Telling the time in France and driving in France

Time

If telling someone the time use the 24 hour clock - 'e.g. dix-huit heure' is better than six heure' although you think it's obviously the evening you are talking about.

Being polite

'Bonjour madame / monsieur' is better than a simple 'bonjour', which is still much better than nothing at all. In a cafe, in a shop, wherever, it is better always to say 'bonjour madame, merci, au revoir and so on. You can't say it too often! When you walk into a little shop and everyone looks at you a confident 'bonjour' is what they are waiting for and expecting. Same in a restaurant. Say 'bonjour' to tables of people as you pass if they are looking at you, rather than looking away and whispering that the French all stare a lot. Don't try and kiss people you have never met.

Driving

Drive on the right or you'll crash. Always stop at Stop signs - not slow down and nearly stop, actually stop. Traffic on roundabouts pretty much always has priority over traffic entering a roundabout. Don't assume that, like the old days, you can always drive at top speed, drink and drive and so on. The rules are now very severe for both of these. Gendarmes often hide behind a tree in a town and stop cars driving at more than 50 kmh. The end of the town speed restriction is reached only when you pass the sign with the name of the town crossed out.