Driving Rules
- Drive on the right in France
- The minimum age in France to drive a car is 18 years
- The driver must carry a valid driver's licence
- It is obligatory to wear seatbelts where they are fitted
- It is illegal to drive and use a mobile telephone without a handsfree unit
Right of way/priority
The right of way at an intersection in a town or city is automatically given
to the vehicle on the right - priorité à droite - unless
otherwise indicated by a stop or yield/give way sign. This also applies where a
small side road enters a major main road: the vehicle travelling on the main
road gives way to the vehicle entering on the right.
Speed limits and road signs
Speed limits UNLESS otherwise marked by signs:
- Autoroute (national motorway) in the Alpes-Maritimes: 110 Km/h (rest of
France 130 Km/hour and 110 Km/hour when raining)
- Two lane roads or single lane roads separated by an island: 110 Km/h and
100 Km/h when raining
- Regional roads: 90 Km/h and 80 Km/h when raining
- Built up areas (towns and villages): 50 Km/h
- Any time visibility is less than 50m: 50 Km/h
The French Government website Sécurité
Routière regularly publishes updates on placement of fixed speed
monitoring radars.
- For positions of the fixed and mobile radars and cameras: Click
here (in French)
- For a complete list of all the road signs in France and what they
mean: Click
here (in French only)
- For comprehensive information on everything to do with the road and driving,
see AngloINFO INFOrmation Page Driving
in France
Driving licences
A valid licence issued in an EU country or the US is accepted in France and the driver does not need to carry an International Driver's Licence/Permit (IDL/IDP).
Licences issued in many other countries are valid for use in France but might need to be accompanied by an IDL/IDP obtained in the country where the licence was issued. Check with your local Automobile Club for more information.
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