% of it going round the roundabout outside Intermarché on the D907.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
|
It's an absolute pain in the a** to follow a car, van, lorry that hasn't cleared the snow from its roof as every so often a lump of snow/ice flies of their roof straight towards your windscreen and the temptation is to swerve/duck to avoid it which is potentially very dangerous. It will also stop lots of "evils" being directed at you such as "Look at that stupid ( insert several swear words here) (insert relevant nationality here) ".
|
|
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
@Timc I completely agree with you and really should have known better. However, if I feel the urge to retell the tale it will have now happened to a close but very foolish friend so I can say "What a stupid ( insert several swear words here) (insert relevant nationality here) ".
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
As mentioned, consider getting a SANEF LiberT toll tag, or borrow one from someone who has one (they're not car-specific). It makes driving through the tolls stress-free and gives you access to the 30kph fast lanes. Also, no "You have the ticket / No, I thought you had the ticket / Where's the ticket? / I had it at the last service station when I ditched the rubbish. Oh .." conversations. Or "Closer. Carry on. Closer. Carry on. not that close! STOP! Crunch" situations. See https://www.saneftolling.co.uk/
There is immense fun to be had going through the 30Kph lane in a GB car. French rivers behind often leave a gap so they can change lanes just in case (F driver - "He's a GB; Does he know it's a tag lane?; What are the odds he has a tag? ..) And I always recall an exasperated Bentley driver who tailgated me on the approach to the outside 30kph lane then realised I had a tag - and he didn't. Chaos behind him.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
|
You've got to love the péages. As a passenger when we first started driving in France I used to panic every time we approached them. I'd have a credit card out with a pile of Euros on my knee & then realise i only had to grab a ticket.
Even now, we both put on a panicky voice & go - Péage!! Péage!!! as we drive up to them.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
@breeze11, earplugs. . . . Between the complaining, the snoring. The DVD soundtrack distraction and the contra- rhythms from competitive ear buds
. . . The desire to drive straight into a motorway bridge can be very strong!!!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
| Quote: |
@breeze11, earplugs. . . . Between the complaining, the snoring. The DVD soundtrack distraction and the contra- rhythms from competitive ear buds
. . . The desire to drive straight into a motorway bridge can be very strong!!!
|
And what about listening to Radio Autoroutes on 107.7 that can have a similar effect. Strange how after a while it is easier to understand the traffic news in French than it is in English. It seems to be very rare that there isn't a warning about "un morceau de pneu" somewhere on the autoroute system in every broadcast.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Useful ish website about driving in France
http://www.drive-france.com/checklist/
Being a good snowHead I couldn't condone buying the 'Kit' when you can buy individual items cheaper from various shops 
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Google your route and see where you want to stop for fuel.
I know I can leave Norfolk and my first stop for fuel will be at the Le Clerc in Champfleury, just South of Reims. It's about 1/2 a mile off the motorway but possibly a third cheaper. That stop will be between 1 and 2 in the morning. Next will be the Le Clerc at Bourg en Bresse. This is about a mile off the motorway.
Put your fuel stops and destination into satnav BEFORE travelling. Then it's just a game of trying to remember which is which.
On the way back my fuel stops would probably be around the same with an additional stop at Calais before boarding the train.
Eating stops: On the way back up there are all sorts of places in Troyes. Come off the A26 at Junction 23 and follow the road to the first roundabout (about a mile) take the second exit and there is a Buffalo, McD's etc. Normally back to there about lunchtime so a good time to stop.
Plan ahead!
As for music in the car. I stream UK stations through my mobile data on my phone and play that through the car stereo. It's alot better than CD's as the music changes!!
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Are you absolutely sure you don't pay any extra on tolls, @GaryCantley, from popping off and back on the motorway several times? I've never been sure about that but in any case I CBA to get off the motorway for either fuel or food. Nor to work out beforehand where I might want to stop and stick it in a satnav. In fact I usually CBA to switch a satnav on, either. For me Calais/Reims/Dijon is a no brainer, then I decide on the day whether to carry on via Bourg en Bresse on the motorway or head across the Jura mountains direct to Geneva. Given good weather it's usually the latter - nice to have a change from the motorway and it's cheaper, more interesting and only about 10-15 minutes longer.
I like to stay flexible on the journey so as to be able to react to anything which might crop up. Like needing a wee sooner than expected, or fog, or suddenly feeling tired, or running out of cheese and bacon scones.
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
|
@pam w, I have just checked online, and my bill for a trip Reims-Nuits St George-Villefrance was 39,50 last January. This had a stop at Nuit-St-Georges for shopping, fuel and lunch. On our latest trip we did Villefranche-Reims on the way back without a detour . Toll was 41,50. So more expensive than the detour, but probably accounted for by different toll station in Reims being shown on the bill. So hardly more than a few centimes. The Carrefour at NSG is so close to the autoroute as to be as close as one of the petrol stations at the Aires. It also happens to coincide with the low fuel warnig light coming on.
|
|
|
|
|
|
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
|
|
It was almost 10€ extra for a tank of fuel from a Total garage just outside Beaune compared to a tank from an autoroute service station on the return trip.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Quote: |
So hardly more than a few centimes.
|
Yes, I can well believe that. But overall, for me as a lone driver, it's just not worth any extension of the journey to save a few euros on fuel and I'd certainly never do a detour to find a McDs! I rarely stop overnight - I can drive straight through if the weather is good, being only 2 hours from Eurotunnel. Even on the motorway it's cheaper than my local Tesco! These days I try not to let the low fuel light come on - after one time I made a significant error and ended up going through the truck part of the fuel station, and ended up on the northbound aire, the other side of the carriageway - the only legal alternative to going back onto the motorway. With fuel warning light having been on for a while. I asked the woman serving coffee about getting back - not possible. I also looked on my phone but couldn't find anything very encouraging and didn't want to go up the northbound side. Eventually I just ended driving the wrong way round one bit of the aire - rather nerve-wracking with my hazards on. A rather bemused driver had to stop for me, on his way into the pumps. I went over and apologised and he just laughed - stupid foreigners, he no doubt thought! And another time I passed an aire with a "no diesel" sign up. So these days I try not to leave it to the last minute.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
|
@pam w, oh heck no detours for MacDo's. We do know that there will be fuel in NSG though, as there is more than one station. We wouldn't leave it like that on the autoroute. The stop is around lunchtime and we also take the opportunity to get some shopping so we don't need to then go down to Briancon when we arrive.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
@Hells Bells, sounds like good organisation. But on my own, shopping is out of the question. I usually have a stack of stuff from a late Tesco delivery, plus a big insulated bag of stuff from the freezer.
I take things to eat in the car - stop for regular coffees, and maybe a pain au raisin if I'm feeling self-indulgent! My longest stop would be around 30 minutes but I am pretty strict about stopping at least once every two hours. Once having done an initial longer stretch to get south of Reims - I feel that if I start stopping before Reims the whole thing begins to stretch out too far!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
|
Much prefer to shop in France than Tesco.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
|
|
cheers @DJL, just looked at the link you posted, great tool to use and have also added it on to my phone for when we drive down in feb, as it shows all the fuel stations en route with (I assume) current prices and opening hours. from what I could see the price range in diesel at the moment is between 75p and 88p per litre, and that is worst case using service stations!!!!. Although it helps with the favourable exchange rate and low fuel costs at the moment.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
| Quote: |
Much prefer to shop in France than Tesco
|
Well yes, but once I get to the apartment, usually around 11 pm, having driven all day with only short stops, I'm only too pleased to have my shopping. And I most definitely don't want to go driving out to a supermarket in the next few days.
Plus, all my eurotunnel travel is free, thanks to Tesco. Mustn't look a gift horse in the mouth.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
|
@pam w, difference being that we still arrive in Monetier by 6pm having had a nice overnight stop and a pleasant lunch . Itg is simply too far from Durham to do in one go even with 2 drivers.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
| Quote: |
Itg is simply too far from Durham to do in one go even with 2 drivers.
|
Yes, I'm sure it is. I sometimes stop, especially if I run into bad weather. I never drive in thick fog. But much prefer to get the journey done in one hit if possible - one boring day instead of two. I find audio books the best way of passing the time.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FAQ
So true. Thought we were the only stress cadet snowheads shouting peage!! 50km! 30 Km!! It's just 'take a ticket'!!! 