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#41
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Driving in France
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#42
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Driving in France
On 04/11/2011 10:30 AM, Tom P wrote:
One day while being taken to my hotel by taxi I pointed out to the driver that we had to go left because he was way over in the right hand lane. He knew that, but according to him, the vehicle on the right had the right of way, so if he went over to the right he could cut over to the left and everyone would have to let him in. That helped to explain why I saw so few cars without big dents in them. Not just according to the driver, it's the law at intersections. Maybe I did not make the situation clear. I am not talking about a simple intersection where the vehicle approaching from the right has the right of way. I was wondering why he moved over to the far right lane, IIRC three lanes over, when we had to go left. There was a left turn lane, but it was backed up a bit. His plan, as he explained it to me, was to get over to the right and then cut across to the left. Since he was coming over from the right they had to let him in. Basically, he was passing to the right and swinging around in front of everyone else who was either going straight through or waiting to make a left turn. If, as you say, this is law, I am left wondering why the have left turn lanes on the left and right turn lanes on the right. If this is the way they are supposed to drive in Paris, the left turn lane should be on the left. As I said, it helps to explain why all the cars in Paris are banged up. |
#43
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Driving in France
On Sun, 06 Nov 2011 11:33:19 -0500, Dave Smith wrote:
On 04/11/2011 10:30 AM, Tom P wrote: One day while being taken to my hotel by taxi I pointed out to the driver that we had to go left because he was way over in the right hand lane. He knew that, but according to him, the vehicle on the right had the right of way, so if he went over to the right he could cut over to the left and everyone would have to let him in. That helped to explain why I saw so few cars without big dents in them. Not just according to the driver, it's the law at intersections. Maybe I did not make the situation clear. I am not talking about a simple intersection where the vehicle approaching from the right has the right of way. I was wondering why he moved over to the far right lane, IIRC three lanes over, when we had to go left. There was a left turn lane, but it was backed up a bit. His plan, as he explained it to me, was to get over to the right and then cut across to the left. Since he was coming over from the right they had to let him in. Basically, he was passing to the right and swinging around in front of everyone else who was either going straight through or waiting to make a left turn. If, as you say, this is law, I am left wondering why the have left turn lanes on the left and right turn lanes on the right. If this is the way they are supposed to drive in Paris, the left turn lane should be on the left. As I said, it helps to explain why all the cars in Paris are banged up. Not in this picture.http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=...F1E5E2&first=0 |
#44
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Driving in France
"Martin" wrote in message ... On Fri, 04 Nov 2011 15:30:50 +0100, Tom P wrote: On 11/01/2011 06:55 PM, Dave Smith wrote: On 31/10/2011 5:31 PM, James Silverton wrote: Parisian traffic circles have to be experienced! Other cities like London and Frankfurt are bad but don't compare with Paris. If you've ever seen someone step off the kerb near a rental agency and be wiped out, as I did, you'ld never rent in Paris. I went on a trip to Europe with my brothers and their wives. and our plan was to rent a car and end up in Paris. Having been in Paris before, I suggested that we drop the cars off at the airport and take public transport into the city. A SiL who had lived in France and been to Paris supported that suggestion. After we arrived downtown they understood and were glad they had agreed with me, I have been to the Arc de Triomphe several times and have never seen the traffic circle around it without at least one fender bender. One day while being taken to my hotel by taxi I pointed out to the driver that we had to go left because he was way over in the right hand lane. He knew that, but according to him, the vehicle on the right had the right of way, so if he went over to the right he could cut over to the left and everyone would have to let him in. That helped to explain why I saw so few cars without big dents in them. Not just according to the driver, it's the law at intersections. How did he survive in France without knowing that? -- Martin I have always thought that in counties where they drive (unnaturally) on the right hand side of the road they should have a give way to the left rule. |
#45
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Driving in France
On Mon, 7 Nov 2011 09:26:23 +0800, "Gerrit" wrote:
I have always thought that in counties where they drive (unnaturally) on the right hand side of the road they should have a give way to the left rule. The rest of us have always thought that those countries who base their driving practices on medieval traditions should take a look at a calendar. 8) -- Larry |
#46
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Driving in France
On 11/07/2011 02:26 AM, Gerrit wrote:
"Martin" wrote in message ... On Fri, 04 Nov 2011 15:30:50 +0100, Tom P wrote: On 11/01/2011 06:55 PM, Dave Smith wrote: On 31/10/2011 5:31 PM, James Silverton wrote: Parisian traffic circles have to be experienced! Other cities like London and Frankfurt are bad but don't compare with Paris. If you've ever seen someone step off the kerb near a rental agency and be wiped out, as I did, you'ld never rent in Paris. I went on a trip to Europe with my brothers and their wives. and our plan was to rent a car and end up in Paris. Having been in Paris before, I suggested that we drop the cars off at the airport and take public transport into the city. A SiL who had lived in France and been to Paris supported that suggestion. After we arrived downtown they understood and were glad they had agreed with me, I have been to the Arc de Triomphe several times and have never seen the traffic circle around it without at least one fender bender. One day while being taken to my hotel by taxi I pointed out to the driver that we had to go left because he was way over in the right hand lane. He knew that, but according to him, the vehicle on the right had the right of way, so if he went over to the right he could cut over to the left and everyone would have to let him in. That helped to explain why I saw so few cars without big dents in them. Not just according to the driver, it's the law at intersections. How did he survive in France without knowing that? -- Martin I have always thought that in counties where they drive (unnaturally) on the right hand side of the road they should have a give way to the left rule. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Priority_to_the_right quote: Priority to the right is a right-of-way system, in which a driver of a vehicle shall give way to vehicles approaching from the right at intersections. The system is stipulated in Article 18.4.a of the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic for countries where traffic keeps to the right and applies to all intersections where it is not overridden by priority signs (uncontrolled intersections), including side roads and roundabouts (but not paths or earth-tracks). /quote You can see the official wording he www.unece.org/trans/conventn/crt1968e.pdf (page 18) quote: In States where traffic keeps to the right the driver of a vehicle shall give way, at intersections other than those specified in paragraph 2 of this Article and in Article 25, paragraphs 2 and 4 of this Convention, to vehicles approaching from his right; /quote |
#47
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Driving in France
On 11/06/2011 05:33 PM, Dave Smith wrote:
On 04/11/2011 10:30 AM, Tom P wrote: One day while being taken to my hotel by taxi I pointed out to the driver that we had to go left because he was way over in the right hand lane. He knew that, but according to him, the vehicle on the right had the right of way, so if he went over to the right he could cut over to the left and everyone would have to let him in. That helped to explain why I saw so few cars without big dents in them. Not just according to the driver, it's the law at intersections. Maybe I did not make the situation clear. I am not talking about a simple intersection where the vehicle approaching from the right has the right of way. I was wondering why he moved over to the far right lane, IIRC three lanes over, when we had to go left. There was a left turn lane, but it was backed up a bit. His plan, as he explained it to me, was to get over to the right and then cut across to the left. Since he was coming over from the right they had to let him in. Basically, he was passing to the right and swinging around in front of everyone else who was either going straight through or waiting to make a left turn. If, as you say, this is law, I am left wondering why the have left turn lanes on the left and right turn lanes on the right. If this is the way they are supposed to drive in Paris, the left turn lane should be on the left. As I said, it helps to explain why all the cars in Paris are banged up. BTW this is the same procedure for left turns in Mexico - you pull over to the right and cross both lanes of traffic. I had a scary experience once doing a lh turn in the European style of pulling into the middle of the road - luckily I looked in the wing mirror as someone shot past me on the lh side. |
#48
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Driving in France
On 11/06/2011 05:33 PM, Dave Smith wrote:
On 04/11/2011 10:30 AM, Tom P wrote: One day while being taken to my hotel by taxi I pointed out to the driver that we had to go left because he was way over in the right hand lane. He knew that, but according to him, the vehicle on the right had the right of way, so if he went over to the right he could cut over to the left and everyone would have to let him in. That helped to explain why I saw so few cars without big dents in them. Not just according to the driver, it's the law at intersections. Maybe I did not make the situation clear. I am not talking about a simple intersection where the vehicle approaching from the right has the right of way. I was wondering why he moved over to the far right lane, IIRC three lanes over, when we had to go left. There was a left turn lane, but it was backed up a bit. His plan, as he explained it to me, was to get over to the right and then cut across to the left. Since he was coming over from the right they had to let him in. Basically, he was passing to the right and swinging around in front of everyone else who was either going straight through or waiting to make a left turn. If, as you say, this is law, I am left wondering why the have left turn lanes on the left and right turn lanes on the right. If this is the way they are supposed to drive in Paris, the left turn lane should be on the left. Possibly he pulled over into the entrance to a small side street. Or just assumed that everyone else would think he was driving out of a small side street. Between all the parked cars it's hard to see the side streets. In any case he's been driving in Paris longer than you or I have. Back in the 70's it was normal to drive round Paris at night without any lights at all. Drivers would just flash their headlights at intersections. And of course only stupid foreigners would think of leaving the car in gear or setting the parking brake. As I said, it helps to explain why all the cars in Paris are banged up. |
#49
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Driving in France
On 10/11/2011 1:29 PM, Tom P wrote:
I have always thought that in counties where they drive (unnaturally) on the right hand side of the road they should have a give way to the left rule. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Priority_to_the_right quote: Priority to the right is a right-of-way system, in which a driver of a vehicle shall give way to vehicles approaching from the right at intersections. The system is stipulated in Article 18.4.a of the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic for countries where traffic keeps to the right and applies to all intersections where it is not overridden by priority signs (uncontrolled intersections), including side roads and roundabouts (but not paths or earth-tracks). /quote You can see the official wording he www.unece.org/trans/conventn/crt1968e.pdf (page 18) quote: In States where traffic keeps to the right the driver of a vehicle shall give way, at intersections other than those specified in paragraph 2 of this Article and in Article 25, paragraphs 2 and 4 of this Convention, to vehicles approaching from his right; /quote I understand that part.... I think.... Where a car vehicles approach an uncontrolled intersection, the vehicle approaching from the right is given the right of way. That is not what I was referring to. The taxi in which I was a passenger was approaching the intersection from the north. He needed to make a left turn to go to the east. There were already a number of cars in the left lane and waiting for the oncoming traffic to clear a bit in order to make their left turns. My taxi driver swung over to the right, making me think he was going to make a right turn and I thought he was taking me for a more expensive ride. But his told me about this right of way story. Makes me wonder why there were left turn and right turn lane on the right and left respectively. |
#50
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Driving in France
On 10/11/2011 2:18 PM, Tom P wrote:
If, as you say, this is law, I am left wondering why the have left turn lanes on the left and right turn lanes on the right. If this is the way they are supposed to drive in Paris, the left turn lane should be on the left. Possibly he pulled over into the entrance to a small side street. Or just assumed that everyone else would think he was driving out of a small side street. No. It was a major intersection. This was major intersection with a traffic light. There were cars in the left lane waiting to make a left and cars in the other two lanes were going straight through..... untl they got held up as my taxi driver cut across their lanes in order to pull around the cars waiting to turn left. Basically, he was passing on the right to make a left turn, cutting in front of those who appeared to be following the rules of the road, and screwing up traffic flow in the proces. Between all the parked cars it's hard to see the side streets. In any case he's been driving in Paris longer than you or I have. Back in the 70's it was normal to drive round Paris at night without any lights at all. Drivers would just flash their headlights at intersections. And of course only stupid foreigners would think of leaving the car in gear or setting the parking brake. As I said, it helps to explain why all the cars in Paris are banged up. |
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