Discover France by Car

The only European country facing both the North Sea and the Mediterranean, France has been subject to a particularly rich variety of cultural influences. Though famous for the rootedness of its peasant population, it has also been a European melting pot, even before the arrival of the Celtic Gauls in the centuries before Christ, through to the Mediterranean immigrations of the 20th century.

France presents visitors with an multitude of riches -- you may find yourself bewildered at all the choices.

Though France covers only 342,513 sq. km (212,741 sq. miles), making it slightly smaller than Texas, no other country has such a diversity of sights and scenery in such a compact area. A visitor can travel through the north's flat, fertile lands; the Loire Valley's green hills; the east's alpine ranges; the Pyrenees Mountains; the Massif Central's plateaus and rock outcroppings; and the southeast's Mediterranean coast. Even more noteworthy are the cultural and historic differences that define each region. All are within easy travelling range of Paris and each other.

Driving Advice FRANCE

Drinking and driving: If the level of alcohol in the bloodstream is 0.05 per cent or more (0.02%
for bus/coach drivers), severe penalties include fine, imprisonment and / or confiscation of driving licence. Saliva drug tests will be used to detect drivers under the influence of drugs - severe penalties as above.
Driving licence: Minimum age at which a UK licence holder may drive temporarily imported car
18, motorcycle (up to 80cc) 16, motorcycle (over 80cc) 18.
Lights: Dipped headlights must be used in poor daytime visibility. It is highly recommended by
the French Government that 4 -wheeled vehicles use dipped headlights day and night (already
compulsory for motorcycles).

Roads

The road network is very well developed in France: nearly a million kilometres, of which almost 8,000 kilometres are motorways. There is usually a toll for motorways. To find out everything about toll charges, service stations, rest areas, restaurants, filling stations, and hotels along your route, and for details of your journey, consult this websitehttp://www.autoroutes.fr/

Child Seats

Children under the age of 10 are not permitted to travel on the
front seats of vehicles, unless there are no rear seats or the rear seats are already occupied with
children under 10 or there are no seat belts. In these circumstances a child must not be placed in
the front seats with their back to the road if the vehicle is fitted with a passenger airbag, unless it is deactivated. They must travel in an approved child seat or restraint adapted to their size. A baby up to 13kg must be carried in a rear facing baby seat. A child between 9 and 18kg must be seated in a child seat and a child from 15kg up to 10 years can use a booster seat with a seat belt or a harness. It is the driver's responsibility to ensure all passengers under 18 are appropriately restrained.

Speed Limits

Standard legal limits, which may be varied by signs, for private vehicles without
trailers. In built-up areas 31 mph (50 km/h), outside built-up areas 55 mph (90 km/h), but 68 mph
(110 km/h) on urban motorways and dual carriageways separated by a central reservation and 80
mph (130 km/h) on motorways. Lower speed limits of 49 mph (80 km/h) outside built-up areas, 62
mph (100 km/h) on dual carriageways and 68 mph (110 km/h) on motorways apply in wet
weather and to visiting motorists who have held a driving licence for less than two years.
Additionally, speed limits are reduced on stretches of motorways in built up areas. Minimum
speed limit on motorways 49mph (80km/h).

Fuel

Unleaded petrol (95 & 98 octane), diesel (Gazole) and LPG available. No leaded petrol
(lead replacement petrol "Super carburant" available or lead substitute additive). Petrol in a can is
permitted but forbidden by ferry and Eurotunnel operators. Credit cards accepted at most filling
stations; check with your card issuer for usage in France & Monaco before travel. There are now
many automatic petrol pumps operated by credit / debit card however, cards issued abroad are
not always accepted by these pumps.

Tolls

The toll highways in France, known as autoroutes à péage, are marked by blue signs with the letter "A". Charges for using the autoroutes are payable at the frequent toll gates (or péages), and can get rather expensive.

To give you an idea of the costs involved, the toll from Calais to Reims is €15.70 and from Calais to Paris €16.46, while Paris direct to Marseille or Nice costs €42.23 and €54.88 respectively. A journey from Calais to Montpellier, taking in three different toll gates, would cost you around €57.80.

Although they may be expensive, these superhighways are the only realistic way of covering large distances in a single day. If you have more time and don't want to travel on autoroutes, the best way to avoid them is to use the Bison Futé map, free from gas stations, which gives all manner of alternative routes (often signed as itinéraire bis) across the country.

Parking

Parking is strictly regulated in urban areas, and is permitted only in spaces painted in white. Those marked in yellow are reserved for commercial and official vehicles only. Areas with yellow curbs may be used to drop off or pick up passengers, but parking is not allowed there. No parking is permitted on certain main routes through the center of Paris, labeled axes rouges (red routes).

If you see the word Payant, then a parking fee must be paid. Payment machines called horodateurs are located at intervals along the street, where coupons may be purchased for 15 minutes to 2 hours of parking time. You must leave the coupon inside the vehicle, visible through the windshield on the driver's side. The fine for non-payment is about €12.
To find a parking in Paris. Click here.

Safety Measures

REFLECTIVE JACKETS & WARNING TRIANGLES IN FRANCE (30 September 2008)
From 1st October 2008 all drivers in France, including drivers of vehicles registered outside of France, must have one warning triangle and one reflective jacket in their vehicle.
This regulation, which we understand does not apply to two and three wheeled vehicles, will be enforced with on-the-spot fines of between €90 and €135.

Eurotunnel

If you are coming from Great Britain, you can use the Eurotunnel. Eurotunnel's car carrying service runs via the Channel Tunnel from Folkestone to Calais/Coquelles. Taking as little as 35 minutes platform to platform, it is a fast and exciting way to France and beyond. The service operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year with up to 4 departures an hour at peak periods.
Consult the website http://www.eurotunnel.com

Finding your way

There are numerous guides and road maps available at bookshops, service stations…The main reference maps are Michelin and IGN.Some Internet sites suggest different ways of getting from one place to another (from the quickest to tourist routes with stopovers…): http://www.viamichelin.co.uk/ or http://www.mappy.co.uk

Times to avoid

At peak times (7.30 – 9.00am and 5.30 – 7.30pm generally during the week), take care on the approaches to large towns and town centres: the traffic is often very dense. Some problems can also be found at "sensitive" places at the start of holiday periods (approaches to large towns, toll booths…).
Click here to find out about traffic conditions:
In your car, you can listen to the Autoroute FM radio station on frequency 107.7

English Newspapers in France
Agence France-Presse (AFP)
International Herald Tribune
Paris Voice
Riviera Magazine