Number of traffic fatalities in Belgium dropped spectacularly lastyear

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Tom P wrote:
Mike Lane wrote:
On Fri, 30 Jan 2009 19:24:48 +0000, Lord Taylor of Blackburn wrote
(in article
):

indeed, driving is not their strong point, and they still persist with
priority to the right ********.....just paint a white line on the
road !

Could you explain that for the benefit of ignoramuses please?

When I started driving in France a few years ago I was petrified of
the "priorité a droit". This, as I discovered has been largely
abandoned in France, and when it's in force it is clearly signed. What
is the situation in Belgium?


It's the rule in several countries in the absence of other road
markings, most commonly in quiet residential areas. Here in Germany I
can show you a dozen road crossings within 2km of my home where priority
from the right is the rule.
So, if you think that priority from the right doesn't exist, you are
just indulging in wishful thinking.
T.

PS: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Priority_to_the_right

"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 ...
.... The system is widely used in countries with right-hand traffic,
including most European countries."

T.

On Sun, 1 Feb 2009 00:00:28 +0000, Tom P wrote
(in article ):

It's the rule in several countries in the absence of other road
markings, most commonly in quiet residential areas. Here in Germany I
can show you a dozen road crossings within 2km of my home where priority
from the right is the rule.
So, if you think that priority from the right doesn't exist, you are
just indulging in wishful thinking.

It's not a case of 'wishing' for anything in particular, I'm simply saying
what I have observed. In urban areas if there are no road markings I find it
safest to assume that no one has priority, and give way to whoever seems to
want it - whichever country I'm in.

In France however there appears to have been a deliberate policy to educate
drivers away from the old 'priorité à droit' system where vehicles would pull
out into the traffic on a main road, assuming priority. Main roads have
regular diamond-shaped priority signs and often they will actually spell it
out with 'Vous n'avez pas la priorité' signs

--
Mike Lane
UK North Yorkshire

Mike Lane wrote:
On Sun, 1 Feb 2009 00:00:28 +0000, Tom P wrote
(in article ):

It's the rule in several countries in the absence of other road
markings, most commonly in quiet residential areas. Here in Germany I
can show you a dozen road crossings within 2km of my home where priority
from the right is the rule.
So, if you think that priority from the right doesn't exist, you are
just indulging in wishful thinking.

It's not a case of 'wishing' for anything in particular, I'm simply saying
what I have observed. In urban areas if there are no road markings I find it
safest to assume that no one has priority, and give way to whoever seems to
want it - whichever country I'm in.

Wrong. In an urban area, the absence of road markings means that
priority is from the right, and you can expect drivers to come straight
out of a sideroad on the right without stopping. They are perfectly
entitled to.

In France however there appears to have been a deliberate policy to educate
drivers away from the old 'priorité à droit' system where vehicles would pull
out into the traffic on a main road, assuming priority. Main roads have
regular diamond-shaped priority signs and often they will actually spell it
out with 'Vous n'avez pas la priorité' signs

The diamond-shaped sign is used outside built-up areas to mean you are
on a priority road. If you see a 'Vous n'avez pas la priorité' on a
"main" road, it's a reminder that you do NOT have priority.

I've noticed that Anglophone drivers tend to regard these traffic rules
in mainland Europe with disbelief, if not downright laughable. Several
years ago I was witness to a bad accident with serious injuries in an
Amsterdam suburb at such a traffic junction, so I'd like to emphasize
that this is no joke.
Have a look at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Priority_to_the_right

T.

On Feb 1, 6:05*pm, Tom P wrote:
Mike Lane wrote:
On Sun, 1 Feb 2009 00:00:28 +0000, Tom P wrote
(in article ):

It's the rule in several countries in the absence of other road
markings, most commonly in quiet residential areas. Here in Germany I
can show you a dozen road crossings within 2km of my home where priority
from the right is the rule.
* So, if you think that *priority from the right doesn't exist, you are
just indulging in wishful thinking.

It's not a case of 'wishing' for anything in particular, I'm simply saying
what I have observed. In urban areas if there are no road markings I find it
safest to assume that no one has priority, and give way to whoever seems to
want it - whichever country I'm in.

Wrong. In an urban area, the absence of road markings means that
priority is from the right, and you can expect drivers to come straight
out of a sideroad on the right without stopping. They are perfectly
entitled to.

In France however there appears to have been a deliberate policy to educate
drivers away from the old 'priorité à droit' system where vehicles would pull
out into the traffic on a main road, *assuming priority. Main roads have
regular diamond-shaped priority signs and often they will actually spell it
out with 'Vous n'avez pas la priorité' signs

The diamond-shaped sign is used outside built-up areas to mean you are
on a priority road. If you see a 'Vous n'avez pas la priorité' on a
"main" road, it's a reminder that you do NOT have priority.

I've noticed that Anglophone drivers tend to regard these traffic rules
in mainland Europe with disbelief, if not downright laughable. Several
years ago I was witness to a bad accident with serious injuries in an
Amsterdam suburb at such a traffic junction, so I'd like to emphasize
that this is no joke.
Have a look athttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Priority_to_the_right

T.

its a ****ing useless system that leads to problems...

On Sun, 1 Feb 2009 17:05:44 +0000, Tom P wrote
(in article ):

The diamond-shaped sign is used outside built-up areas to mean you are
on a priority road. If you see a 'Vous n'avez pas la priorité' on a
"main" road, it's a reminder that you do NOT have priority.

I am well aware of what the signs mean thank you.

--
Mike Lane
UK North Yorkshire

Mike Lane wrote:
On Fri, 30 Jan 2009 19:24:48 +0000, Lord Taylor of Blackburn wrote
(in article
):

indeed, driving is not their strong point, and they still persist
with priority to the right ********.....just paint a white line on
the road !

Could you explain that for the benefit of ignoramuses please?

When I started driving in France a few years ago I was petrified of
the "priorité a droit". This, as I discovered has been largely
abandoned in France, and when it's in force it is clearly signed.

Yes, that is the case.

On Feb 1, 6:05*pm, Tom P wrote:

Several
years ago I was witness to a bad accident with serious injuries in an
Amsterdam suburb at such a traffic junction, so I'd like to emphasize
that this is no joke.

Aah - of course - in Holland - where drivers are so selfish and stupid
that they insist on their "right of way" even if it means crashing
into another car. At least while they bleed over the wreckage they are
happy that they were in the right.

B;