Quote:
Originally Posted by Bevdeforges
Another big difference between Europe and the US - in most countries (and I think France is one of them) you have to take your driving and written tests through an official driving school. (It does mean you get to use the driving school's car to take the driving test, though.) A decent driving instructor can also show you all the little "tricks" the examiners use and they generally know all the favorite spots in the area for testing.
In Germany, the auto school instructor let me just do some sessions in the car to prep for the test. He said I could sit in on the classes, but I just bought a copy of the exam questions and studied on my own from that. The written tests here are considerably harder than those given in the US. There may be more than one correct answer, and if so, you have to pick all the correct answers to get the question correct.
Some of the US expat groups are pushing more states to establish reciprocity with France, but I honestly think they should back off. To drive over here you need to know how to drive a stick shift car and you ought to learn some of the subtle differences in the rules of the road and driving habits.
Cheers,
Bev
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"Some of the US expat groups are pushing more states to establish reciprocity with France, but I honestly think they should back off."
Agree. European driving isn't the same as driving in the States. The rules are very different, e.g., you don't pass someone on the right in Germany or France unless there's a bottleneck. As another example there's a Good Samaritan Law and if there's an accident, you are required to stop and render assistance. As a final example, you are required to have a warning triangle, first-aid kit and reflective vest in your car at all times.
With a few exceptions, the signs are completely different than in the States (Ausfahrt is not a town in Germany). You must know who has the right of way at intersections. For these reasons, the U.S. military requires you pass a European driver's exam if you want to drive in Europe while working for them.
The driving conditions on the Autoroutes in France and Autobahns Germany demand more focus than a lot of Americans are accustomed to but you get used to it. All things considered I prefer driving on them than the Capital Beltway in D.C. At least there's no 18 wheelers passing you on the right in Europe.
Regarding the requirement to know how to drive a stick shift, I think some verification is in order here. We (my French wife and I) haven't heard about that. There are certainly a good number of automatics on the road.
Happy Motoring!