I'm talking of the yellow diamond shape priority to right sign used in mainland Europe.
As per Wikipedia, UK is the only country in Europe not using this sign.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_European_road_signs
What I understand, this sign means (or overrides) traffic from smaller side roads have a priority over mainroad traffic.
In UK, mainroad traffic has always priority over side road traffics.
One disadvantage of UK system is that when traffic from side road wants to join to a busy main road, the drivers on side road may have to wait for ages unless traffic slows or someone flashes them to get out. While priority sign means they can pull out from side roads easily. But again, if that crossroad is having that much of traffic, it should have traffic lights.
But the system in mainland Europe is bit dangerous as the driver needs to "remember" whether he is driving on priority or non priority roads!
|
In France the default position is priority from the right. In practice however it's rare except in urban/village areas. In practice, having driven 30-40k miles in France over last fifteen years it's rarely been a problem.
Got caught out in Oberbronn (Alsace) a couple of years ago when a Clio shot out of a side road in front of me - no road markings of any kind. As I was within the 30kph limit I had no trouble stopping.
The Wiki thing says UK doesn't the speed limits thing at borders. I'm pretty sure there's one on the A2 coming out of Dover along with reminders in various languages to drive on the left.
|
There is actually no default in France. You are either on the "Priority Route" (with the diamond sign) or not on the "Priority Route" (with diamond sign with black line through it.
THere are also other indicators of priority, it is just different to the UK.
Only been caught once in about 25k miles - and I had the priority but stopped.
|
>> In France the default position is priority from the right.
>>
Which of course, is frack to bont!
In the UK priority from the right on a roundabout makes sense. It keeps the traffic flowing.
Whereas in France it makes no sense at all.
|
"In the UK priority from the right on a roundabout makes sense. It keeps the traffic flowing.
Whereas in France it makes no sense at all. "
But that priority no longer exists in France does it? Surely "priority a gauche" on roundabouts for many years?
"priority a droit" only in very limited situations these days - to the extent that you could drive thousands of miles without coming across it. Mind you, it's a nasty surprise when yo do come across it!!
|
|
Still approach roundabouts in France with some apprehension....one never knows !
|
>>>to the extent that you could drive thousands of miles without coming across it. Mind you, it's a nasty surprise when yo do come across it!! <<<
But were you aware of the meaning of the Triangular sign containg the X ? Very frequently seen ( certainly on D roads in the south), and not understood by many residents!
2nd sign here www.coderoute.info/panneauxsignalisation0602.html
|
>> 2nd sign here www.coderoute.info/panneauxsignalisation0602.html
I wasn't aware that sign confirmed priorite a droite. The fact that it's sometimes accompanied by a warning didn't lessen my doubt.
However, given the crossing roads are usually little used tracks and that self preservation means most folks now avoid blindly taking priority you're very unlucky to be caught out.
|
I have never seen it accompanied by a warning - and used in a rural setting where the joining road is tarmac and subject to regular use, and and no '4th road' from the right exists, ie not a 'crossing'.
My interpretation is that it is confirming that oncoming lefthand turning traffic does not have priority to turn across you.
|
>> Still approach roundabouts in France with some apprehension....one never knows !
>>
The biggest danger is that the french tend to drive round the large radius circumference of a 'multilane ' roundabout even when doing a full 270 degrees, which is easily misinterpreted. Very difficult to determine their intentions from their position on the road when navigating a roundabout.
Younger drivers tend to be better and treat the roundabouts more like a Brit, (or at least a Londoner!)
|
|
I noticed that, there is a tendency to keep clear of Le Rosbif plated bikes as well on roundabouts...in fairness.
|
>> In France the default position is priority from the right. In practice however it's rare
>> except in urban/village areas.
>>
Same in Austria. Most junctions are clearly marked indicating priority much as in the UK, and traffic on the roundabout has priority, but I know of at least one junction in my nearest town where there is a most odd junction that flies in the face of common sense, which works on the "priority from the right" principle.
Worth noting that there is the same rule here at Stop junctions as in France (and probably other countries) - your wheels must stop rolling for 2 seconds. If the BIB are around, it's a fine of around €40 if they don't.
|
An interesting comparison. Seems most signs are pretty standard and mean what they say but I must say I think the priority road system is daft at first glance.
What's wrong with white lines painted on the road to advise a minor road is joining a major one with faster moving and heavier traffic?
Seems silly and potentially dangerous that a slow moving car or presumably even a bike could cause a stack of faster moving cars, trucks and buses all to brake whilst they allow said vehicle to join the main flow.
|
We don't have priority roads in Ireland either (because, as always, we copied UK practice).
We do have those "drive on the left" signs at exits from airports, ferry terminals and tourist attractions though - a good idea. We also have enormous NO ENTRY - WRONG WAY - TURN BACK signs at the exits from motorways and dual carriageways, which doesn't stop some people driving past them regardless :-(
Anyway, I understood the idea behind giving priority to joining traffic from minor roads in built up areas was to give everyone a chance to keep moving. In France, I've always assumed that drivers in towns will assume they have priorité à droit, which has served me well so far...
Last edited by: Gromit on Tue 13 Nov 12 at 14:14
|
Actually it's the same only different.
They have a system where, if there's no specific designation of priority, the traffic from the right has priority.
Britain has a system where every junction has designated priority, with lines and/or give way signs.
It's got nothing to do with traffic flow or "giving the little guys a chance" and everything to do with an arbitrary call by Napoleon and the subsequent opportunity to save money on signage and road paint.
Right-hand priority worked well in the days of the horse and cart and well enough with light traffic. Then, after the umpteenth tractor pulled out of a farm track right smack in front of something doing 100kph on the RN, killing another carload of people, Something Had To Be Done. The result was the diamonds and a system that causes crashes to this day.
Best illustration I ever saw was in CZ. A car dealership upgraded its "cart track" entrance to a proper metalled road with kerbs 'n such. Nobody ever thought to do anything about diamonds as it's still just a garage entrance, not a public road. Parts delivery van turns up, drops bits and in the absence of a diamond with a line through it, pulled straight out onto the main drag, killing the driver instantly. Even the police couldn't work out whose fault that was, prosecuted the garage owner on principle and forgot about it when the case was thrown out.
The habits of right hand priority and diamonds is so ingrained it overrides common sense on a regular basis. People just Do Not Look Left Ever, unless there's a sign telling 'em to do it.
|
Sweden has the diamond sign to signify a priority route, but doesn't have anything to show non-priority route. Though there are the many exceptions - gravel roads, businesses, house drives, petrol stations etc. TBH I still haven't worked it out, and I think most people ignore the non-priority and stop/give way when joining a road.
Certainly when I really started looking for the signs, or lack of, when joining a main road from the side, the main road traffic showed no sign of slowing or giving way, and the joining traffic showed no sign of exercising their right to pull out. Of course it helps that traffic density is extremely low and drivers are vary cautious.
Last edited by: Dave on Wed 14 Nov 12 at 21:39
|
Funnily enough one of my FB friends was commenting on this the other day - she lives in France and has been there 10 years or so- a local forgot about the change in priority and pulled out in front of her (like they do)
Nightmare on the bike - another factor that needs to be considered, along with the drunks, drugged up, slippery roads, texting and headphoned road users....still love it though !
|
Just call her 'Lardy' why don't you ? :)))
Oh sorry FB = Facebook.
Last edited by: Fullchat on Wed 14 Nov 12 at 23:21
|
|
She'd love that - Especially after her laughing and pointing at my current haircut earlier !
|
"along with the drunks, drugged up, slippery roads, texting and headphoned road users....still love it though !"
Ah yes, N Wales - luvly!
|
Priority sign in Europe - why? - Bromptonaut
