Confuses the feck out of me too - when a standard three lanes becomes four..all the middle lane cruisers rush to lane three
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Warning Riding in France "priority to the right"
- Thread starter Andy63
- Start date
Confuses the feck out of me too - when a standard three lanes becomes four..all the middle lane cruisers rush to lane three
.The Grey One
Registered user
Confuses the feck out of me too - when a standard three lanes becomes four..all the middle lane cruisers rush to lane three
And in Germany they have the same problem. Fantastic lane discipline on the 2 lane Autobahns but if they become 3 lanes it all goes to pot
John
In my experience, the trouble with the French is that they are very similar to the English: both can be twats!!
Which is probably why we are both so good at rubbing the other up the wrong way!
Our Gee
Registered user
Here here Paul,
A word in the defense of our Frenchie cousins. A couple of years ago I was daft enough to get caught out very low on fuel on a Sunday. We where well off the beaten track and found a village petrol station. The place was un-attended but the pumps where available for Card Payment. Our credit cards didn't work and I was in a right panic. The French couple at the next pump realised our plight and in broken English explained that if I gave them Euros in cash they would use their card in the pump. Twenty euros changed hands and I thankfully re-fuelled the RT. In my haste I went over the twenty euro amount by a couple of euros and began fumbling for change, " Is no problem Monsieur", "Av a appy ollidays". "Bye bye". Vive la France !!.
The French people need to be considered differently to France as a nation or the French government.
I have found them welcoming, friendly and helpful and certainly more courteous as drivers, I think we have more dopey unaware drivers than anywhere else I have travelled and even where the driving is more frantic (Italy and Spain in my experience) I feel they are more alert and more aware of bikes.
I have found them welcoming, friendly and helpful and certainly more courteous as drivers, I think we have more dopey unaware drivers than anywhere else I have travelled and even where the driving is more frantic (Italy and Spain in my experience) I feel they are more alert and more aware of bikes.
I think the biggest difference is there is less of a fuck you attitude in European countries.They seem to enjoy the fact you can get around quicker on a bike than in a car.
Hi
I was surprised to read so many negatives to the French and their driving.
I know its not a very English thing to say but I like the French and France, and have always thought we might move there.
I have been going to Europe since 1979 on bike and car. In all that time I have always returned thinking how friendly the natives are and how aware they are of solo's.
Typical example. Sunday afternoon returning from Le Mans. My numpty mate knocked over my ZXR12 and broke the footrest hanger. This French chap saw our problem and told us he would pop home to get some tools. He cycled back 10 minutes later with a bagful of bits. We wired broken hangar in place and I got home, minus a rear brake.
The typical French bit. My mate bought the chap a bottle of wine as a thank you. The bloke just turned round and said thank you but why would I want that when I have 200 bottles in my cellar at home
I was surprised to read so many negatives to the French and their driving.
I know its not a very English thing to say but I like the French and France, and have always thought we might move there.
I have been going to Europe since 1979 on bike and car. In all that time I have always returned thinking how friendly the natives are and how aware they are of solo's.
Typical example. Sunday afternoon returning from Le Mans. My numpty mate knocked over my ZXR12 and broke the footrest hanger. This French chap saw our problem and told us he would pop home to get some tools. He cycled back 10 minutes later with a bagful of bits. We wired broken hangar in place and I got home, minus a rear brake.
The typical French bit. My mate bought the chap a bottle of wine as a thank you. The bloke just turned round and said thank you but why would I want that when I have 200 bottles in my cellar at home
Deleted account Cooperman
Registered user
Priority problems in Spain...
http://www.ok.co.uk/celebrity-news/michael-schumacher-sued-for-motorbike-accident
http://www.ok.co.uk/celebrity-news/michael-schumacher-sued-for-motorbike-accident
Yes, as this thread seems to have become a bit of a "coming out" thread: I too love France, the style of life and the majority of the French people that I have come into contact with.
I love my region and the people I have met here and consider to be my friends but the death toll and accident rate is, given a similar population and the fact that generally French roads are in better condition than the UK point to a poor standard of driving or the fact that French cars have a low survival rate!
Yes very pro bike and very aware of bikes.
Yes very pro bike and very aware of bikes.
I think it is more a question that here in the UK, the vast majority of drivers have absolutely no consideration for anyone else on the road and treat driving as a pain in the arse that needs to be done as quickly as possible and with the least amount of disruption to their own life. This is why we see so many of them texting, phoning, reading meeting notes etc.
Part of the problem in my opinion is that we keep making laws that are not or can't be enforced, hogging middle lane, handheld phones etc, so people think they can get away with anything.
Part of the problem in my opinion is that we keep making laws that are not or can't be enforced, hogging middle lane, handheld phones etc, so people think they can get away with anything.
I see far more drivers using a mobile phone here in Germany that I ever did in the UK. In fact, Dubai probably had fewer mobile phone using drivers than Germany!!!
The Grey One
Registered user
In Austria too, lets bring in euthanasia for those deluded souls who thing they are so important they must always be on the phone.
John
Deleted account Cooperman
Registered user
My UK corporate employer is just bringing in a rule banning the use of mobiles whilst driving.
The Grey One
Registered user
It is already illegal (unless you mean those fitted with hands free kit) If you are so important that you have to use a phone during a journey then you are important enough to have a driver. If you really can't bring yourself to turn the thing off at least pull over when you want to use it. It's quite normal here to see people get into a car move off and then pick up the phone to make a call. Some people are too stupid to be allowed to exist!
John
We are all showing our "grumpy old man credentials" - but it really pisses me off, especially when they drive around a tight bend in town paying more attention to the bloody phone than other road users and having control of the car
Deleted account Cooperman
Registered user
Our Gee
Registered user
The government dropped a clanger in the first place by allowing the use of "Hands Free" phones. Talking to a remote party on either a Hands Free or Hand Held Phone is a major distraction and has been the cause of many deaths including Motor Cyclists. And as for those who drive and Text, well they should be shot. (In the Knees) !!.
The Grey One
Registered user
I take it you pull your car over to have a conversation with your passengers
Hardly the same, 70% of communication is non verbal. When using a phone you have to concentrate far more on the words because you don't have any of the visible parts of normal conversation such as facial expressions, so it demands more of your attention. When talking to passenger both of us can take into account what is happening on the road. Most in car conversations would appear very stilted in another situation. I can simply not answer a question because I am negotiating a roundabout for instance, my passenger knows this and responds accordingly.
I simply don't understand why people feel the need to us a phone whilst driving. I have had mobiles for 25 years now, in all that time I can't think of a situation where I had to use the phone whilst on the move.
John
