subject: Driving in France [print this page] Driving in France Driving in France
Driving in France is easy even if they drive on the wrong side of the road!!!!For most gite holidays you will need a car so here are some useful tips.
The minimum driving age is 18 even if you are legal to drive in your own country and are under 18
UK car insurance gives you automatic 3rd party cover. Speak to your insurance company to increase your cover
French law requires all passengers to wear a seatbelt
No child under 10 in the front passenger seat unless it is in a specially adapted rear facing seat
Unleaded petrol is called Sans Plomb and Diesel is called gasoil
The cheapest petrol is found at Hypermarkets and Supermarkets. Even if it says open 24/24, the kiosk is unmanned at lunch time and after work. You have to pay at the pump by credit or debit card and a lot of pumps only take French cards!!!! Most garages close on Sundays, either all day or half day. All garages close for lunch for 2 hours.
Car base radar speed detectors are illegal in France so remove it from your car before you get to France. You could be fined and the device and vehicle may be confiscated. he French government publish where speed cameras are situated, but beware of the police with their hand held speed cameras
Speed limits vary with the weather in France
Road Type Dry Weather Wet weather
Toll 130kmph/80mph 110kmph/68mph
Dual Carriageways 110kmph/68mph 100kmph/62mph
Other Roads 90kmph/56mph 80kmph/50mph
Built Up Area 50kmph/31mph 50kmph/50mph
Slow to 50km/h when you drive into a town, i.e. when you get to the town name sign. You can revert to a faster speed when you pass through the sign which indicates you are leaving the town i.e. town name with a line through it.
Although the French like to drink their Drink-Drive limits are less than the UK at 50mg alcohol per 100ml of blood. This can mean that just one glass of beer can take you up to the limit.
On "C" roads, there isn't enough room for two cars to pass on the road so each car drives partly on the verge. Just remember there is often a ditch between the verge and the garden or field. On quiet roads, it is common for people to stop their cars in the middle of the road and chat to friends just go with the flow and accept it as normal.
You must have a yellow high reflective vest in the car, not the boot, to be worn when getting out of the car if you stop by the side of the road e.g. if your car breaks down. You must have a warning triangle in the car as well. Keep a set of spare light bulbs in the car
Documents have the following in the car registration documents, mot certificate, insurance certificate, letter stating you have permission to drive the car if it is a company car. You should also have both parts of your drivers licence.
If you wear distance glasses for driving, carry a spare set in the car.
When driving in France you will find that their lane dicipline is good an dual carriageways and toll roads but they tend to drive fast on D roads and sit on your tail. They try to pass you when there is no room to do so, so just be careful.
