Requirements for driving in France…

[anonymouse]

Traffic was really bad in the afternoon last Saturday.

Always risky to travel across France on a July or August weekend. Next time check the French forecasts before picking your travel day:
https://www.bison-fute.gouv.fr/IMG/pdf/Calendrier_2024_Bison_Fute_.pdf

Sponsored

 

[kurand]

Thanks for the chart. i’m off to Cognac tomorrow morning and it seems I have chosen wisely. I can use the chart to select a good return date. Hope the tunnel doesn‘t suffer from IT delays like last week.

 

[Donar]

Always risky to travel across France on a July or August weekend. Next time check the French forecasts before picking your travel day:
https://www.bison-fute.gouv.fr/IMG/pdf/Calendrier_2024_Bison_Fute_.pdf

I know, been there many times in summer vacations. We did not really have a choice unfortunately. Still it was worse than expected with 400 kms in 8-9 hours, as it is still relative early in the season (eg not all NL school regions are already off).

 

[allroadusa]

Week-end of July 14th.... Bastille day is usually the kick-off for summer rush.
Every Saturdays from July 14th till August 15t will be the same. Try to avoid Saturdays or/and main highways to the south (A6/A7 A10/11) and use alternates (A20 A71/75).

 

[jonjon808]

So just back from near Perigueux, having had no choice than to travel on both the really busy Saturdays. Roads themselves were surprisingly free moving, but what became a real pain on a couple of occasions was charging at some of the service stations on the autoroute. Seems obvious now, but any charging location where there is plenty of food and place to picnic, was rammed, with plenty of inconsiderate buggers seemingly leaving their cars to charge to 100% while they had lunch. Those stops that had just fuel were great, and even better were the ones just a few hundred meters off the motorway. Orleans Nord and Saint-WItz for Ionity were 9 and 13 bay, with 1 or 2 others charging, whereas I had to wait 20 mins just to get a charging slot at one of the others.


Also, a personal duration record for the way home of 15 hrs 46 mins of driving in the day. Thanks in part to the 50mph zones all the way back from the Shuttle, and the handy shutting of the M25 for 1 junction. Car was phenomenal though, 4 adults and all we needed for a week's break. Only saw one other Taycan the whole time!

Sponsored