Avalec.com

Plumeliau

Plumeliau is on the D1. At the centre of the village drive around the back of the church and take the C8 to Guenin. After you leave the houses you will see a large pink house on your right.turn right here! on you left is a sign with a plan of the next few houses. Avalec is about 2 k from this.

Driving in France

Motoring notes on the driving laws and you. An introduction to what you must (and must not) do when driving in France: license, speeding, driving and alcohol.

Information below on the general rules and regulations of driving in France, valid license, speed limits, priority and road conditions, using the autoroute, fuel (petrol, diesel and GPL), accidents, driving while intoxicated, registering a foreign car and buying and selling a car.  The minimum age in France to drive a car or motor bike over 80 CC is 18 years. Drivers must have a valid driving license and be 18 years or older. The minimum age to drive a scooter or motor bike under 80 CC is 16 years.

Rules & Regulations
•   Drive on the right in France
•   It is compulsory to wear a seat belt front and rear (if fitted)
•   It is compulsory for all children up to 10 years to travel in the back seat of a car and wear a seat belt or be strapped into a proper child seat. Only adults and children from 10 years may sit in the front passenger seat
•   Mobile cellular telephones may not be used while driving except with a “handsfree” system
•   It is compulsory to carry a driving license, car registration papers (Carte Grise) and insurance documents. (Endorsed photocopies of these documents may be carried in place of the originals. Documents can be endorsed at a Mairie)
•   Third party insurance is compulsory
•   Driving with lights on by day is optional.

Warning triangle and safety jacket

By law, one red warning triangle and one high-visibility vest must be carried in vehicles from 1 July 2008. In the event of breakdown the driver should put on the safety jacket and place the warning triangle 30 metres from the breakdown to warn approaching traffic. Failure to carry these items in the vehicle is punishable by a fine incurred per item not carried, though law enforcement officials will not be imposing fines until 1 October 2008. Be aware that both these items are required by law to be carried in a vehicle traveling in Spain or Italy.

Licenses
EU and EEA driving licenses are valid in France provided no penalties have been issued to that license. International Driving Licenses (IDL) accompanied by a valid foreign license (non-EU or EEA) are accepted in France. But once the license holder has been resident in the country for one year the license becomes invalid. If an exchange agreement exists with the issuing country it may be exchanged for a French one during the first year of residency. If there is no exchange agreement the driver must pass a full French driving examination to qualify for a French license.

• For details on license exchanges, see AngloINFO Information Page: Foreign Driving Licenses in France
• For details on getting a license see AngloINFO Information Page: French Driving Licenses
Loss and theft of paperwork
If a licence is lost or stolen, report it to the police station closest to where it went missing. The police will provide a receipt, which is a temporary permit valid for two months. If vehicle registration papers are stolen, go to the police station closest to where the theft happened. The police will issue a certificate. To apply for a replacement, take the police certificate, proof of identity, proof of residence and the technical certificate (Contrôle Technique) to the Préfecture or Sous-Préfecture.
Speed Limits, Priority & Road Conditions

Speed limits UNLESS otherwise marked by signs:
•   Autoroute (national highway/freeway system/motorway system): 130 Km/h and 110 Km/h when raining
•   Expressways: 110 Km/h and 100 Km/h when raining
•   Two lane roads or single lane roads separated by an island: 110 Km/h and 100 Km/h when raining
•   Regional roads: 90 Km/h and 80 Km/h when raining
•   Built up areas (towns and villages): 50 Km/h
•   Any time visibility is less than 50m: 50 Km/h

Right of way/priority
When driving in a city, town or village, the right of way at an intersection is automatically given to the vehicle on the right - la priorité à droite - unless otherwise indicated by stop or yield/give way signs. This applies even in the case of a small side road entering a major main road. The vehicle travelling on the main road must give way to the vehicle entering on the right.

Using the Autoroute in France
The autoroute road system is toll-paying with several companies owning the tolls for a particular region. Autoroutes France (in French) is a portal for all French toll companies. The price of a toll will be shown at the entrance to the gates. Most toll fees can be paid in cash, by credit card or via a subscription with the relevant toll company.

Fuel: Petrol and Diesel
All fuel stations sell diesel (gazole) and unleaded petrol (essence) in 95 and 98 octane. Many stock autogas/LPG (liquefied petroleum gas, GPL in French). Many fuel stations have automatic pumps for payment by credit card (some are card-operated only).

Accidents
In the event of an accident call the police (Tel: 17). An ambulance will be called if one is needed. All those involved must fill in an accident report form (constat à l’amiable) and swap insurance details (always keep the blue constat à l’amiable in the car).

This is our link to find us on the web for travelling by car through GOOGLES travel info.

Travel by Air
Here I will need links to the main airlines to get across
The closest airports to Avalec are Brest and Dinard, other airports are below.

http://www.airport.cci-brest.fr/en/

http://www.nantes.aeroport.fr/ANA-English/Page/Default.aspx

http://www.dinardairport.net/

Here are some links to airlines:

http://www.ryanair.com/site/EN/

http://www.bmibaby.com/bmibaby/html/en/splash.htm

http://bookmark.excite.co.uk/tag/flights+france?cs=google&ck=flights+france

http://www.brittany-internet.com/BrittanyNews/CheapFlights/tabid/177/Default.aspx

http://www.flybe.com/destinations/Brest.htm

http://www.cheapflights.co.uk/

Rental cars when in France
http://www.toulouse-car-hire.co.uk/France-car-rental.html

http://www.novacarhire.com/