Roundabouts? AARGH!

[Noggin]

I'm not overly keen on the French way! They aren't very good at lane discipline on the way in or around it. And, whilst they do indicate, it's a smidge confusing as, unless they are turning right straight away, they all indicate left. Even if the first exit is basically straight on, they'll indicate left and then, if you're lucky, they'll indicate right to take the exit.

I generally assume that everyone that is indicating to go around will do that even if it's bleeding obvious from the direction of the car that they are going straight on - just because I've had people change their minds at me part way through!! And then there's the ones that totally 'look' as if they will take the first exit (from the direction of the car, the way they are looking, no indication to suggest they are going straight or around) but then they straighten up and fool me!

So, I now just approach all roundabouts with extreme caution!!

[Horse]

So, I now just approach all roundabouts with extreme caution!!

I followed a French car yesterday - being very cautious at roundabouts!

[iansoady]

Similar in France.

[Noggin]

So, I now just approach all roundabouts with extreme caution!!

I followed a French car yesterday - being very cautious at roundabouts!

It's definitely going to be interesting next time I come back with a car - I haven't driven in the uk for over 2 years, and then just from Dover to Cirencester, so basically all motorway!! LOL

[Scootabout]

Noggin, your experience on French roundabouts doesn't really ring much of a bell with me. Maybe it's a Savoie thing? My impression is that the locals tend to drive like nutters there. Sorry if you've covered this a thousand times on other threads!

[Noggin]

Noggin, your experience on French roundabouts doesn't really ring much of a bell with me. Maybe it's a Savoie thing? My impression is that the locals tend to drive like nutters there. Sorry if you've covered this a thousand times on other threads!

Oh, they definitely drive them like nutters, it's the random indication that winds me up, every weekend!! LOL

I do love that they have signs on all roundabouts not on major routes reminding people to give way, cos the law changed about 30 years ago and you don't have right of way onto a roundabout anymore!! But, some people still drive as if they do! LOL

I must have been feeling very laid back hen I wrote the bit earlier if it sounded like roundabouts were ok

[The Spin Doctor]

I'm not overly keen on the French way! They aren't very good at lane discipline on the way in or around it. And, whilst they do indicate, it's a smidge confusing as, unless they are turning right straight away, they all indicate left. Even if the first exit is basically straight on, they'll indicate left and then, if you're lucky, they'll indicate right to take the exit.

I generally assume that everyone that is indicating to go around will do that even if it's bleeding obvious from the direction of the car that they are going straight on - just because I've had people change their minds at me part way through!! And then there's the ones that totally 'look' as if they will take the first exit (from the direction of the car, the way they are looking, no indication to suggest they are going straight or around) but then they straighten up and fool me!

So, I now just approach all roundabouts with extreme caution!!

When I lived in Kent, I was close to Leeds Castle. It was often the first stop after a trip over the Channel and accessed by four dual-carriageway roundabouts from the M20, their first after leaving the ports... I was always incredibly cautious the moment I spotted a French plate. Plenty of near-misses with locals zooming straight on from the righthand lane and the French turning right from the left lane and going all the way around the outside.

[The Spin Doctor]

I do love that they have signs on all roundabouts not on major routes reminding people to give way, cos the law changed about 30 years ago and you don't have right of way onto a roundabout anymore!! But, some people still drive as if they do! LOL

And there are still plenty of Brits who seem to think Priorite a Droit still operates on roundabouts!

[Noggin]

For some reason, roundabouts just confuse people!!

[Dickyboy]

And there are still plenty of Brits who seem to think Priorite a Droit still operates on roundabouts!

Mate of mine used to drive all manner of crap English plated cars* around where he lived in Paris, commanding "Prioite d'Anglais" as he drove wherever he wished, got stopped by the gendarme in a bus lane with 3 of us in an mgb and feigned "non comprendez" , got off because the police couldn't be bothered with the paperwork

* he'd change them every 6 months so the cops didn't get wind of it.

[Demannu]

I do love that they have signs on all roundabouts not on major routes reminding people to give way, cos the law changed about 30 years ago and you don't have right of way onto a roundabout anymore!! But, some people still drive as if they do! LOL

And there are still plenty of Brits who seem to think Priorite a Droit still operates on roundabouts!

I know of at least 1 where it still does

[Count Steer]

I do love that they have signs on all roundabouts not on major routes reminding people to give way, cos the law changed about 30 years ago and you don't have right of way onto a roundabout anymore!! But, some people still drive as if they do! LOL

And there are still plenty of Brits who seem to think Priorite a Droit still operates on roundabouts!

I know of at least 1 where it still does

I did look down on the traffic from the Arc de Triomphe some years ago and go Decided there and then that the French were just utterly bonkers.

Don't remember having a problem in the rest of France but decided avoiding that particular roundabout was a good idea.

[The Spin Doctor]

I know of at least 1 where it still does

Central Paris, if I remember right..?

[Demannu]

And there are still plenty of Brits who seem to think Priorite a Droit still operates on roundabouts!

I know of at least 1 where it still does

I did look down on the traffic from the Arc de Triomphe some years ago and go Decided there and then that the French were just utterly bonkers.

Don't remember having a problem in the rest of France but decided avoiding that particular roundabout was a good idea.

and yet it works.....most of the time!
Took a coach round there 1st time in Paris, had to do a couple of laps before I managed to get off!
The biggest issue is older drivers who forget they don't have priorité at every other rond point. Many a time I've had to stamp on the anchors when an oblivious gauloise smoking local just arrives on the roundabout.

[Count Steer]

I know of at least 1 where it still does

I did look down on the traffic from the Arc de Triomphe some years ago and go Decided there and then that the French were just utterly bonkers.

Don't remember having a problem in the rest of France but decided avoiding that particular roundabout was a good idea.

and yet it works.....most of the time!
Took a coach round there 1st time in Paris, had to do a couple of laps before I managed to get off!
The biggest issue is older drivers who forget they don't have priorité at every other rond point. Many a time I've had to stamp on the anchors when an oblivious gauloise smoking local just arrives on the roundabout.

Works?! It defies logic!

[Scootabout]

I guess the Arc de Triomphe roundabout is only capable of working because it's so big.

[Cousin Jack]

I guess the Arc de Triomphe roundabout is only capable of working because it's so big.

AFAIK the whole of India works on the same principal. Don't crash into anything in front of you, especially if it is bigger than you, stuff behind will try to miss you too. Other than that almost anything goes.

[Mr. Dazzle]

The Arc is also always busy and (relatively) slow innit? If it occasionally had no traffic and someone hacking around at 60mph it'd probably be a different story.

[Cousin Jack]

The Arc is also always busy and (relatively) slow innit? If it occasionally had no traffic and someone hacking around at 60mph it'd probably be a different story.

You can't really describe it as a roundabout. When you are circulating YOU have to give way to anything coming on to the circular bit. It is an anti-roundabout.

[The Spin Doctor]

The Arc is also always busy and (relatively) slow innit? If it occasionally had no traffic and someone hacking around at 60mph it'd probably be a different story.

You can't really describe it as a roundabout. When you are circulating YOU have to give way to anything coming on to the circular bit. It is an anti-roundabout.

That's how priority to the right roundabouts USED to work in France... as was mentioned. There are still brit bikers who think that's the way they work in 2023.