Traffic rules in Driving in France
France drives on the right.
Unless it is clearly posted on the road you are using, you are supposed to yield (give way) to any vehicle coming from your right from another public thoroughfare. However, roads generally work along a system of priorities: main thoroughfares will be flagged as "priority" and all crossroads will yield.
Priorité à droite - the old French system was to give priority to all traffic coming from the right. This still applies at unmarked crossroads in the countryside, in small villages, as well as minor streets inside cities, etc. Most other road crossings have some kind of priority system implemented. Yellow square signs (rotated 45°) indicate that your road is prioritary (all other roads must yield); a yellow lozenge with a bar shows ends this. Watch out; for drivers from other countries this is one of the most confusing aspects of French driving.
France uses many roundabouts (ronds-points). In the old days, roundabouts were signposted by a round blue sign, and drivers inside the roundabout had to yield to incoming traffic (which came from their right). This changed 20 years ago, and almost all roundabouts have been converted to a system using a triangular sign and "yield" signs, in which drivers from outside the roundabout have to yield to drivers inside the roundabout. Though many American drivers seem to fear roundabouts, there is actually nothing scary to them: just yield to the traffic inside the roundabout, and turn right at the exit you wish. Two advantages to roundabouts are if you are unsure of the road to take, you can simply go round the roundabout until you have decided; also, they make it easy to make a U-turn.
Signposts used in France are patterned according to EU recommendations and use mostly pictograms (not text). The following signs are essential for finding your way on a map and avoiding tickets.
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Blue sign with white lettering and Axx indicates Autoroute.
Toll road if the word "péage" appears |
Green sign with Nx indicates national highway.
White sign with Dx or Cx indicates local roads. |
Entering a city.
Reduce speed to less than 50 km/h, unless otherwise indicated. |
Brown sign
Tourist information |
Trunk (priority) road. "Priorité à droite" does not apply. |
End of trunk road (after this sign you have to give way to traffic from the right, unless directed otherwise) |
Yield (give way) to vehicle on the other road |
Stop before entering or crossing the other road
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Red round sign means�: forbidden
Do not enter (no entry) |
Red round sign means�: forbidden
Speed limit (in Km/Hr) |
Newest addition�: Speed checking ahead - either automatic cameras or handheld devices |
Red round sign means�: forbidden
No parking |
Red triangle sign means�: danger
Cattle crossing |
Blue round sign means�: must
You must turn right |
Blue square sign means�: information
Parking lot with meters
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The Most Frequently Asked Travel Questions about Driving in France
