When we first arrived on the shores of France, my husband was terrified.
He'd heard so many stories of how bad the French drivers were he thought they all had little horns, and pointy red tails.

He was sure they would be throwing themselves at him, from each side, like dodgem cars. Within a few minutes of driving, we got lost
(but that's another story).

A few years later we are used to the French way of driving. Expect the unexpected and you can't go wrong. (Well, that's the theory).

Always find out in villages and towns where the boulangeries are and then you'll know that sudden stops will be made there, if the boulangerie happens to be on a zebra crossing the same will apply.
I've even seen cars double parked on a crossing, because to the French, is there anything more important than stopping for their bread?

Keep a wary eye on little old men and little old women who drive little old cars at 25 mph (what's that in kilometres?) They believe they are the only people on the road, so they can't see you.
No, don't knock them, they can't see you, and what could be nicer than living your life in total oblivion?

My husband once saw a little old lady on a roundabout and she had obviously missed her turnoff and was backing up! Amid toots, hoots and a lot of arm waving from other motorists, she carried on backing up, smiling all the while.

ROUNDABOUTS! Now these will forever be a mystery to the French man (and woman).
Perhaps it would be a good idea when a new car was sold, that the salesman could show the new owners the new-fangled gadget called an indicator. We might then have just a little clue as to where they may be going.

Also I've only just realised that the French have their own version of the blanc vin man.
I had thought this was just an English disease, so beware.

I think we must accept that the French are born with the wish to be first on the road in their genes. When my nephew was smaller he was convinced that if you overtook often enough you would be the first . The same applies here, so my theory is let them get on with it, as it appears to make them happy.

So when next you hit the roads and motorways bonne chance and bon courage.

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