Drivers in France are likely to notice new road signs in the coming weeks after regulations were updated at the start of the month.
This includes changes to signs for free-flow (flux-libre) motorways, as well as new information panels at level crossings where roads intersect with railways.
Free-flow motorways are those which record the number plates or toll-badges (télépéages) of vehicles using the road rather than operate traditional toll barriers.
In other cases, road signs that are already in use can now be installed by road concessionaires without prior authorisation, making them easier to erect either on a temporary or long-term basis.
The decree published in the Journal Officiel on September 4 also aims to protect roadside workers, with additional provisions to install temporary safety features such as an emergency light arrow (flèche lumineuse d’urgence, FLU) on the hard shoulder during quick interventions.
The main changes include:
Clearer signage for free-flowing motorways
The major change sees easier-to-read road signs for flux-libre motorways. The signs aim to inform and remind drivers of payment methods for these roads.
There are three signs.
The first states the driver is entering or is on a free-flow motorway, and gives information on possible payment methods.
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Payment methods include using the concessionaires website, an electronic toll-badge (télépéage) with the associated graphic (an orange ‘T’), paying at a tobacconist affiliated with the ‘Nirio’ network (which is only available on some flux-libre roads) etc.
An example of this first sign is found below.
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A second sign reminds drivers to pay within 72 hours, again listing the motorway concessionaires website and authorised networks (but not the télépéage sign).
The third sign informs drivers they are leaving the area, reminding them again to pay the toll.
Those who do not pay within 72 hours face fines.
New signs at level crossings
Authorities will be able to install new signs at level crossings, warning drivers not to advance if there is a risk of being stuck on the track due to traffic ahead.
It will tell drivers to “Laissez libre la voie ferrée,” (leave the railway line clear) and remind them to only drive over it once they are sure they can reach the other side without being forced to halt on the line. This is the case even if the crossing is currently open to vehicles.
It can be placed on roads leading up to a crossing, however it will be optional for authorities to use, alongside other signs warning of an upcoming crossing.
An example of how the sign will look can be seen below.
More Information about ‘stopover villages’
Signage about ‘stopover villages’ (villages étapes) on major roads will now be clearer.
These small communes are usually found along motorways and contain amenities for drivers such as restaurants, hotels, fuel stations, etc.
They are not the same as UK motorway service stations, but are actual towns alongside the motorway, usually pre-existing the road’s construction.
The new rules allow for signs to be placed 10 km before the town, informing drivers of its presence.
A second sign can be placed within 500m to 1.5 km of the exit to remind drivers this is coming up.
Dynamic signs
A final change will see road authorities more easily able to use ‘dynamic signs’.
This allows temporary information such as weight limits, lower speed-limits, etc, to be placed on the usual directional signs of roads (those informing drivers of the upcoming towns at an exit, for example).
The information can be placed there for the length of longer roadworks, or for just a few hours, for example in the case of intense weather conditions.
It is possible that digital road signs will be rolled out to aid with quick transmission of information in the case of the latter.
Examples of all of the signs can be found in this article on the radars-auto website.
