La Petite Poche - Driving in France

The Basics

To begin with you’ll need:

A valid UK driving licence. But bear in mind that the minimum driving age in France is 18, so if you’re 17 and passed your test in the UK, you are not permitted to drive in France. If your licence does not incorpoarte a photograph, ensure you carry your passport to validate your licence. The minimum age for hiring a car is 21, rising to 26 in some areas. If you have recently passed your driving test, please note that in France you cannot exceed 90 km/h for the first two years after passing your test.

Appropriate car insurance. Vehicles registered in Great Britain are not required to show an international insurance certificate or green card, but proof of insurance may be required if you are stopped by the police or at customs. Though a green card is no longer compulsory, it is advisable as it will provide fully comprehensive cover. Some British insurance companies offer policies with foreign travel permitted up to a number of days each year.

Vehicle registration document. If the vehicle is not registered to you, carry a letter from the registered owner giving you permission to drive.

Headlamp Converters. Because the French drive on the right, it is compulsory to place converters on your headlights to ensure that your dipped beams won’t dazzle oncoming traffic. If you havn’t fitted them before leaving home, and in many cases you won’t be able to, then do so at the ferry port while waiting to board, even if your onward route is going to be in daylight.

Do’s and Don’ts

You must wear seatbelts.

If you’re riding a motorbike, then crash helmets are compulsory.

UK-registered cars no longer need to display a GB sticker if they have the new style Euro plates with the 12 stars above the national identifier on a blue background.

Either a red warning triangle or hazard lights must be used during an accident or berakdown. Although not compulsory it is strongly recommended that you carry a spare set of bulbs for your vehicle along with a fire extinguisher and a first aid kit.

Dipped headlights must be used in poor daytime visiblility. Motorcylcles over 125cc must use dipped headlights during the day at all times.

Visibility vests, worn if you need to walk on a motorway may become compulsory throughout the EU, but at present they are not required in France.

Some More Legalities

France has tough drink driving laws, blood alcohol levels being stricter than in the UK (0.5 mg/ml rather than 0.8). The advice is simple, if you're driving, don't drive.

Overtaking where there is a solid white single dividing line is heavily penalised. Where there are three or five lanes, the centre lane may be used be used for overtaking in either direction. Needless to say extreme care is needed on such roads.

Using a hand held mobile phone whilst driving is punishable by a fine and two penalty points.

Speed limits are applied rigourously, and radar traps are frequent in France, anyone caught doing more than 25kph above the speed limit can have their licence confiscated on the spot - on a scale of one to ten of absolute inconvenience that has be way off the scale!

Radar detectors are illegal in France - they will be confiscated even if switched off, and you will be fined.

Speeding and other traffic offences are subject to on-the-spot fines. Ensure you get an official receipt from the officer collecting the fine.

There is a maximum speed limit of 80mph (130kph) on the outside lane of motorways during the day and where the road is dry and level.

Speed Limits - Dry Conditions

Motorways	130kph, on Urban stretches 110kph (68mph) and 80kph on the Paris ring road
Dual Carriageways	110kph (68mph)
Outside built-up areas	90kph (55mph)
Built-up areas	50kph (31mph)

Speed Limits - Wet Conditions

Motorways	110kph (68mph)
Dual Carriageways	100kph (62mph)
Outside built-up areas	80kph (50mph)
Built-up areas	50kph (31mph)

Filling up

As in Britain the price varies, but is generally cheaper at the supermarkets. On the autoroutes, the signs tell you how far you have to drive before the next fuel station. The consequences of filling up with the wrong fuel are dire. If you do, NEVER EVER start the engine. It will be easier to have the vehicle professionally drained.
Petrol is Essence, unleaded is Sans Plomb Diesel is Gazole. If you use LPG (Gepel/GPL) there are approximately 1700 stations in France - especially on the Autoroutes.

There are some 24hour automatic petrol pumps operated by credit cards. But beware, these rarely accept UK issued cards.

Priorité À Droite

There is reasonable suspicion that the French system of priorité à droite (giving way to traffic on the right) came into being when the government was controlled by garage mechanics in built up areas. The priority still applies where signposted and you must give way to anybody coming out of a side turning on the right. However, the priority rule no laonger applies at roundabouts which means you give way to cars already on the roundabout. Watch for signs and excercise great care.

The only problem with this is that there are still drivers around, especially in the rural areas, who are of a generation that still live by the old rules. Be alert!

Common Roadsign Translation

Autres Directions = other directions, Cédez le passage = give way, Chaussée deformer = uneven road/ temporary surface, Déviation = Diversion, Gravillons = loose chippings, Passage protégé = your right of way, Péage = Toll, Priorité piétons = give way to pedestrians, Rappel = reminder, Rids de poules = potholes, Sortie = exit, Toutes Directions = All directions, Vous n'avez pas la priorité = Give way.