Where to track protests/problems in France

[d215yq]

Hi all,

Friday I'll be embarking on the trip home to the UK so will be driving through France (Candanchu to Bordeaux to Poitier to Le mans to Dieppe).

I've got my nights stay and ferry booked, checked levels and tyre pressures (all good) pressed all the corners down to test for dampers and that's about as far as my knowledge goes so assume the car is OK.

Should I however be worried about the yellow vest protests etc? Or does it just mean I don't have to pay the toll roads as they "takeover" the peajes? Is there any site where it can be tracked. I'm not sure if Esater means there'll likely be more or less...

Does anyone have a livish source for this stuff?

I'll put a yellow vest on the dashboard anyway just in case and assume a battered 30 yr old W124 is not going to be the target of these "anti capitalist" protesters but don't want huge delays on an already long journey

 

[Blobcat]

I use "International SOS" which gives updates on items in my area or where I'm going. Not sure if you need a subscription to the app but it works very well.

 

[LostKiwi]

We've come down through France several times since the Gilet Jaunes protests started and only seen evidence of problems once.
Easiest way to avoid them is to use Google maps on your phone for navigation (or Waze) as it will automatically route you around traffic issues. The one time we saw a problem Google maps directed us an unusual route (we pretty much know the route having done it so often but use it for ETAs) and when we followed the odd route chosen it brought us out the other side of a road block. This was on the outskirts of Rouen.
In general you'd be unlucky to be caught in an issue.

 

[Blobcat]

We've come down through France several times since the Gilet Jaunes protests started and only seen evidence of problems once.
Easiest way to avoid them is to use Google maps on your phone for navigation (or Waze) as it will automatically route you around traffic issues. The one time we saw a problem Google maps directed us an unusual route (we pretty much know the route having done it so often but use it for ETAs) and when we followed the odd route chosen it brought us out the other side of a road block. This was on the outskirts of Rouen.
In general you'd be unlucky to be caught in an issue.

I was caught in the farmers protests in 2015 when they closed the Pont De Normandie and all the other ways across the Seine in Northern France. Finally managed to get across on some tiny little ferry south of Rouen. It was a fun excursion although as I'd driven nearly 800 miles by then I was pleased when we made it to Nevez

 

[d215yq]

In the end sticking to the D roads and out of towns I didn't see a single protester and not even that many cars with yellow vests on.

Lovely driving the D roads and did the whole trip in 2 days, though not sure what is happening with the new speed limits. It seems 10% of the drivers do the new 80km/h speed limit and everyone else overtakes and tries to do 100+, must admit I was doing 100 on the straight open bits so hopefully no tickets will come, didn't see any Gendarmes either.

Some beautiful scenery and not a hiccup from the W124 over the 1050 miles so a successful Easter trip

 

[LostKiwi]

In the end sticking to the D roads and out of towns I didn't see a single protester and not even that many cars with yellow vests on.

Lovely driving the D roads and did the whole trip in 2 days, though not sure what is happening with the new speed limits. It seems 10% of the drivers do the new 80km/h speed limit and everyone else overtakes and tries to do 100+, must admit I was doing 100 on the straight open bits so hopefully no tickets will come, didn't see any Gendarmes either.

Some beautiful scenery and not a hiccup from the W124 over the 1050 miles so a successful Easter trip

We've just been from Northamptonshire to Bordeaux and back. No Gilet Jaunes. No traffic hassle till back in England (at which point it's been near non-stop traffic jams).

 

[ajlsl600]

unless you like driving at 3 am the uk is a non stop drama now. i do my place to cherburg in 50 min . ,hr ten max . poole to chippenham 2 hr 30 min .distance almost the same. i hate that drive and often choose the night arrival to avoid the traffic . this time arrived 7 am ,nose to tail all the way /terrible.

 

[d215yq]

We've just been from Northamptonshire to Bordeaux and back. No Gilet Jaunes. No traffic hassle till back in England (at which point it's been near non-stop traffic jams).

No problems from ferry to Hertfordshire yesterday but now commuting on the M25 everyday for the next two weeks so I'm sure I'll get my yearly dose of traffic jams...

It was the first time I went by "la aquitane" and was very impressed with the countryside and villages around the Bordeaux region.

 

[LostKiwi]

You would have passed within a few miles of us if you went up the A10 or E100. We're not far from Mirambeau half way between the two main routes.

 

[Taffy7hfa]

Seems a little ironic that our French cousins are protesting about government increases in duty on fossil fuels introduced to help protect the environment, whilst this side of the channel our protesters are complaining that our government isn't doing enough they do have one thing in common though, both groups seem to really hate multinational corporations

 

[PovertySpec]

Not on the BBC or ITV or even Channel 4/5. D notice

 

[d215yq]

You would have passed within a few miles of us if you went up the A10 or E100. We're not far from Mirambeau half way between the two main routes.

I went via the N10 to Poitiers but still rather close to that area. Looks a great place to live and very idyllic/rural.

 

[Taffy7hfa]

Not on the BBC or ITV or even Channel 4/5. D notice

Agreed, Definitely a D notice, probably on the grounds that it will help prevent the movement spreading to our shores.
Only news and opinions approved by the Government and our wonderful PC radical left news organisations can be permitted, like pre-war Germany in the 30s

 

[LostKiwi]

I went via the N10 to Poitiers but still rather close to that area. Looks a great place to live and very idyllic/rural.

Ok N10 is the East side of us. You were about 5 miles away at the closest