La Belle Vie: Everything you need to know for a successful road trip in France
La Belle Vie is our regular look at the real culture of France – from language to cuisine, manners to films. This newsletter is published weekly and you can receive it directly to your inbox, by going to your newsletter preferences in 'My account'.
Sometimes stereotypes are true, and in this case, a recent study has shown that French drivers are really some of the worst in Europe.
From over half of respondents saying they have forgotten to use their indicator when changing lanes to a surprisingly large percentage admitting that they have gotten out of their vehicle to yell at another motorist, French drivers do have some room for improvement.
That said, I was proud of my neighbours for performing much better than their Scandinavian counterparts when it comes to taking work calls and meetings while driving. Only six percent of French drivers said they had ever done this, in contrast to 23 percent of Swedish motorists.
Swearing, honking and tailgating: French drivers some of worst in Europe
We asked readers of The Local about French drivers, specifically those in rural areas. While some readers noted increased road safety due to stricter drink driving laws, others still felt French roads were hazardous.
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One reader who has experience driving in Normandy said. "The amount of times we have had to swerve to avoid colliding with them is a joke. I am not sure if they have a death wish, or don't want to slow down, or don't expect anyone else to be on the road."
'They have a death wish': The verdict on French drivers in rural France
The discussion about French driving behaviour started when The Local's columnist John Lichfield dared to argue that French roads have
become safer
in the last 50 years.
I do not find French roads to be particularly unnerving. When it comes to the number of distracted drivers on the road, I would pick a French
autoroute
over an American highway any day, though I can sympathise with the frustrations readers have pointed out.
The downside to French
autoroutes
is the
prevalence of expensive toll roads
. If you are willing to either accept that as part of the experience or spend most of your visit on the backroads, then France can be a beautiful place for a road trip.
Are these the 10 most beautiful parts of France to drive through?
If you are looking to avoid tolls entirely, I recommend driving in Brittany, where the
autoroutes
are free.
However, I would consider staying away from the more popular tourist spots, like Île de Bréhat and Saint-Mâlo, during the height of the summer holiday period. Save these locations for the off-season when the crowds are smaller.
The 10 French tourist spots most likely to be overcrowded this summer
One way to organise your French road trip would be to consider the 'villages étapes' along the way.
These are small towns and villages, with less than 5,000 inhabitants, located in close proximity to the autoroute. In order to qualify for the special status, they must offer certain amenities to people travelling through the area, such as a tourist information point and at least one hotel accommodation.
Driving in France: What are the French 'villages étapes'?
And finally, in contrast to the possible truth behind bad French drivers, I find the 'rude French person' stereotype to be inaccurate and unfair.
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Rude people exist in every country, and in France, the best way to avoid a negative interaction is to be a good tourist.
Essential advice for how to be a good tourist in France
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