Page 418 - Lonely Planet France’s Best Trips (Travel Guide)

Speed Limits
Road Trip Websites Speed limits outside built-up areas (unless
signposted otherwise):
AUTOMOBILE ASSOCIATIONS Undivided N and D highways 90km/h
(80km/h when raining)
RAC (www.rac.co.uk/driving-
abroad/france) Info for British driv- Non-autoroute divided highways
ers on driving in France. 110km/h (100km/h when raining)
Autoroutes 130km/h (110km/h when
CONDITIONS & TRAFFIC raining)
Bison Futé (www.bison-fute.gouv.fr)
Les Sociétés d’Autoroutes (www. Unless otherwise signposted, a limit of
autoroutes.fr) 50km/h applies in all areas designated
as built up, no matter how rural they may
ROUTE MAPPING appear. You must slow to 50km/h the mo-
Mappy (www.mappy.fr) ment you come to a white sign with a red
border and a place name written on it; the
Via Michelin (www.viamichelin.com) speed limit applies until you pass an identi-
cal sign with a horizontal bar through it.
You’re expected to already know the
speed limit for various types of roads; that’s
as early as September to as late as June. why most speed-limit signs begin with the
Conditions are posted at the foot of each word rappel (reminder). You can be fined for
pass (‘ouvert’ on a green background going as little as 10km over the speed limit.
means open, ‘ferme’ on a red background
means closed). Snow chains or studded Alcohol
France Driving guiDe ROAD RULES
tyres are required in wintry weather.
¨ The blood-alcohol limit is 0.05% (0.5g per
litre of blood) – the equivalent of two glasses of
wine for a 75kg adult.
ROAD RULES ¨ Police often conduct random breathalyser
Enforcement of French traffic laws (see tests. Penalties can be severe, including
www.securiteroutiere.gouv.fr for informa- imprisonment.
tion) has been stepped up considerably in
recent years. Speed cameras are common, Motorcycles
as are radar traps and unmarked police
vehicles. Fines for many infractions are ¨ Riders of any two-wheeled motorised vehicle
given on the spot, and serious violations must wear a helmet.
can lead to the confiscation of your driving ¨ No special licence is required to ride a motor-
licence and car.
bike whose engine is smaller than 50cc, which is
why rental scooters are often rated at 49.9cc.
Child Seats
France Playlist A child under 13kg must travel in a back-
ward-facing child seat (permitted in the
Bonjour Rachid Taha and Gaetan front seat only for babies under 9kg and if
Roussel the airbag is deactivated).
¨ Up to age 10 and/or a minimum height of
Coeur Vagabond Gus Viseur
140cm, children must use a size-appropriate
La Vie en Rose Édith Piaf type of front-facing child seat or booster.
Minor Swing Django Reinhardt ¨ Children under 10 are not permitted to ride in
the front seat (unless the back is already oc-
L’Americano Akhenaton cupied by other children under 10).
Flower Duet from Lakmé Léo
Delibes Other Rules
De Bonnes Raisons Alex Beaupain ¨ All passengers, including those in the back
seat, must wear seat belts.

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