Road signs and speed limits

French signage is mostly symbol-based, often without words, so recognizing shapes and icons is essential. As well as a general overview, here we have listed some key and / or unusual ones you will need to be aware of.

Triangular signs = warnings (red border for permanent, yellow border for temporary)

Circular signs = regulatory (red border + white background for prohibited, white border + blue background for mandatory)

Square signs = information

On a priority road you have right of way, and vehicles coming in from the right must give way (ie the opposite of the priorité à droite system). The end of a priority road signals a return to the priorité à droite system.

For limiting traffic in major cities (ZCR = Zone à Circulation Restreinte). To drive in a ZCR you need a Crit’Air (clean air) sticker which classifies your car according to its emission standard, or risk a fine.

Crit’Air stickers, used to control traffic levels when pollution is high, are required in major cities for access to low emission zones (zones à faibles émissions mobilité (ZFE-m)) and temporary pollution control zones (zones de circulation différenciée). 

Stickers are given a graded number and color-coded by class according to the vehicle’s emission level. Motorists whose vehicles do not have a sticker face an on-the spot fine of €68. 

Stickers are required both for French-registered vehicles (€3.81), and foreign-registered vehicles (€4.91), and must be ordered online at the official website. Orders from within France typically take around 10 working days, and from abroad up to 6 weeks depending on location.

Rectangular signs (with pointed end) = directions

These are color-coded according to the type of road (blue for highways, green for major roads, yellow for temporary roads, white for local roads)

Speed limits and speed cameras

Speed limits (limites de vitesse) are typically defined by weather conditions (dry / wet). Highways (autoroutes) are 130 / 110 kmh, dual carriageways (routes à chaussées séparées or voies rapide) are 110 / 100 kmh, while other roads are generally 90 / 80 kmh – in urban or built-up areas the speed limit tends to be a standard 50 kmh. 

Lower speed limits are in force for drivers with a French probationary license (ie new drivers, or those getting their license back after a cancellation), and also apply to drivers from other countries who have held their home license for less than 3 years and have exchanged it for a French license.

Speed cameras (radars) are widespread, and on-the-spot fines can be issued to French and foreign vehicles alike, in addition to license points (in France a full license starts with a complement of 12 points, which are then deducted for violations – if you are driving on a foreign license you will still be held accountable). The use of speed camera detectors on GPS systems to show their exact position is illegal – penalties include a fine, confiscation of the device, and points. It is permissible to use systems that have user-submitted alerts that flag ‘zones’ or ‘reports’.

Other important key points

Many highways are toll roads (péage) payable on exit by card or cash, or by electronic toll badges not for tourists (Télépéage or Liber-t) – watch out for lane markers that will show these, as they are for residents only. You can calculate a journey’s cost ahead of time at autoroutes.fr under the ‘tarifs des autoroutes’ tile.

Road signs and symbols are listed in the highway code (code de la route) which sets out the official rules and regulations governing road traffic in France – passing a written test on these is a mandatory step in obtaining a French license.

DUI laws are strict (BAC is 0.05%, and for drivers with less than 3 years’ experience 0.02%) and enforced with the use of breathalyzers (éthylotests).

Use of phones is by hands-free only – using your cell for GPS is permitted via dashboard or phone mounts only.

Parking is typically set out by colored curb markings – yellow is for no parking, blue is for free limited-time with the use of a parking disc, and white is free use.