Numbers to call in an emergency

Police: 17
Emergency rescue: 15
Fire brigade: 18

Max. permissible speeds

In wet conditions, speeds must be reduced by 10 km/h in non built-up areas and by 20 km/h on motorways.

Anyone who has been a licence holder for less than two years must not travel faster than 80, 100 and 110 km/h respectively in the latter three categories.

Driving regulations, parking

The legal limit is 0.5.

Dipped headlights are required in rain or snow as well as when driving through tunnels and cuttings. At roundabouts, vehicles actually on the roundabout generally have right of way as indicated by the relevant traffic signs. Right of way on a road ends at place name signs. Trams have right of way.

Yellow stripes at the edge of the road mean parking is not permitted. It is prohibited to park or stop beneath bridges or to park in tunnels or underpasses.

Filling up

Lead-free super is 95 octane and is called “essence sans plomb”, Super plus is 98 octane. Diesel is called “gazole”. Filling machines only accept credit cards with a gold-coloured microchip (“puce”). The cheapest filling stations are often to be found next to major supermarkets.

Special traffic signs

Toutes Directions = all directions; Rappel = Reminder (usually in the context of speed limits); Ralentir = Reduce speed; Centre Ville = City centre; Déviation = Detour; Passage interdit = No thoroughfare; Serrez à droite = Keep to the right; Vous n'avez pas la priorité = You do not have right of way; Fin d'interdiction de dépasser = End of No Overtaking section

Fines

Traffic offences, notably speeding, are generally punished more severely than in Germany. There are particularly high fines for alcohol-related misdemeanours.