Driving in France and French rules of the road
First of all, DRIVE ON THE RIGHT!
The legal age to drive in France is 18 yrs. So, UK full licence holders under the age of 18 can not legally drive in France.
Wearing Seat belts
All passengers must wear seat-belts. Children under the age of 10 are not allowed to sit in front seats.
Driving Penalties and Sanctions in France
When driving in France please be aware that on the spot fines can be issued by the Police and Gendarmes if you are breaking the law. The following road fines are issued in France:
- Amende forfaitaire : 135 €
- Amend contractual minoree(reduced fine if you pay within 3 or 15 days) : 90€
- Amende majoree : 375€.
Speed limits in France
Everywhere, even by night, policeman and Gendarmes can check your speed. There are increasingly more is the fixed speed cameras (radars). All fixed speed cameras are preceded by a warning road sign. Speed checks are sometimes made in unmarked police or Gendarme cars, so our advise is to always abide by the speed limits.
Any drivers that have received a speeding ticket and have a question about it can call the national number 08.11.10.20.30. Further details about fixed radars can be found on the following website: www.radarsfixes.com 
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French Speed limits
- 50 km/h in towns (31mph)
- 90 km/h on main roads (56 mph)
- 110 km/h on dual carriage ways (68 mph)
- 130 km/h on motorways (81mph)
In poor weather conditions (rain, fog,…) speed limits are reduced to 90 km/h on dual carriage ways and to 110 km/h on motorways.
Sanctions and Penalty fines for Speeding in France:
Speed excess inferior to 20 km/h in towns :
- Amende contractuelle : 135 €
- Amende contractuelle minoree(reduced fine if you pay within 3 or 15 days) : 90€
- Amende majoree : 375€.
Speed excess inferior to 20 km/h on main roads, dual carriage ways and motorways:
- Amende contractuelle : 68 €
- Amende contractuelle minoree (reduced fine, if you pay within 3 or 15 days) : 45€
Speeding in excess of between 20 km/h and 50 km/h on main roads, dual carriage ways and motorways:
- Amende contractuelle : 135 €
- Amende contractuelle ( reduced fine if you pay within 3 or 15 days) : 90€
- Amende majoree : 375€.
Speeding excess superior to 50km/h:
- Amende contractuelle : 1,500 €
- You also risk having your driving licence confiscated on the spot.
Priority to the right: the “Priorité à droite”
This bizarre feature of historic French driving law causes much confusion for foreign drivers across France. It is a dangerous law and should be outlawed. When applied the problem is this: when driving along a road, anyone joining from your right hand side has priority over the main carriageway on which you are driving. They do not have to stop, instead you have to slow and give way to the joining vehicle, no matter the size of the adjoining road ...
This ridiculous driving law is thankfully not widely used any more, and it only applies if you see the critical sign (yellow triangle with a black border). The sign indicates that the road on which you are driving has priority. However, be very careful, the reality is that not every French driver follows this legislation!
There are places where you need to be extremely careful: Small villages and in the countryside. You will often find that on minor roads priorité à droite is still assumed. On main national roads, there is less need to worry, as priority to the right is no longer officially used.
WARNING: Certain roundabouts continue to give priority to traffic joining the roundabout. There is no definitve guide to the application of this rule, just be careful and approach French roundabouts with care.
Sanctions and Penalties
Non respect of Priorité à droite:
- Amende contractuelle: 135 €
- Amende contractuelle minorée (if you pay within 3 or 15 days): 90€
- Amende contractuelle majorée: 375€.
Drink driving Laws in France
France has very strict drink driving laws . You are allowed a maximum of 0.5mg/ml of alcohol per litre in your blood, compared to 0.8mg/ml in the UK.
Sanctions and Penalties for Drink driving in France
If you have between 0.5 and 0.8mg of alcohol in your blood you could be fined between 135€ to 750€. You will not be allowed to drive until the alcohol level drops to 0.5mg. Refer to the grid for more precise information.
If you have more than 0.8mg of alcohol in your blood, you will have to take your test. The policemen have the right to stop any driver at random to check a driver’s papers and carry out an alcohol test.
Driving whilst under the influence of drugs
The same penalties apply as for driving under the influence of alcohol. The quantity of drugs consumed cannot be measured, only tested for .
Use of Stop signs in France
You must to stop at a STOP sign.
Sanctions and Penalty Fines
- Amende Contractuelle: 135 €
- Amende Contractuelle minorée (if you pay within 3 or 15 days): 90€
- Amende Contractuelle majorée: 375€.
Zebra crossings
You must stop at Zebra crossings, this is enforced by law, but not widely practiced in France
Sanctions and Penalty Fines
- Amende Contractuelle: 135 €
- Amende Contractuelle minorée (if you pay within 3 or 15 days): 90€
- Amende Contractuelle majorée: 375€.
Paying a driving penalty fine
You have three days to pay an on-the-spot speeding fine, or 15 days if the notification of the fine is received in the post. If the fine is paid in less than 15 days, it is discounted (Amende Contractuelle minorée). If the fine is paid in more than 45 days it is increased dramatically (Amende Contractuelle majorée).
To pay a penalty fine for a traffic offence, you have to buy a stamp, “timbre-amende”, from a tabac or the Trésor Public. Stick the stamp on to the fine notice, the “carte-lettre”, which has been issued by the gendarmerie and post to the address printed on the “carte-lettre”. You can also pay by cheque by making the cheque out to the “Trésor Public”.
If you are caught by a fixed speed camera (radar) you will receive a notification and fine in the post which also details how many points you will be deducted from your license. If someone else was driving your car when caught speeding, you will receive the fine but are expected to inform the gendarmes of real identity of the driver. If not, you will have the points deducted from your own licence.
Breakdowns
If there appears to be something wrong with your car you should pull into the emergency lane and switch on your hazard warning lights. It is highly advisable to bring with you a red warning triangle, most people have this attached to the interior of their vehicles boot. You may want to take a high visibility jacket so you can be clearly seen at night if you break down.
Please not: If your vehicles hazard lights are not working for any reason, it is a legal requirement to have a red warning triangle in your car.
There are orange SOS emergency phone located on the side of the road every 2 kilometers on all autoroutes (motorways). There are road patrols on all sections of the autoroutes if you are worried about leaving your car unattended.
Drink driving
France is very strict in its drink driving laws, the blood alcohol levels are much stricter than in the UK (0.5 mg/ml rather than 0.8). Although this is the safe limit our advice is if you're driving, don't drink!
Accidents
If you require an ambulance or assistance, you can use the orange SOS phones, which are located at the side of the road, much like in England. You must also call the police or Gendarmes. Phone numbers, below.
If your vehicle is damaged you should write down the extent of the damage to you or the other persons vehicle, ideally getting the document signed by the other party, you should also swap personal and insurance details with the other party. Your insurance company/provider may have issued you with an "European Accident Statement" form for these purposes.
In France you are required to carry proof that your car is insured.
Emergency Numbers
There are a few emergency numbers you should take note of: Emergency contact numbers
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