It's fun driving in the countryside of France, any day at all is like an early Sunday here in the Land Of Cars. No body is on the road by you. You and your car, a unit, moving swiftly without interference from that bane of modern highways everywhere in the world, traffic. We've driven from Lignieres to Montlucon, a distance of 37 miles and seen one or two cars during the weekday. The route we take which is as far as we can tell the most direct simply doesn't attract traffic. It takes us about a leisurely driven hour to make the journey. Rolling hills of verdant green, sheep, castles and tiny villages all mark the trail for us. The driving adventure to Bourges, our largest city, is similar in character though there are more cars but never enough for a traffic jam anywhere outside of the city proper.
The ease of rural driving is a blessing, it's like getting back for all those I invested in SF commuting in the past, this is my reward come true. In all my driving about off the main routes and out of big cities is similar to this. Pleasant to a fault, one can get distracted and not feel like you'll smash into the guy in front of you.
However, in cities like Paris, Tours, Nice and the entire South driving is hazardous and traffic burdened just like any big city in the US. Aggressive driving is an art form and assholes that cut in and out of traffic like the rats they are, abound. Speeding in France is common and wrecks are truly spectacular with parts scattered far and wide. The freeways, A-roads, M-Roads are smooth as glass and well constructed, no bumpity, bump, bumps here. The roads can only be blamed in that they allow for fast driving perhaps beyond the ability or nerve of some drivers.
Tailgating is also very common and drives me crazy. I usually just slow down or find a spot to turn off as these guys are a great hazard and endless rear view distraction can lead to front end catastrophe. The worse drivers are, of course, the Americans, the lover of automobiles and the maker of the damnable automobile culture in the US. They do all manner of bad things that can get one damaged or killed in Europe. They aren't particularly fast, not me anyway, but passing on the right, weaving in and out of lanes like some boggle-head doll and tailgating are all bad combinations in European traffic. The high speed lane here, the left most one...not like in the UK, is for High Speed traffic and they mean it! The right most is for slower traffic and trucks take up most of that space typically. The others, well for you and I at our moderate speeds and the infrequent passing truck traffic.
Most major freeways are 4 this direction and 4 the other, some are 3 and some are 2 both ways. Oh, and they aren't free...yes, mostly they are toll roads for various distances and can create quite a backup when someone doesn't have the money, the card or the proper change to get the paying done quickly. Then there are the famous (infamous) speed cameras. Oh yes, they have them everywhere, on highways, 2 lane roads and circle roads skirting big cities, many thousands have been installed and boy do they ever work. The warn you though...big signs about 200 yards before the camera that indicate that the camera is ahead and the speed limit prescribed by law. Speeds are generally similar to those in the US except somewhat higher on the freeways. Inside towns and villages typically 50km/hr..about 30mph, in suburban areas 70kph (42 mph), on main 2 lane roads you can legally go 90 kph (54) or even 110, a screaming 66mph! The real speed comes on the freeways where there is a 110 kph (66mph) lower limit...yes...lower limit, and 130 kph (about 81mph). Above that is not legal but believe me...people go a LOT faster than that when they know the road and want to get somewhere fast...like the beach! How fast? Well...how fast will it go? I've personally gone on a long straight and perfectly smooth concrete freeway
190 kph or 118 mph...seemed perfectly fine, smooth, good Michelin rubber all around and it was very near the top speed of my little Avensis's 2.2 liter diesel in 5th gear. Kelly was fast asleep or I'd been braked, that's for sure. I travelled on with the BMW's, Mercedes, the Hi-Lux vans et al. for about an hour that way until I spied an upcoming exit and a roadside rest where I could get a shot of espresso and to stretch my legs. These Aires are wonderful stops, you can get gas, diesel, foods, local products (honey, mints, wine etc.) and they all have spotless, McDonald's -like restrooms for both sexes...no Turkish toilets here! So that's a pocket summary of the driving conditions. Gentlemen, start your engines!
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