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

One thing that took me a long time to work out was the system of numbering on French Autoroutes (motorways). Although each has a perfectly sensible number begining A, (e.g. A1 from Paris to Calais), they also have an E-number (so the same road is marked E15 for much of its route).

These E-numbers are an extra set of Europe-wide designations.

On top of that, direction signs at autoroute junctions often give the list of destinations for the next junction above the right-hand lane, then the list of destinations for the junction after that in the second-from-right-hand lane. I can't count how many times I turned off a junction early after seeing the name of the town I was heading for.

And finally, drivers should beware that speed-limit signs often have a note underneath indicating that they do not apply to general traffic. So a 50-sign with a picture of a caravan underneath would apply only to caravans; a 90-sign with an arrow pointing to the right might only apply to the exit-lane from an autoroute; and the speed limit on autoroutes varies according to the weather.

All of which thoroughly did my head in before I ever got anywhere near the insane gladatorial combat that is urban driving in France!

Gif