10 September 05

Driving in France

Driving in France is serious business, legally speaking. The French laws about drinking and driving are probably Europe’s most strict, as well as speeding, seatbelt use, and everything else (this English site called Drive Alive does a good job of highlighting some facts about driving in France). However, you might not get the impression there are strict laws if you witnessed some of the fucking lunatics on the road here, and I’m not even talking yet about people on mobylettes (mopeds and other two-wheel motorbikes under a certain engine capacity). French drivers just seem to be in a hurry to get everywhere, and they break every single rule of the French driving code, not to mention have no respect for fellow drivers on the road.

Tailgaiting is probably the biggest problem, and the one thing I just can not get used to; even Hanane does it, but she does not like it when I say anything so I just keep quiet and try not to put my feet through the floorpan when we can suddenly see the fly shit on the car’s taillights in front of us. In actuality, she is driving like your average French citizen, so it is somewhat difficult for me to rightfully say anything to her.

Another thing that bothers me, as much as the tailgating, is the habit of people driving right down the middle of a road, on top of the dividing line. Generally this is a problem in the city and when roads have two or more lanes going the same direction; drivers just can’t seem to stick in their own lane, as if they don’t want you to pass them (and they probably don’t). The result is always some stupic game of cat and mouse with drivers tailgaiting, honking, yelling, and gesturing. Also, French drivers rarely use their turn signals, instead they just weave in and out of traffic like Forumula 1 racers heating up their wheels before a big race. You never know when a car just to your left or right is going to suddenly dart in front of you with only a few inches to spare.

If you think I am exagerating about French driving habits, I am not, and I am not the only one who will tell you:

Hanane flies to New York and New Jersey for work fairly routinely, and I have explained to her that French driving habits are not to be practiced when driving in the U.S. or you risk getting introduced to a baseball bat, or even worse, shot dead (happened many times in Seattle, and I’m sure in every other big city as well).

For myself, I have not yet driven here in France. For one thing, I am not legally allowed to. There is an odd arrangement between the USA and France where only Americans from certain states can use their American driving licenses here, and even then only for the first twelve months after their arrival to France. If you are not from one of these few states, like I am not, then you are shit out of luck.

Another reason I have not driven yet here is because Hanane refuses to let me drive her car, even for short trips to the market, and even if we are together. She is sensibly doing this of course because of the legalities of it and to safeguard her driving record and insurance situation (penalties are harsh when it comes to driving infractions and rule-breaking). Nevertheless, I feel like a teenager who has been banned from the car keys, and it is rather irritating for me because I would like to get in a little driving time once in a while to get the feel for things.

If I ever want to drive, which certainly will be necessary if we continue to stay in France for any amount of time, I will have to go through the very complicated and expensive process of getting a French license (Permit de Conduire). Perhaps I’ll write about it myself when/if I actually go through it, but you can get an idea of what I am up against from this article, How to Obtain a French Driving Licensing, which is one American’s experience with the process.

When a person in France passes their driving license, they are required to advertise themselves on the road as a new driver; this is done by putting a large sticker or sign of a red capital “A” in the front and back windshields. Hence, not only will I have to pay out the arse for driving lessons I don’t need (necessary only to appease the notorious French administration), I also have to sport the scarlet letter for my efforts.

I have considered (for the second time in my life) getting a motorcycle, not because I feel it would be any easier from an administrative aspect (and in fact it is not), and it certainly would not be any safer considering all the lunatics on the road, but a motorcycle would be considerably cheaper to buy, and there are some beautiful country sides here that just beg for motorcycle touring. A motorcycle would be a great way for me to take-off once in a while and see some of this great countryside I have so far been missing. However, I doubt my lovely wife will take to the idea of a motorcycle very much, so I guess it is city limits and the public tram for me, though I am anxious to get a bicycle too as Strasbourg is perfect for a velo.

Floral Pattern