Driving Abroad – France – Car Insurance

If you love cruising down the open road with your top down then you will love the motorway systems in France! These motorways may be tolled but they are well worth the extra money. Traffic is normally kept to a minimum in the French motorways and will decrease your driving time drastically as getting stuck behind the local farmers on the back roads is not very enjoyable.

BEWARE!! Police in France can fine you for speeding by calculating how quickly you have travelled from one motorway tollbooth to the next.

However, if you love the countryside then you will find miles of country lanes within 30 minutes of leaving the ferry at Calais. Be sure to take the latest maps with you or if you aren’t the best at reading maps a satellite navigation system would be ideal. Just make sure you have the French maps loaded before you leave home!

The French Authorities have recently begun clamping down on motoring offences such as speeding and drink driving. The French police are now carrying out random breath tests and have installed thousands of new speed cameras to catch people out. Don’t say we didn’t warn you!

The driving laws in France are tough are you will need to be aware of these before you go. The legal alcohol limit is lower in France than the UK. In France you are only allowed 50mg in every 100ml of your blood compared with the UK’s law of 80mg. This may be down to the fact that people living in the UK are able to drink more than people living in France but the French authorities won’t accept that as an excuse. Just DO NOT drink and drive that way you won’t ever get caught.

Speed limits on the French roads can change drastically without any warning. When driving on fast country roads, a sign with the name of a village on can indicate a change in the speed limit so be sure to slow right down when you see a village sign or passing through populated areas. The French authorities have the power to confiscate your license if you are caught going over the speed limit by 25mph.

Sights Definitely Worth Seeing

The world’s highest road bridge can be found in France. Standing higher than the Eiffel tower this breathtaking piece of engineering known as Millau Viaduct, was opened in 2004 to divert traffic away from Millau. Travelling over the bridge carries a cost of €7.00 but is well worth every penny. The views you get from travelling over the bridge are amazing and it is a great experience for any tourist.

French Laws of the Road

Seatbelts must be worn at all times, if fitted in the car.
Children under the age of 10 are not allowed to sit in the front of the car unless the car only has 2 seats, there are no seatbelts in the back of the vehicle or children under the age of 10 are already sitting on the back seats.
A child seat can be used in the front seat but the passenger side airbags must be TURNED OFF if using a rear-facing child seat.
Horns may only be used in emergencies in built up areas.
You must have winter tyres or snow chains when driving up in the mountains in the winter.
Do not park on a single yellow line – if you do your car could be towed away.
If you witness a serious accident you are legally obliged to offer help to those involved. You can call the fire brigade or Pompiers by dialling 18. They will arrange all over services for you.
Motorcyclists must use dipped headlights during the day and wear crash helmets at all times. This includes all passengers.
In addition:
* Lower speed limits apply in the wet.
* Lower speed limits apply if you’ve held a licence for less than two years.
* Speed camera detectors are illegal.

Standard Speed Limits

Built Up Areas – 50 Km/h (30mph)
Outside Built Up Areas – 90 Km/h (55mph)
Urban Motorways/Dual Carriageways – 110 Km/h (68mph)
Motorways – 130 Km/h minimum of 80 Km/h (80mph minimum of 50mph)

Local Knowledge
When an oncoming driver flashes their lights at you it does not mean the same thing as it does in the UK. This signal means that the driver is coming whether you like it or not. It can also be a warning indicating a police speed trap up ahead.
Like in many European countries, cyclists are treated with a lot of respect on the roads and drivers give them plenty of room when passing them. Pedestrians do not get as much respect, however this is changing due to new legislation recently passed by the French authorities.

On some French roads, the right of way is given to drivers entering a road from the right. This is slowly being removed however it still remains on some roundabouts and built up areas. A yellow diamond sign in the road indicates that you will need to give way so keep your eyes peeled for these road signs. Just be very wary of cars entering the road from the right and be prepared to stop for them and you shouldn’t have any problems.

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