Lorries

[Quiksilver]

I wonder if Spardo could shed some light on something that's been puzzling me for quite a while? It's noticeable when following a lorry that, on the approach to a roundabout, the driver always indicates 'left' when going straight on It's far too regular to be hazard. Are French lorry drivers taught to do this, and if so, why??

[ajm]

To indicate that he is not taking the first exit. It's not just lorries - car drivers have been seen doing it when they remember.

[rsm]

isn't it to stop drivers coming into the lorries blind spot.
Trouble for me are the moronic car drivers who do the same.

[basquesteve]

I have always indicated left on a round about until my exit appears both in a car and motorhome, as a bus driver in the UK I did similiar right indications

[Spectrum]

We was taught not to indicate if going straight across, but only on sight of your exit, I like many others have seen this left hand indicating, done by an artic I can understand, but cars I do find the standard of driving in France poor, but I was taught by the best and still remember the fear of commentary driving.

[Bayleaf]

As far as driving in France is concerned, it is taught that you indicate left first, to show (as mentioned above) that you're not taking the first exit, then indicate right as you approach your desired exit - albeit the one "straight on". Not all vehicles like this - our van for instance, as turning the wheel cancels the indicater.

We learned a lot by our daughter getting her French driving licence. Some of it makes sense, and some of it really doesn't!

[hughnique]

I found it very bizarre at first, but it seems to be the norm, whether they are taught to indicate left at the school of driving I don't know, possibly as well as sticking up the arse of the car in front as well. Artics I can appreciate the left hand signal as the length of the vehicle will cut off most of the road, and you always get some smart arse wanting to shoot up the offside of you. I can see the argument that it is to tell other drivers that you are not taking the first exit but then you would indicate right if that was the case

[Bayleaf]

Tailgating isn't taught by French Instructors. But I've noticed daughter gets close behind others when I've been a passenger. Unfortunately, it's city driving that encourages people to try and get into the boot of the car in front. She says if she leaves a car-sized gap (especially when driving on the peripheral), someone behind will take it as an opportunity to get in there! So, it becomes a habit to drive bumper to bumper. Ok at 40/50kph, but not so much at 80+!

[rsm]

Here is the code de la route for rondpoints
Rond-point : quels clignotants activer ?
Concernant les clignotants, enclenchez-les avant de vous engager dans le rond-point. Le clignotant avertira ainsi les autres automobilistes de votre direction le plus tôt possible. Vous minimisez ainsi les risques d’accident, car nombreux sont les accrochages qui surviennent à cause de l’oubli d’un clignotant. C’est aussi vrai dans beaucoup d’autres cas, comme sur l’autoroute, en circulation dense par exemple.

Quand vous tournez à gauche ou faites demi-tour dans un rond-point, activez votre clignotant gauche avant d’entrer dans l’anneau. Si vous allez à droite, activez le clignotant droit. Activez également le clignotant droit avant de sortir du rond-point.
The last paragraph being the interesting one

[DominicBest]

Every country seems to have its individuality when it comes to driving rules. When I first moved to Germany I found it strange that people would indicate when they were following a priority road if it turned sharply.