Priorité à Droite

[Sooty09]

From being the perfect biking destination France is becoming a worrying place to ride. Reflective patches, Draconian motoring law enforcement etc
all to try cut down on their terrible accident statistics.
However the probable cause of many accidents is their stupid "Priorité à Droite" rule


A yellow diamond on a white background, Usually seen on a main road as you leave a town or village means that the main road that you are on has priority and that all traffic joining from side roads must give way.

If you’re on a main road you do not necessarily have right of way over side roads – there are MANY “Priorité à Droite” junctions where you have to give way to traffic coming from the right, particularly in villages and on country roads. If there is no roadsign or road marking to indicate otherwise, traffic coming from the right always has priority unless it is coming from a car park or a private road. When three cars reach such a junction from different roads at the same time, you’ll often see everyone stop, unsure what to do.

The same sign with a black diagonal bar through means End of priority zone. Traffic from the right has priority unless there are road signs or markings indicating otherwise.


Confuse, I am. Its dangerous over there and the only safe assumption is everybody will pull out on you. Having said that I have never had a problem. I keep my speeds low while touring and untill last year cannot remember seeing one of these signs.

 

[indylead]

The south west of France has a few of these. Having said that, I've been over here since March, and in 6,000 miles have only once had to stop to let someone out of a side road.

In some ways I wish you see it in action more often...it might stop me getting complacent!

The other sign to look out for is a red triangle with an "+" or "x". The first is junction (not necessarily a crossroads) as you would see in the UK but the "x" is a junction that where Priorité à Droite rules.

One thing to look out for are the skid marks in the road right by a junction...

From asking around, the Priorité à Droite is gradually being phased out. In some villages, the main road will have give way markings at each side road, so in effect is Priorité à Droite with sensible road markings.

 

[Farmer Palmer]

They've got something similar in some Norweigian towns........I nearly sh*t myself when I was nearly Tee-Boned one day.......!

A Norweigian friend of mine explained about thse junctions one day and i've always proceeded with caution ever since........!

FP.

 

[Oliwoof]

We have been in the Pyrenees for over 5 years and have seen no evidence of priority to the right being phased out. The are quite a few junctions and roundabouts like this in the villages and more importantly in the towns. Having lived with this set up one thing it does do is work as an effective traffic calming device. Best advice I can give is proceed with caution if in doubt.

Cheers, Phil
http://www.pyreneesmotorcycletours.com
ride the best roads

 

[Rasher]

Regardless of the official laws, I reckon if you rode around France entirely unaware of these rules you would still get pulled out on less than you do in the UK anyway. Luckily the lack of traffic makes for few chances to get caught out.

I tend to be a bit cautious approaching rural junctions, especially if a car appears - just like at home

 

[cookie]

I tend to be a bit cautious approaching rural junctions, especially if a car appears - just like at home

+1

i never concern myself with the signs, i look at the cars.

 

[Deleted account 210609001]

If you've been in France and haven't noticed the yellow diamond signs (either with or without the line through it) I think you might need to brush up on your observation. They really are every-bloody-where.

The 'X' sign is one to watch out for, especially on more rural roads. As stated above, it means a meeting of roads, usually roads of equal main-ness (that's not a word, is it? ) so it isn;t obviosu who would otherwise have priority.

It is wise advice to be careful on rural roads and in towns and villages, but for 99% of the time the roads work exactly the same as ours - a clearly identified main road which has priority over any side roads. Of course, that doesn't mean that Pierre in his Renault 4 who passed his test in 1951 understands that...

 

[mrsroynie]

... If there is no roadsign or road marking to indicate otherwise, traffic coming from the right always has priority unless it is coming from a car park or a private road.

This is all you really need to know. The vast majority of major junctions now have standardised road markings. However, there are still many, many unmarked junctions all over France. We have one on the main road though our town at the junction with the main road heading south, over the Garonne, to Spain. It used to be a busy route for heavies until they built the new 'bretelle' off the autoroute. No one (other than stupid Dutch motorhome drivers) has ever had an issue with it - and, even then, local drivers tend to treat obvious foreign vehicles with caution.

Different rules of the road are just part and parcel of the adventure of driving abroad. There is nothing new about Priorité à Droite. Get over it.

 

[The Grey One]

This is all you really need to know. The vast majority of major junctions now have standardised road markings. However, there are still many, many unmarked junctions all over France. We have one on the main road though our town at the junction with the main road heading south, over the Garonne, to Spain. It used to be a busy route for heavies until they built the new 'bretelle' off the autoroute. No one (other than stupid Dutch motorhome drivers) has ever had an issue with it - and, even then, local drivers tend to treat obvious foreign vehicles with caution.

Different rules of the road are just part and parcel of the adventure of driving abroad. There is nothing new about Priorité à Droite. Get over it.

Well said! When I first read this thread I thought I had somehow traveled back in time by about 40 years. When I first drove in France in the 70's there was a problem because almost every road had Priorité à Droite, tractors pulled straight out of fields onto the N roads. Nowadays almost all main roads are free of such things and there are signs warning you when there is said Priorité à Droite. The only thing stupid about it is people going to France (or any other country) and not finding out about any differences in rules/signs etc. And since when did we want everywhere to be the same?

John

 

[AlanI]

Just to add to this from a German aspect. This Priority road sign (yellow diamond on a white background and to give it an English language description for simplicity) is extremely common here in Germany. It appears before a road junction and indicates that you have priority at this junction i.e. those approaching from your right must stop and/or give way.

Now of course you have to add a bit of common sense to this. Nobody, discounting the normal idiots that is, is going to pull out on you from the right on a main highway. There are Stop/Giveway signs at these junctions just like everywhere else so drivers/riders have no need to travel along at snail pace just exercise caution as you would everywhere else.

It's a different story in towns and villages etc. Here you will see the Priority road sign and, if not, then traffic will pull out on you from the right. Once again though, the sign is placed before the junction so an observant driver/rider should see it. As for main highways and trunk roads etc, busy roads passing through cities/towns will generally not allow for traffic pulling out from the right and every junction will have a Priority sign in your favour. On much less busier roads, and within the towns/villages themselves traffic will almost certainly pull out from the right i.e. no Priority sign being displayed.

Along with traffic pulling out from the right, so too do pedestrians have priority to cross the road - something to be aware of when turning right. Finally, when entering an area displaying a large blue rectangular sign (let's call it a play street to keep things simple), the speed here is 7kmh. The same sign with a red slash across it indicates the end of the play area, however, this sign also acts as a Giveway sign at the junction ahead. This is a silly regulation imho and is also one that is not clearly understood by the local population itself. A good percentage of drivers having not understood this sign and hence have no respect for it, assume the normal rule of give way to traffic from the right which means that they can pull out onto a much busier road. If you are coming from the left (on the larger road let's say), even though you have the Priority sign in your favour, always be prepared for someone coming out from the right. To give a clearer (hopefully) example of this, in my town we have a crossroads. From a birds eye view of this junction and travelling North there is a Priority sign before the junction on the right (you have Priority). Those exiting from the right are presented with a Giveway sign, both signed and road painted. Travelling in a southerly direction, the road to the right is a play street. You see the yellow triangle and have Priority. Those coming from the right are not presented with a Giveway sign, either signed or road painted because the rectangular blue sign with the red slash indicating the end of the play street also acts as a Stop/Giveway sign and so assume they have a right to pull out.You may well be in the right but with your bike laying down injured beside you I would suggest that would be of very little comfort.

Like a couple of other posters have suggested - read up on local traffic laws prior to travelling, understand them and remember that ignorance of the law is no defence.

 

[ChasF]

Most towns and villages in this part of France (Dordogne) have the sign as you enter indicating that it is a PaD zone but there are very few junctions these days joining a major road that don't have either give way or stop lines. Forks are the tricky ones (roads merging from the right) but even these are now being sorted out. On the minor roads, ones with no road markings at all, local drivers will pull out from the right - always have done, always will.

 

[Sooty09]

See this web site for a bit more information. http://www.vendee-guide.co.uk/priority-a-droite.htm
I knew about the Yellow diamond signs etc but not about the white posts with red bands, or the exact meaning of the white lines along the edge of the road.

PS a good tip to practice the signs etc is to go for a drive on your favourite road using street view on Google earth. After cyber driving my favourite routes I have to agree with Robin and brush up my observation, the yellow diamond signs are very frequent and clear. 4 weeks to go and I'm off to Kysersber and Barcelonette in the Alps for 10 days real riding.

 

[Brenchleyhibs]

I Had a quick look at the website mentioned by Sooty09 (above) earlier in the week. I have tried to return to it today for a more detailed read but it now seems to be unavailable.

Does anyone know where it has gone?

Thanks,
Andy