Briton crashes in south-west France after driving on wrong side of road

A head-on collision between two vehicles in south-west France caused by a Briton reportedly driving on the wrong side of the road has reignited reminders over safe driving practices. 

The incident in Mazamet (Tarn) happened around 19:00 on Wednesday (August 19) when the two drivers, both in their 50s according to local media, clashed on the D118. 

Both vehicles were heavily damaged but neither driver was hospitalised. 

The British driver is said to have forgotten which side of the road they should have been driving on and collided with a French vehicle, reported local media outlet La Dépêche.

Many accidents from driving on wrong side 

While it is the first rule for British and Irish motorists to follow when using their vehicle in France, driving on the right-hand side of the road can slip people’s minds. 

Both newer and experienced drivers alike may temporarily forget to drive on the right-hand side of the road, particularly if they are in a vehicle made for left-hand driving (for example, if they are second homeowners in France and use their foreign car to visit). 

The incident described above is not an isolated case, and there are several reports of collisions taking place after foreign drivers used the wrong side of the road in France. 

A report from the Observatoire national interministériel de la sécurité routière (ONISR) shows in 2024, 402 fatalities were recorded on French roads due to accidents involving non-French drivers.

This accounted for more than 10% of all fatalities nationally that year, despite the non-French population of France being around 8%.

The ONISR notes, however, that the data includes tourists and heavy goods drivers crossing the country as well as non-French residents.

In the same year, 259 foreigners died in accidents on French roads, although a nationality breakdown is not available.

British-registered vehicles were involved in 103 accidents that led to bodily injury in France, the seventh-highest foreign registration after Germany, Belgium, Spain, Poland, Switzerland, and Monaco.

While there is no specific data on causes of accidents, driving on the wrong side of the road is among the possible reasons. 

Indeed, the risks posed by temporarily forgetting which side of the road to drive on are an old problem in France. 

As far back as 2004, the department of Finistère launched a campaign reminding British and Irish drivers to use the right-hand side of the road. Between 1997 and 2002, accidents caused by drivers using the wrong side of the road led to one death and 20 injuries (seven of which were serious). 

A third of drivers make such a mistake

Closer to home, a 2008 report from the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) saw 31% of drivers surveyed admit to driving the wrong way (on the right-hand side) when abroad. This applies in all countries and not just France.

In addition, one in ten said they had driven the wrong direction round a roundabout.

“Around half of the hospitalisations and deaths we dealt with last year were related to road accidents,” said an FCO staff member in Lille.

“The majority of Brits driving from the UK to the continent drive through northern France and many of the accidents we deal with are caused by driver fatigue, drink-driving, speeding, and driving on the wrong side of the road,” she added.

“We have also been called to assist in cases where drivers have run into trouble as a result of not being familiar with local driving laws. I would urge those planning to drive abroad this summer to prepare carefully before leaving the UK.” 

A similar report from insurance company Aviva - also from 2008 - saw up to 35% of drivers admit to driving on the wrong side of the road and 42% look the wrong way when at a junction. 

What to do to reduce risk 

While there is no data on when left-hand side drivers are most likely to revert to the wrong side of the road, there are a number of situations where it is possible. 

This includes at a roundabout or junction, in a car park after first getting into the vehicle, or on quiet single-lane roads with no other traffic. 

When approaching a junction or crossing, slow down sooner than you usually would to give yourself more time to think, and always check both sides of the road before pulling out. 

If you are concerned about driving on the wrong side of the road, do not use your vehicle if you have been drinking (even if under the drink-driving limit) if it impairs your ability to remember road rules, if you are tired, sick, etc. 

You can use a physical reminder such as a sticker or sign on your windshield to drive on the right-hand side – you can purchase these in UK driving stores before heading to France if you are only visiting.