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French motorways show us how it should be done
European roads are far enjoyable with their higher speed limits and pristine surfaces Our next-door neighbours, with their 7383 miles of smooth, free-flowing highway linking the outer reaches of their pretty countryside to the ring roads of their major towns, provide valuable lessons in inter-urban road transportation. France’s first motorway – or autoroute – was opened in 1941. Called the A13, it was the result of a two-decade-long study into the suitability of a ‘highway to the west’ connecting Paris with Normandy. The concept proved popular and the network ballooned in size, with toll roads springing up nationwide from the early 1960s. The tolls are now ubiquitous. They’re there because the system is owned by government-mandated private companies, and they’re a large part of why I believe the network is in the main utterly serene. Generally, motorway traffic volumes in France are insignificant compared with those in the UK, which means you’re at a lower risk of having an accident, you arrive at your destination more refreshed and you have time to spare. The higher speed limit of 130kph (81mph) also helps. Your journey will also be extremely smooth and almost completely devoid of potholes. Because French roads are more vigorously maintained, they’re tangibly silkier and more relaxing to roll over. The UK’s wetter climate combined with a less rigorous upkeep schedule means we don’t stand a chance of competing. You notice the difference as soon as you arrive back in Dover, and that’s before you hit the concrete bit of the M25 an hour later. There is a price to pay for this – quite literally. If you want to go from Calais to Marseille and back and can’t take advantage of the significant savings granted by a ‘Liber-t’ tag, you will end up paying a combined €85 (£71) in tolls. Again, though, the 662-mile journey will be much more pleasant and take you less time than an equivalent one would in the UK. If you’re completing a journey of that length, you’re probably a tourist. Yet you need not be worried about getting lost: the naming and numbering of roads in France is very logical, as they sprout from Paris in a clockwise formation. Generally, numbers below 20 radiate from the capital, while higher numbers represent which region they belong to: the 30s on the eastern side, the 40s near the Alps, the 50s in the south-east, the 60s in the south, the 70s in the middle and the 80s out west. Another thing: French road workers seem to do as much as they can to avoid disturbing the flow of traffic. Driving on the A28 in northern France recently, I noticed a maintenance team completing some work at the roadside. Instead of shutting the inside lane, they were trailed by an unmissable lorry with a large flashing yellow ‘X’ on its rear. Motorists simply moved over, drove past and got on with their days. A victory for common sense and efficiency. Maybe I’ve just been stung by one too many aggravating long-distance journeys in the UK, or maybe my perspective is tainted by the fact I’m usually in happy holiday mode when I hit European Tarmac, but one thing is for sure: although there are far more ‘péages’ to contend with in France, driving on its motorway network takes far less of a toll.
European roads are far enjoyable with their higher speed limits and pristine surfaces
Our next-door neighbours, with their 7383 miles of smooth, free-flowing highway linking the outer reaches of their pretty countryside to the ring roads of their major towns, provide valuable lessons in inter-urban road transportation.
France’s first motorway – or autoroute – was opened in 1941. Called the A13, it was the result of a two-decade-long study into the suitability of a ‘highway to the west’ connecting Paris with Normandy.
The concept proved popular and the network ballooned in size, with toll roads springing up nationwide from the early 1960s.
The tolls are now ubiquitous. They’re there because the system is owned by government-mandated private companies, and they’re a large part of why I believe the network is in the main utterly serene.
Generally, motorway traffic volumes in France are insignificant compared with those in the UK, which means you’re at a lower risk of having an accident, you arrive at your destination more refreshed and you have time to spare. The higher speed limit of 130kph (81mph) also helps.
Your journey will also be extremely smooth and almost completely devoid of potholes. Because French roads are more vigorously maintained, they’re tangibly silkier and more relaxing to roll over.
The UK’s wetter climate combined with a less rigorous upkeep schedule means we don’t stand a chance of competing. You notice the difference as soon as you arrive back in Dover, and that’s before you hit the concrete bit of the M25 an hour later.
There is a price to pay for this – quite literally. If you want to go from Calais to Marseille and back and can’t take advantage of the significant savings granted by a ‘Liber-t’ tag, you will end up paying a combined €85 (£71) in tolls.
Again, though, the 662-mile journey will be much more pleasant and take you less time than an equivalent one would in the UK.
If you’re completing a journey of that length, you’re probably a tourist. Yet you need not be worried about getting lost: the naming and numbering of roads in France is very logical, as they sprout from Paris in a clockwise formation.
Generally, numbers below 20 radiate from the capital, while higher numbers represent which region they belong to: the 30s on the eastern side, the 40s near the Alps, the 50s in the south-east, the 60s in the south, the 70s in the middle and the 80s out west.
Another thing: French road workers seem to do as much as they can to avoid disturbing the flow of traffic. Driving on the A28 in northern France recently, I noticed a maintenance team completing some work at the roadside.
Instead of shutting the inside lane, they were trailed by an unmissable lorry with a large flashing yellow ‘X’ on its rear. Motorists simply moved over, drove past and got on with their days. A victory for common sense and efficiency.
Maybe I’ve just been stung by one too many aggravating long-distance journeys in the UK, or maybe my perspective is tainted by the fact I’m usually in happy holiday mode when I hit European Tarmac, but one thing is for sure: although there are far more ‘péages’ to contend with in France, driving on its motorway network takes far less of a toll.
