Good news: Calais port is about the gentlest introduction to driving on the right you could ask for. The exit is well signed, everyone around you is going the same way, and the A16 gives you time to settle. The tricky moments come later — at junctions with no traffic to copy, at the first roundabout, and on the first morning after an overnight stop. That's exactly what these ten tips are for.
The 10 Tips That Matter Most
From prep on the ferry to routine by day two:
Before you drive: headlamp adjustment
UK-pattern headlights dazzle oncoming traffic on the right. Many modern cars have a 'tourist mode' in the menu; older ones need beam deflector stickers (sold at ferry ports and online). France can fine you for dazzling — sort it before you roll off.
The anchor rule: driver to the middle
The most reliable mental anchor: as the driver you always sit towards the centre of the road. If the kerb appears on your driver's side, something's wrong. This one sentence prevents most wrong-side moments.
Priorité à droite: the French classic
On some junctions — especially in towns and villages — traffic joining from the right has priority unless signs say otherwise. Watch for the yellow diamond sign (you have priority) and its crossed-out version (you don't). When in doubt in a village, expect cars to pull out from the right.
Know the danger moments
Most mistakes don't happen in busy traffic but without a reference: turning onto empty roads, leaving car parks, and the first morning. A sticky note saying 'RIGHT!' on the dash sounds daft — it works.
Speed limits: km/h, and they change with rain
Limits are in km/h: 50 in town, 80 on many single carriageways, 110 on dual carriageways, 130 on autoroutes — dropping to 110 in rain. Speed cameras are widespread and French fines chase UK addresses.
Compulsory kit & Crit'Air
France requires a warning triangle and hi-vis vest in the car (vest reachable from the driver's seat). For cities like Paris, Lille or Lyon you may need a Crit'Air emissions sticker — order it online well before travelling; it costs a few euros officially.
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