Automotive News

If you decide to drive on the roads of France, leave behind the papers that should be produced when a check is conducted by the police as it is customary on the part of the French police to conduct surprise checks to ensure that everything is perfect law-wise in driving.

If you are asked by a policeman in France for your documents while you are driving you must produce four different documents; an official ID card, driving license, car ownership proofs and insurance documents. The reason why police seem so strict concerning the producing papers is that car crime in France is a crucial problem.

National card or a passport would serve as the ID card. Foreign licenses too are accepted in France but they are valid up to a period of one year from the time of your arrival in the country. Cart gris or grey card is the official card ownership document and the cart vert or green card is the authorized insurance document.

In case of your ownership of pre-owned cars be careful in providing the related documents which you should have obtained before your arrival in France if asked by the police. You may be subjected to fine in case you do not produce them on enquiry.

Always make photocopies of your car related documents and never leave your insurance and ownership papers in the car. Car crime in France is widespread and you don’t want to be a victim without the appropriate papers to report to the police.

Always keep it in mind that you are driving in a foreign country and things are a little different in France. It is unlawful to turn right at a red light in France where as in the US it is okay. Otherwise driving should be a pleasant experience in France.

Drivers from your right are given prime concern and consciousness about it is essential while driving in France. The sizes of the two roads and T junctions are not considered in this matter. There is an expectation of slowing down the speed and hence as a matter of fact French drivers convert smaller paths into busy main roads. On traffic circles of course, priority is given to the one already on the circle.

The speed limit on busy roads in France is 50km p/h. Reduce your speed to 50 km p/h while you are driving on busy roads. When you spot the name of a place in black displayed within a red bordered white sign you should know that you are entering into a built up area. Know that you are going to leave the built up area if you see the same sign with a red diagonal line.

130 km p/h is the speed allowed on auto routes in France which are the biggest motorways. The speed permitted on dual carriageways is of course 110km p/h where the limit is 90km p/h while driving on smaller district highways. These speed limits are not to be displayed on the roads and this is a disadvantage and so you are expected to be aware of these rules.

Driving laws in France shares alot in common with other parts of continental Europe. If you want to travel with less responsibility then look into French high speed TGV trains.