Driving Differences: Afghanistan vs. France Uncovered
When traversing the roads of Afghanistan and France, travelers encounter significant variations in traffic regulations and road practices. From speed limits to lane markings, understanding these disparities is vital for ensuring safety. This guide delves into the essential distinctions between these two nations, empowering you to navigate confidently and responsibly abroad.
Lanes
| Afghanistan | France | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Not commonly used. | Not commonly used; used for temporary markings during roadworks. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Not commonly used. | Used for temporary markings during roadworks; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Allowed only in specific conditions, such as heavy traffic; not generally recommended. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | N/A | Reserved for buses, taxis, and sometimes cyclists. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | N/A | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
afghanistan:
Not commonly used.
france:
Not commonly used; used for temporary markings during roadworks.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
afghanistan:
Not commonly used.
france:
Used for temporary markings during roadworks; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Right
afghanistan:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
france:
Allowed only in specific conditions, such as heavy traffic; not generally recommended.
Bus Lanes: Presence
afghanistan:
No
france:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
afghanistan:
N/A
france:
Reserved for buses, taxis, and sometimes cyclists.
Bus Lanes: Markings
afghanistan:
N/A
france:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
afghanistan:
No
france:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
afghanistan:
N/A
france:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
afghanistan:
N/A
france:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
afghanistan:
N/A
france:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
afghanistan:
No
france:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
afghanistan:
N/A
france:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Afghanistan | France | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 25-40 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 25 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-80 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100-120 km/h | 130 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100-120 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, fines can be issued instantly | Not common; fines are usually mailed after citation |
Urban Areas: Standard
afghanistan:
25-40 km/h
france:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
afghanistan:
25 km/h
france:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
afghanistan:
80-100 km/h
france:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
afghanistan:
80-100 km/h
france:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
afghanistan:
60-80 km/h
france:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
afghanistan:
100-120 km/h
france:
130 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
afghanistan:
100-120 km/h
france:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
afghanistan:
80-100 km/h
france:
90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
afghanistan:
No
france:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
afghanistan:
N/A
france:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
afghanistan:
Yes, fines can be issued instantly
france:
Not common; fines are usually mailed after citation
Signals
| Afghanistan | France | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Afghanistan | Not used in France |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when exiting | Signal when entering and exiting |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Unnecessary use discouraged especially at night; local ordinances may apply |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Pashto, Dari | French; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Standard symbols used | Triangular with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
afghanistan:
Not used in Afghanistan
france:
Not used in France
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
afghanistan:
Signal when exiting
france:
Signal when entering and exiting
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
afghanistan:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
france:
Unnecessary use discouraged especially at night; local ordinances may apply
Traffic Signs: Language
afghanistan:
Pashto, Dari
france:
French; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
afghanistan:
Standard symbols used
france:
Triangular with red border
Turns
| Afghanistan | France | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not usually allowed | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies; check for signs | Allowed if not specifically prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
afghanistan:
Not usually allowed
france:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
afghanistan:
Varies; check for signs
france:
Allowed if not specifically prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Afghanistan | France | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual vehicle inspection required | Yes, an MOT style test is required periodically |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory | Mandatory in vehicle |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Mandatory in vehicle |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
afghanistan:
International Driving Permit recommended
france:
Accepted for short visits
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
afghanistan:
Annual vehicle inspection required
france:
Yes, an MOT style test is required periodically
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
afghanistan:
Not mandatory
france:
Mandatory in vehicle
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
afghanistan:
Not mandatory
france:
Mandatory in vehicle
Road Etiquette
| Afghanistan | France | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use compared to some countries | Reserved mainly for use in emergencies |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
afghanistan:
Frequent use compared to some countries
france:
Reserved mainly for use in emergencies
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
afghanistan:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
france:
Pull over and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Afghanistan | France | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.00% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.02% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Less common; checkpoints used in some areas | Common; checkpoints used regularly |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by region; can be substantial | Can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
afghanistan:
0.00%
france:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
afghanistan:
0.00%
france:
0.02%
Enforcement: Random Checks
afghanistan:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
france:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
Enforcement: Fines
afghanistan:
Varies by region; can be substantial
france:
Can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Afghanistan | France | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal if turning immediately upon entry | Signal when entering if turning right |
Signaling: Entering
afghanistan:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
france:
Signal when entering if turning right
Emergency Services
| Afghanistan | France | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | Dial local police station | 17 or through local police |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider; limited services | Check with your insurance provider or assistance service |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: Traffic Police
afghanistan:
Dial local police station
france:
17 or through local police
Contact: Roadside Assistance
afghanistan:
Check with your insurance provider; limited services
france:
Check with your insurance provider or assistance service
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
afghanistan:
Not mandatory, but recommended
france:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
afghanistan:
Not mandatory, but recommended
france:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Afghanistan | France | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; 500 AFN and above | Varies; typically €68 to €3750, license points |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Substantial fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time, and license confiscation |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply for not wearing seat belts | €135 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply for use while driving | €135 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply, point system not common | €135 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; fines may be paid instantly | Possible; fines can be paid directly to police for minor offenses |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within a few days | Varies; typically 45 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
afghanistan:
Varies; 500 AFN and above
france:
Varies; typically €68 to €3750, license points
Common Fines: Alcohol
afghanistan:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
france:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time, and license confiscation
Common Fines: Seat Belts
afghanistan:
Fines apply for not wearing seat belts
france:
€135
Common Fines: Phone Use
afghanistan:
Fines apply for use while driving
france:
€135
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
afghanistan:
Fines apply, point system not common
france:
€135
Payment: On The Spot
afghanistan:
Yes; fines may be paid instantly
france:
Possible; fines can be paid directly to police for minor offenses
Payment: Deadline
afghanistan:
Varies; typically within a few days
france:
Varies; typically 45 days to pay