Driving in France 2012

The Basics

• Driving in France today is as good a place to drive as anywhere in the world, it has a superb road and motorway network. If you relate France to the United Kingdom, it has the same number of inhabitants but the county is twice the size. Therefore traffic in general on the roads is a lot less congested, but you do have to drive further between cities.

• The first thing to remember when driving in France is the most obvious but most often overlooked, stay on the right hand side at all times. Most people on arrival are very aware and alert, but as they spend more time on the roads and become accustom to conditions tend to relax a little. This is when most accidents can occur, take care in particular from setting off from road side services and restaurants/cafes on the left hand side of the road. On roundabouts give way to traffic already on it coming from the left.

• The minimum age for driving in France for UK residents is 18 for a temporarily imported car, the same applies for motorcycles (over 80cc) and 16 for a moped/motorcycle (under 80cc).

• The documentation you are required to carry at all times when driving in France are your driving license, your vehicle registration document (V5 in the UK) and your certificate of motor insurance. If you have a license that does not have a photograph on it, ensure you have a copy of your passport available as proof of identity. Finally if you are not the owner of the vehicle you must have a written letter from the legal owner giving you permission to drive it.

• A minimum cover of Third Party cover for vehicle insurance is compulsory when driving in France.

Safety

• Seat belts must be worn in all vehicles at all times when driving in France by passengers in both the front and the rear, as is the case now in most countries in Europe.

• Dipped headlights must be used in bad visibility during the daytime, the government recommend that vehicles with more than 4 wheels use dipped headlights both daytime and night time, and is compulsory for all motorcycles.

• Crash helmets on motorcycles and mopeds must be worn at all times.

• When driving in France First Aid Kits are advised, but they are not compulsory.

• Headlamp converters are compulsory when driving in France.

• County stickers from EU countries are no longer required for vehicles that carry EU number plates if your are driving in France.

• Warning triangles and Visibility Vests are compulsory. There should be a vest for every occupant of the vehicle. (Note they should be put on before getting out the vehicle in an emergency).

• Snow Chains are recommend to carried when driving in France during the winter, the police may prevent you continuing our journey if you do not have them, and the conditions dictate they should be used.

• Winter tyres are recommended but not compulsory for driving in winter conditions.

• It is recommended you carry a set of replacement headlamp bulbs when driving in France.

• Using a mobile phone whilst driving is prohibited whilst driving in France, but hands free kits are allowed.

Child Safety

• Children younger than ten years old are not allowed to travel in the front seats of any vehicle. However exceptions are made if there are no rear seats (for example a convertible car), or rear seat belts or if the seats are already taken up by children under the age of ten.

• Children may not be placed in a rear facing seat when Driving in France unless the front air bags are deactivated. They must be placed in a forward facing appropriate seat when driving in France.

• Babies up to a weight of 13kg must be transported in a rear facing baby seat.

• A child weighing between 9kg and 8kg must be seated in a specialised child seat.

• A child from 15kg and up to ten years old can use a booster seat with a seat belt or harness attached.

• At all times it is the responsibility of the driver to ensure all passengers under the age of 18 are restrained when driving in France.

Speed Limits

• When driving in France the speed limits in are dictated by the place,  the type of vehicle and the weather, so be aware of all these factors.

• Standard legal limits vary by different signs for private vehicles that have no trailers attached when driving in France. These are :

1. Built Up Areas -  50 km/ph
2. Outside Built Up Area – 90 km/ph
3. Urban Motorways and Dual Carriageways (separated by a central reservation) – 110 km/ph
4. Non Urban Motorways – 130 km/ph

• Lower speed limits in damp/wet weather conditions apply to visiting motorists who have held a license for less than 2 years. These are :

1. Outside Built Up Area – 80 km/ph
2. Urban Motorways and Dual Carriageways (separated by a central reservation) – 80 km/h
3. Non Urban Motorways – 110 km/ph

• On the spot fines are issued by the French police and can be ‘severe’, and anyone caught exceeding the speed limit by more than 40 km/ph will have their licenses confiscated instantly when driving in France. Ensure should any of theses actions occur, that you receive and official receipt from the officer issuing the penalty.

• Radar Traps set by French police can be very common, especially on the tourist routes, the French police have an estimated one thousand of these. Also in 2011 average speed cameras have introduced on many Motorways.

• The French police removed the official speed camera map from the web in May 2011. There are over two thousand fixed speed camera’s now in France.

• Many speed camera warning signs have also been taking down now.

• Radar speed detectors (Snoopers etc) in cars are illegal and carry a fine of up to 1500 Euros and possibly the vehicle and device being confiscated.

Fuel

• Unleaded petrol (95 & 98) , Diesel, known as ‘Gazole’ and LPG are widely available, lead petrol or any alternatives are no longer available.

• Credit cards are accepted in most petrol stations, but be sure to check with your card issuer prior to departure. Many automated pumps also do not accept UK credit cards, so always carry enough cash with you on your journey (some rural stations only operate these pumps 12-3pm).

• Be aware that a new type of fuel is now in use in France that contains 10% Ethanol, this may not be suitable for all vehicles (Sans Plomb 95 Octane).

• You can find the most up to date fuel prices for driving in France here.

Drink Driving Laws

• The level of alcohol in the blood required in France for someone to be convicted of drink driving is 0.05% and 0.02% for Bus/Coach drivers and carry’s penalties of fines, license confiscation and imprisonment….so basically don’t do it if you plan to go driving in France!

NB* In Spring 2012 legislation is being introduced that will make it compulsary for all vehicles in France to carry a breathaliser kit onboard. Futher details will follow when this has been confirmed.

Tips

• Avoid parking in unauthorised areas, vehicles will be towed away!

• When overtaking give yourself plenty of space between you and the vehicle in front to increase your line of sight when driving in France.

• Petrol cans in cars are permitted but are not allowed by ferry operators, so be aware before you board your vessel to go driving in France.

• In urban areas drivers must give way to traffic coming from the right hand side, this is known as ‘priorite a droite’

• Overtaking a stationary tram is not permitted whilst driving in France.

• You can obtain a ‘blue disc’ for parking zones from Police Offices and Tourist Information Shops.

• Using car horns in built up areas is not permitted unless there is an immediate danger when driving in France.

• Visual in car entertainment must not be in the drivers eye line, DVD’s and TV etc. GPS systems  are allowed.

• If you are making a ferry booking in order to go driving in France, be aware that some companies that offer these services charge more than the actual ferry operators do if you go to them direct.

• Cars can be hired all over France from most major towns and airports.

• There might seem like a lot of information to remember, so why not grab a copy of useful checklist for driving in France.

Further Information

• The best way to travel when driving in France is often via the autoroutes (motorways) despite the costs as you will have the smoothest passage through the country. However if you have more time then taking the minor routes in not a problem, but do expect a longer journey with maybe a little more stress, even with the sat nav. If you do travel on the autoroutes however try to avoid filling up here as it can be expensive, you are better exiting the motorway and finding a Hypermarket or local petrol station.

• When driving in France it is best to avoid Paris if you can on most days if possible. Try to find an alternative route if you don’t want your journey to be delayed.

• The peak periods for traffic in when driving in France are the months of July and August, many of the major routes in particular in the South can be heavily congested most of the time. Also the peak winter months of January and February many of the Apline routes can become congested also

• Public Holidays to note whilst driving in France

1. January 1st, New year’s day
2. Easter Monday (though not Good Friday except in Alsace),
3. May 1st, Labour Day, Fête du Travail
4. May 8th, Armistice Day
5. Ascension Thursday
6. July 14th, Bastille Day, Fête Nationale
7. August 15th, French August bank holiday
8. November 1st, Toussaint, All Saints’ Day
9. November 11th, Armistice, first world war.
10. December 25th, Christmas ( Not Boxing Day)

• Driving in France at the weekends is often the best time to travel on the main roads as HGV’s are banned on these days between 10am and 10pm (and public holidays).

Road Signs

• French road signs are generally accepted to be as good as in any EU country, but it is important to familiarise yourself with them before you set off driving in France. You can find a list of common traffic road signs translated here, and also a visual guide to road signs here.

Motorways & Tolls ‘Peage’

• If you are driving a vehicle without a caravan or trailer the cost of using the tolls to travel through France works out at roughly 10 Euros per 10 miles/16 kilometers. Tolls charges from region to region and depending on which route you wish to take. You can find and up to date table of routes charges here.

• Tolls normally start when you pick up a ticket from the booth as you join the motorway, you will pay the accrued charge as you exit the motorway, or when the toll section comes to an end. As you come to the tolls booths when driving in France, pay attention to the signs above the road. Blue – denotes that credit card payments and debit cards only. Red – denotes that the lane is closed. Green – denotes that the lane is open. Orange – denotes a lane for charging sensors only.

• For UK motorists who wish to make travelling through French tolls faster and easier, Sanef Tollings telepeage tags enable UK motorists to use the automatic telepeage / tag lanes, which have previously been reserved for French residents. To find out more information visit the Sanef UK website.

Regional & Back Roads ‘Bison Fute’

• Road maintenance and traffic regulations are now mostly regionalised throughout France, however a standard for of numbering lettering is still in place A – Autoroutes N – National Network  D – Local Departments. These are normally old national routes and back roads in the main.

• As a general rule when you are driving in France follow road signs in these areas try to follow the name of the destination you are driving to and not the number on the sign as this can lead to confusion, and normally a lengthened journey too!

•  The ‘Bison Fute’ is a term translated as ‘Cunning Bison’ describe routes that British Tourists often use when driving in France. It really means a driver that does not follow the crowd, and finds an alternative more quiet route for their journey when driving in France. These road are ideal and will mean avoiding the congestion. Some of these roads have the iconic tree lined border that you see so often on the television. Theses plane trees were planted to shade travelers from the sun on long journeys. Sadly however they are becoming less and less common as urbanisation spreads.

Breakdowns & Accidents

• When driving in France ensure you have adequate European breakdown cover for the journey.

•  If you are unfortunate enough to be involved in an accident whilst driving in France and your car is immobilised or your cars breaks down whilst driving in France, ensure you put on your high visibility jacket/vest and place the red warning triangle behind the vehicle.

• If you are involved in an accident when driving in France, you must stay at the scene of the accident until the Police have been. Call 18 for the equivalent of the emergency services in the UK. 15 is the number to call for emergency medical aid, ensure you make note of your location at all times in order to get help as quickly as possible.

• Should you be involved in an accident when driving in France you will be required to fill out a ‘constant amiable’.

• If possible call you insurance company, as they may be able to put you in touch with someone locally to help you.

Map of French Roads

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