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Driving In France, International Traffic Symbols
Highway Travel
Highway driving is
very similar to travel
in the US with toll
roads marked
"Peage", meaning
you pay as you go.
Highway driving is
very similar to travel
in the US with toll
roads marked
"Peage", meaning
you pay as you go.
Traffic Laws, International Traffic Symbols
France highway driving is very similar to travel in the US or
Canada. The notable difference will be International Highway
symbols used on the high speed toll roads, and rest areas/gas stops
Canada. The notable difference will be International Highway
symbols used on the high speed toll roads, and rest areas/gas stops
In France the
Traffic Laws,
International
Traffic Symbols,
and Renting of
an automobile
varies little from
those in the US or
Canada
Traffic Laws,
International
Traffic Symbols,
and Renting of
an automobile
varies little from
those in the US or
Canada
No Passing for
commercial
vehicles
commercial
vehicles
No Passing
zone ends
zone ends
Highway or
Expressway
Expressway
Intersection
with right of
way to right
with right of
way to right
| Priority road showing right of way |
| Rotary with yield to traffic in rotary |
Speed limit
in KM per
hour 130
when clear,
110 when
raining
in KM per
hour 130
when clear,
110 when
raining
| International Symbols mark the speed limits: a red circle around a white background with the limits in Kilometers per hour The triangle is used as a warning similar to the us diamond shape |
| The big i indicates an information booth Maps with the International driving symbols used in France should be available at the info stop |
Do You need an International Driving Permit to Drive in Europe.
In France you do not need the IDP. In Italy you can rent a car and do not need to show an International
Permit, only your drivers license from your home country and perhaps your passport. Italian law requires that
you carry an IDP as does Spain, Portugal, Greece, and several of the former Soviet Union countries. The
International driver's permit is issued by the American Automobile Association AAA in the States and the
CAA in Canada. The cost is $15 and not a bad bit of insurance against running into trouble while driving in
Europe.
In France you do not need the IDP. In Italy you can rent a car and do not need to show an International
Permit, only your drivers license from your home country and perhaps your passport. Italian law requires that
you carry an IDP as does Spain, Portugal, Greece, and several of the former Soviet Union countries. The
International driver's permit is issued by the American Automobile Association AAA in the States and the
CAA in Canada. The cost is $15 and not a bad bit of insurance against running into trouble while driving in
Europe.
The white circle bordered by red and the red slash is
the International Symbol prohibiting an action, in this
case a left turn off the highway
the International Symbol prohibiting an action, in this
case a left turn off the highway
| The no parking symbol. The cities in France will have paid parking, usually an automated system with a machine that vends a ticket for placing on the windshield or a ticket that you take on entering and insert and pay on leaving |
Highway speed
Limit, reduced in
rain and fog from the
usual 130 KM per
hour for clear day
speeds on Franc's
toll roads.
Limit, reduced in
rain and fog from the
usual 130 KM per
hour for clear day
speeds on Franc's
toll roads.
| Warning ahead triangle, Europe |
| the No Stopping Symbol |
| the Dead End Symbol |
The International Traffic Symbols in France and most of Europe use the graphic image
rather than language as found in the USA. Most symbols can be understood at a glance without
fluency in the language.
rather than language as found in the USA. Most symbols can be understood at a glance without
fluency in the language.
Save:: A diesel vehicle will be less expensive to run. When gassing. Note that fuel will be less expensive
at the local filling station or Market in the small town or village than on the highway. Diesel is called
diesel or Gazole in France.
at the local filling station or Market in the small town or village than on the highway. Diesel is called
diesel or Gazole in France.
Right of Way:
France traffic entering a rotary from the right had the right of way for years. This law
has changed but the habit lingers.
Signs often denote right of way.
Use caution in the rotary and on country roads when there is traffic entering from
your right.
In Priority Right (Priorite a droite) the vehicle entering from the right once had the right of
way. In small towns and in the center of big cities, the new law has not fully caught on.
France traffic entering a rotary from the right had the right of way for years. This law
has changed but the habit lingers.
Signs often denote right of way.
Use caution in the rotary and on country roads when there is traffic entering from
your right.
In Priority Right (Priorite a droite) the vehicle entering from the right once had the right of
way. In small towns and in the center of big cities, the new law has not fully caught on.
Vehicle in the
rotary has the
right of way
rotary has the
right of way
The symbol at left tells you that you have the right of
way Traffic entering the road must stop and give
way to your progress. The symbol on the top right
indicates that you are on the main road and have
the right of way. You will see this symbol in a
village or small town.
Use caution in the rotary and on country roads
when there is traffic entering from your right.
Not all drivers in France observe the new right of
way rules
way Traffic entering the road must stop and give
way to your progress. The symbol on the top right
indicates that you are on the main road and have
the right of way. You will see this symbol in a
village or small town.
Use caution in the rotary and on country roads
when there is traffic entering from your right.
Not all drivers in France observe the new right of
way rules
the black bar through
the triangle indicates
that right of way for
vehicles on the main
road has ended and
they must give way to
vehicles entering from
the right
the triangle indicates
that right of way for
vehicles on the main
road has ended and
they must give way to
vehicles entering from
the right
Custom Search
Return the rental car with an empty tank? See Policy details
Auto Europe offers selection, price, and ease of booking on the web. . Shop
online well ahead of your trip and choose diesel or gas, luggage space,
standard or automatic, two door, four door and other options. Renting for
more than 17 days; see their options
online well ahead of your trip and choose diesel or gas, luggage space,
standard or automatic, two door, four door and other options. Renting for
more than 17 days; see their options
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Speed limits will be clearly marked and the Rotary will be a welcome site with its directions to various towns.
Gassing up is similar to US with credit card and automatic shut-off at modern pumps. Car rental are available in all
large cities and at many TGV Train Stations.
Gassing up is similar to US with credit card and automatic shut-off at modern pumps. Car rental are available in all
large cities and at many TGV Train Stations.
Information for those renting a vehicle in France and Italy
Save On Air Travel
When traveling by air you can start saving on your air fare by Parking your Car for Two Weeks Free after one
night Lodging in Airport Hotels near your home city. (60 US cities and hundreds of others worldwide
The early shuttle from the hotel to the airline terminal will allow you to book an early flight and save money
on the airfare. Two weeks of free parking offsets the cost of the hotel room and you do not need to arrange
for a limo from your home to the airport. Some of the hotels in the program offer Free, 24 hour shuttles to
the airport.
Most hotels offer two Weeks Free parking (link) with one night stay, some three weeks or a reasonable day
rate for extra days.
Cruise passengers can take advantage of these deals also at some hotels. See more info at link below
with detailed information and photos of included hotels with reviews.
Convenient Two Week Free Airport Parking with a one night hotel stay could save you money and
enhance your experience.
When traveling by air you can start saving on your air fare by Parking your Car for Two Weeks Free after one
night Lodging in Airport Hotels near your home city. (60 US cities and hundreds of others worldwide
The early shuttle from the hotel to the airline terminal will allow you to book an early flight and save money
on the airfare. Two weeks of free parking offsets the cost of the hotel room and you do not need to arrange
for a limo from your home to the airport. Some of the hotels in the program offer Free, 24 hour shuttles to
the airport.
Most hotels offer two Weeks Free parking (link) with one night stay, some three weeks or a reasonable day
rate for extra days.
Cruise passengers can take advantage of these deals also at some hotels. See more info at link below
with detailed information and photos of included hotels with reviews.
Convenient Two Week Free Airport Parking with a one night hotel stay could save you money and
enhance your experience.
Shop Arles Hotels from $60 USD
Shop Aix-en-Provence Hotels
Photos and reviews from $60 USD
Photos and reviews from $60 USD