Paris traffic - this is astounding

[Dave Homewood]

My sister and brother-in-law went to Paris a couple of months ago, and my brother-in-law Steve just showed me this video he took out of the window at the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. He said he simply hung the camera out to see what he could see, and then realised what a melee was going on down below.

Have a watch, it's a little into the film where the traffic scene starts, but once you see it, you'll be mesmerized by the total chaos that you see. No lanes, no road markings, no patience, no courtesy. Pure madness! It's brilliant.



For the bad traffic skim through to about 2.30 mins

[phil82]

I've been around the Arc, twice, there and back to Giverny , and it is absolute chaos! We were hit twice on the return, and the French driver just shrugged! I have driven in France, but never would I drive in Paris!

[ngatimozart]

One guy I worked with went there on his honeymoon back in 2007 and they went on a bus tour thru Europe. When they went around the Arc the tour guide said there was a smash there every seven minutes.

[Dave Homewood]

Not surprising when you watch the footage

[phil82]

We went on a mini-bus from our hotel to Givenchy [that's Monets' gardens to the more literate but I guess everyone here would know that!] via the Arc, and I asked the driver who had right of way, and I could tell immediately that he didn't really understand my question! The trick seems to be just barge in and hope they give way.

Traffic in Rome is possibly worse and seemingly uncontrolled. There are pedestrian crossings, but as you walk out traffic passes in front of you, and as you progress, behind you!

[flyjoe180]

If you were to draw an analogy, imagine society with no rules. Do they get many punch ups in those streets? Road rage must be a factor?

[phil82]

I didn't see any, the French seem to be incredibly laid back.

[ngatimozart]

In France the road rules stipulate that at a roundabout you have to give way to the right. So in plain language those on the roundabout have to give way to those coming on. Thats the theory. ;D ;D ;D ;D

[steveh]

That brought back memories. I drove tour coaches around Europe for a couple of years in the early 80s. To be honest, that looked like a reasonably quiet time, I've negotiated Le Etoille Charle De Gaule as that interstecion is know (the Star of Charles de Gaul, it has 8 street meeting at the Arc), in rush hour & often it came down to whoever had the biggest horn won. Our coaches had huge airhorns under the fron bumper that proved highly effective in such instances. Watch how the local bus worked its way around the outside, part turning into a street running off the junction but then swinging back in with the traffic & continuing around the outside. Do as the locals do, it works.
Steve.

[thoram]

Around Arc de Triomphe every day is traffic chaos

[corsair5517]

I disagree; it only LOOKS like chaos but the Pariaians seem to have it all worked out! I stood there for about 10 minutes and watched the traffic circle the Arc; the first thing that surprised me was that there was little or no leaning on the horn happening and secondly that everyone seemed to just get on with it! That said, I did watch one little blue Citroën go around five times!! However, I wouldn't feel terribly comfortable driving in Paris, though I drove all over France, in a right hand drive car, with no problems at all; the roads are terrific and people's driving manners and skills are way beyond what I've found since we've been back down this end of the world!