h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

On the Autoroutes the Speed Limits are sensibly set at two different speeds for wet and dry conditions. Top speed is 130kms ( c 85 mph). Drivers are less inclined to indicate as they swap lanes ( unlike the UK, where by and large drivers do use their indicators). They will cut back in, when they have overtaken, far closer than they do in the UK.I noticed less aggressive use of flashing headlights but also no use of flashlights to indicate to the car that has overtaken to move back in, to say thanks etc. ( all common in the UK). The only time I was tail gated was by an Italian driver ( another story entirely). I was in the inside lane doing 135 km ( just over the dry weather speed limit) when an Italian people mover sat on my tail maybe two metres back, waiting for a car travelling very fast in the outside lane to pass. I was quite surprised that when in the fast lane cars that clearly wished to overtake did not drive too aggressively, they tended to come up fast sit back, wait for you to move and then speed past.

The system of "aires" in France is second to none ( and certainly vastly superior to the Motorway service stations in the UK, which are almost all gruesome). I dont know exactly what the distance spread is but on the busy sections of autoroute there is an Aire every 30Kms or so. Good for sleepy drivers. At one we stopped at they were doing free massages!

Why don't they have Aires in England? We also drove through France this year, to Bordeaux. It was very, very hot - but we stopped lots of times, had a quick water fight to cool down, sat in the shade. Much nicer than the English alternative of sitting in an overpriced, stuffy, dirty resturant...

Hi Peta

Why no Aires indeed? They make all the difference on very long drives.
The best ones ( interestingly in Champage Country) are magnificent - cartoons for the children, good food, plenty of space, wonderful food in the shops.

I guess its just too late for the UK now.

But why is it like that? For thirty years motorway service stations have been a national joke. Isn't it odd that no-one has thought about being a bit more innovative?

Planning permission I guess - I think that land is a lot less in demand in France along the side of the MWay.

We'll just have to put up with Happy Eaters I guess.

R