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It
is now the law in France to carry a high visibility jacket
and a warning triangle in your car, or any type of motor vehicle. These can be
purchased from any hypermarket in France, and are not expensive.
This
safety measure is intended to protect drivers at the scene of a road
traffic accident. You don’t want to become another casualty!
The
law does not apply to motorcycles, though it is highly advisable to
carry them with you when possible. Fines
between €90 to €135, will apply from 1 October 2008.
Advice
and the Law
Drive
on the right!
Be
very careful when setting off from service stations or restaurants
on the left side of the road. Take
care when overtaking and allow more space between you and the car in front
so you can see further down the road ahead.
France
has strict drink driving laws, blood alcohol levels being stricter than
in the UK (0.5 mg/ml rather than 0.8). So beware!
Seat
belts front and rear are obligatory everywhere.
Speed
limits, shown below, are implemented rigorously. Radar traps are now
frequent on the roads of France.
In France, anyone caught travelling at more than 25km/h above
the speed limit may have their driving licence confiscated.
Speeding
and other traffic offences are subject to on-the-spot fines.
A
full UK driving licence is required. As in the UK, seat belts should be
worn front and rear. Below are motoring regulations relating to France.
Take
care in built-up areas where the old rule giving priority to traffic
coming from the right (Priorité à droite) still applies unless a
yellow diamond indicates you have priority. On roundabouts you generally
give priority to traffic already on the roundabout, in other words,
coming from your left as you enter the roundabout.
Children under 10 are not allowed in the front. In the rear
they must use a proper restraint system appropriate to their weight,
which means a child seat if they weigh between 9 and 15 kg. Over this
weight they can use seat belts with a booster cushion.
Speed
Limits
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Limits
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Motorway
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Open
Road
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Dual
Carriageway
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Town
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Alcohol
mg/ml
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France
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130
km/h (110 when wet)
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90
km/h (80 when wet)
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110
(100 when wet)
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50
km/h
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0.5
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vehicles
towing trailers with combination gross weight over 3.5t
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110
km/h
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50
km/h
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100
km/h
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50
km/h
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Visiting
motorists holding a licence for less than 2 years
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110
km/h
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80
km/h
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100
km/h
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50
km/h
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Documentation
You
must always carry your driving licence, vehicle registration document (V5),
and certificate of motor insurance with you in the car. This is the law
in France.
If your licence does not incorporate
a photograph ensure you carry your passport to validate the licence. If
the vehicle is not registered in your name, carry a letter from the
registered owner giving you permission to drive.
UK registered vehicles displaying Euro-plates (circle of
12 stars above the national identifier on blue background) no longer
need a GB sticker when driving in European Union countries.
Headlamp
converters are highly recommended.
Motorcycles
over 125cc must use dipped headlights during the day at all times.
Minimum
age for driving, provided you hold a full UK licence, is 18 for a car
and a motorcycle over 125cc and 15 for a motorcycle under 125cc.
Motorcycle drivers and passengers must wear crash helmets.
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