Driving holidays in France: You should know: Smoking and flip-flops are prohibited

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In the festive heat, almost everyone looked at the yellow “Ferries of Corsica” sticker of the person in front. The French Mediterranean island of Corsica attracts Switzerland by car every year. But the Côte d’Azur, wild Brittany, or the surfer waves on the west coast of the Atlantic are also popular holiday destinations in France. Here we tell you what to watch out for in Grande Nation.

Good news first: The alcohol tester no longer needs to be on board. On May 22, 2020, the French government lifted this obligation. The one-way alcohol test has been mandatory since 2012, but since 2013 those who missed it have not been fined.

As always abroad, in France there must be a CH label on the back, otherwise there is a risk of fines. The fault triangle must also be in the vehicle and if your vehicle does not have LED, xenon or neon headlights, replacement bulbs are also recommended.

Carry at least one reflective vest with you, because in case of an accident or breakdown outside of residential areas, you can only leave the vehicle wearing a reflective vest. But be careful: Get behind the crash barrier on the highway immediately and don’t drive around for a long time. You do not need to create a fault triangle on the highway – it is mandatory on country roads.

It doesn’t matter now, but I mentioned earlier for a ski holiday: It is essential to put on winter tires (minimum profile 3.5 mm) and take snow chains (50 km/h limit) with you. Both are prescribed in France depending on the marked weather. Those who do not comply must pay a fine and will not be allowed to continue.

Children up to the age of 10 must be seated in an appropriate child seat. In addition, a child seat can only be installed in the front passenger seat (and only against the direction of travel with a deactivated front passenger airbag) if children under the age of ten are already sitting in the rear seats. If a child is still sitting in the passenger seat, they are fined at least 90 euros.

The alcohol limit in France is 0.5 per thousand. Attention new drivers: For the first three years as a driver, the 0.2 alcohol limit per mile applies.

The charging infrastructure is well developed across France. With approximately 46,000 charging stations, Grande Nation ranks third in the ranking of charging stations. First of all, highways and metropolitan areas such as Paris are well supplied: there are energy distributors at more than 140 of the 440 rest points nationwide. The state central and rural areas are less developed. Attention: No charging station can be activated without a charging card.

The maximum speed for cars and motorcycles is 50 km/h in residential areas, 110 km/h on highways and 130 km/h on highways. Outside of residential areas, two speed limits apply: 80 km/h for oncoming traffic without separating the direction (such as collision barriers) and 90 km/h for separate lanes. The speed limit for new drivers (less than three years of driving license) is 80 km/h outside residential areas, 100 km/h on highways and 110 km/h on highways. The same maximum speeds apply to caravans over 3.5 tonnes.

Not possible! Cell phones should not be used or held in the hand while driving. Otherwise, there is a fine of 135 Euros. If there is another violation, such as not flashing, the driver’s license will be confiscated. Phone calls are only allowed with a handsfree device integrated in the vehicle. Headphones of any kind are prohibited.

There is also in France. Always wear sturdy shoes while behind the wheel: driving with loose-fitting shoes such as flip-flops is prohibited and will result in a 75 Euro fine. By the way, the same applies if you eat or put on makeup while driving – even at a red light or in a traffic jam. Anything that can distract the driver is prohibited. This includes listening to very loud music when significant ambient noise is no longer detected in traffic.

In France, smokers with children abstain or quit frequently. Because there is a ban on smoking in the car as soon as minors, that is, children under the age of 18, get on the plane. Otherwise, there is a fine of 68 Euros.

Anyone who pays the fine immediately or within a certain period of time gets away cheaper. The discount and duration depend on the administrative offense.

The French are really deceiving when you let them warn you about speed cameras. Navigation devices with such functions, such as applications on smartphones, are prohibited. In addition to fines of up to 1,500 euros, the device can be confiscated immediately. If permanently installed, the vehicle will be confiscated!

It’s different at the roundabout than it is here. If you’re going straight, you don’t have to blink. If you turn left, you must turn left in front of the roundabout and turn right when exiting. By the way, at French roundabouts, the one who enters the roundabout always has priority – that is, the left before the right, and not the right before the left, as in our country. However, if this is not the case, a “no right-of-way” signal is given, as in our case.

Like Italy or Spain, France has distance-dependent tolls. Although the price varies according to the route and the vehicle, it costs around 7 francs by car on an average of 100 kilometers on the highway. You can pay the toll with cash or credit card at payment points. There is also the possibility of subscription with electronic chip (Télépéage). Information on this is available online at autoroutes.fr.

Also, some French cities have two types of perimeter zones. “Traffic Restriction Zones” (ZCR) are fixed perimeter zones that are constantly enforced and are mostly located in city centres. Examples: Paris, Grenoble, Strasbourg and Chambéry. “Air protection zones” (ZPA) are not permanent and only apply if the limit values ​​are exceeded for several days – usually in the summer. Then only newer cars with a corresponding vignette are allowed, for example in Paris, Strasbourg, Toulouse or Lyon. The vignette can be ordered online at www.certificat-air.gouv.fr for EUR 4.80.

As in Switzerland, wild camping is strictly prohibited. Even on private property, overnight stays are only allowed with the permission of local authorities. Visit gaming.com to see where locals offer overnight stays with permission. Many municipalities offer private overnight accommodation. Anyone who sees a sign that says “Camping reglementé, s’adresser à la mairie” can report to their local town hall and then a site is assigned.

In the case of total property damage, you must complete a European accident report and have it signed by the other party. In the event of an accident resulting in injuries, the police should be called on 112 (who will call the ambulance and towing service). For medical emergencies that do not require an ambulance, SOS Médecins can be called on 0820 33 24 24.

Source: Blick