Driving to Switzerland

[pritchp]

Well im 21 this year (all gifts welcome hehehehe!)

anyways, I love skiing, when i was younger we used to drive to switzerland and ski out there but in recent years we have flown and taken the train... this year, because i will be 21 and i have a car that gives me reasonable mpg and is comfy for long drives, i have decided i am going to drive back to where we used to go for a week.

Just done a google maps route and its 676miles and should take 12hours 6 mins. Doing exactly the same as we did when i was younger i will be driving through the night and not stopping (other than for diesel) im hoping i should only have to fill up once each way but we will see how that plans out!

I have all the bits i need for driving through france (high viz jacket etc).

Now i have snow socks for my tires, and i know in france/switzerland in the winter you have to have snow chains with you... should i buy some snow chains as well as my snow socks or do you reckon the snow socks will be enough?

Also, anyone got any tips for long drives through france/switzerland?

Im planning on getting some good pics along the way of the car if poss!

 

[weebob]

As for France. Don't speed. Fully expect a fine even if you stick to the limit

 

[pritchp]

As for France. Don't speed. Fully expect a fine even if you stick to the limit

What!?! how does that work?

I thought you could speed in france because they wont come knocking on your door in the uk if you dont pay?

 

[weebob]

As for France. Don't speed. Fully expect a fine even if you stick to the limit

What!?! how does that work?

I thought you could speed in france because they wont come knocking on your door in the uk if you dont pay?

They get you at the toll gates. My dad was done last year rushing for a ferry.

 

[Araf]

Switzerland and Germany now have a law that you must have winter tyres fitted to your car during certain months.

 

[pritchp]

Winter tires?! Youre actually kidding me. That's gunna cost a fortune !

 

[DrDrew]

You might have some RWD fun if theres lots of snow around

Depends if you're lucky/unlucky with the weather if chains would be needed i guess. (Unless it's a legal requirement to have them )

 

[N0ddie]

Take plenty of cash if you plan on speeding. If you have the cash you can just give them the money and your free to go, if you dont then its a real hassle allegedly.

 

[yotah1]

Winter tires only apply to the cars staying in the country for more than 6 weeks or something. Otherwise any tourist would have to drop 1000€ on his car just to get into the country

As for France, don't speed at all, there are more and more radars everywhere and they are *******! And yes they catch you on the way out...

 

[Araf]

Winter tires only apply to the cars staying in the country for more than 6 weeks or something.

That's good to know.

As you were Pritch.

 

[singlespeed]

As for France, don't speed at all, there are more and more radars everywhere and they are *******! And yes they catch you on the way out...

And radar detectors, satnav/GPS with camera locations are illegal since January

 

[weebob]

As for France, don't speed at all, there are more and more radars everywhere and they are *******! And yes they catch you on the way out...

And radar detectors, satnav/GPS with camera locations are illegal since January

really!!! sneaky

 

[N0ddie]

And then remember all the extra stuff you need in your car when travelling through France:

- warning triangle
- full set of spare bulbs
- high viz vest for each occupant.

 

[tommy89]

As for France, don't speed at all, there are more and more radars everywhere and they are *******! And yes they catch you on the way out...

And radar detectors, satnav/GPS with camera locations are illegal since January

really!!! sneaky

tom tom are working on a way around this, a mate of mine is working on converting them all .. cant remember what he said now, something like POI "safety points".

 

[yotah1]

High viz vest for the driver only. It's one per car.

Full set of bulbs, **** that, the carmakers don't even put them in when you order your car so you can't get a fine for that if you complain loudly enough!

Warning triangle though is a must have.

And concerning radar detectors or warning systems, they are still tolerated, but they basically tell you there is a "danger" and not anymore a fixed radar or a mobile. Just a question of interpretation of text ...