Driving Differences: Australia vs. France Explained
When exploring the unique roads of Australia and France, understanding their distinct traffic rules and regulations is essential for a secure journey. Key contrasts include driving on opposing sides, differing speed limits, and specific lane usage. Whether you're navigating urban landscapes or rural routes, this guide ensures you stay informed and safe on your travels.
Lanes
| Australia | France | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Not commonly used; can indicate the left edge in tunnels. | Not commonly used; used for temporary markings during roadworks. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Not commonly used; may mark reversible lanes. | Used for temporary markings during roadworks; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Allowed | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Not allowed except on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning right. | Allowed only in specific conditions, such as heavy traffic; not generally recommended. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Use rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and taxis; usage by others restricted. | Reserved for buses, taxis, and sometimes cyclists. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS LANE'; often with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Minimum two or more occupants | N/A |
Driving Side
australia:
Left
france:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
australia:
Not commonly used; can indicate the left edge in tunnels.
france:
Not commonly used; used for temporary markings during roadworks.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
australia:
Not commonly used; may mark reversible lanes.
france:
Used for temporary markings during roadworks; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
australia:
Allowed
france:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
australia:
Not allowed except on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning right.
france:
Allowed only in specific conditions, such as heavy traffic; not generally recommended.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
australia:
Use leftmost lane.
france:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
australia:
Reserved for buses and taxis; usage by others restricted.
france:
Reserved for buses, taxis, and sometimes cyclists.
Bus Lanes: Markings
australia:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS LANE'; often with road signs.
france:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
australia:
Yes
france:
No
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
australia:
Minimum two or more occupants
france:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Australia | France | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 40 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 | 80-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100-110 km/h | 130 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100-110 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90-100 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | Electronic signs display current limits |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Common; may vary by area. | Not common; fines are usually mailed after citation |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
australia:
40 km/h
france:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
australia:
80-100 km/h
france:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
australia:
80-100 km/h
france:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
australia:
80-100 km/h
france:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
australia:
100-110 km/h
france:
130 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
australia:
100-110 km/h
france:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
australia:
90-100 km/h
france:
90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
australia:
Electronic signs display current limits.
france:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
australia:
Common; may vary by area.
france:
Not common; fines are usually mailed after citation
Signals
| Australia | France | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not commonly used. | Not used in France |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Unnecessary use discouraged especially at night; local ordinances may apply |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | French; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangular with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
australia:
Not commonly used.
france:
Not used in France
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
australia:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
france:
Unnecessary use discouraged especially at night; local ordinances may apply
Traffic Signs: Language
australia:
English; symbols are standard
france:
French; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
australia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
france:
Triangular with red border
Turns
| Australia | France | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed, except where signage permits. | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs. | Allowed if not specifically prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
australia:
Not allowed, except where signage permits.
france:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
australia:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs.
france:
Allowed if not specifically prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Australia | France | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short periods; International Driving Permit recommended. | Accepted for short visits |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short periods; International Driving Permit recommended. | International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Varies by state; proof may be required | Yes, an MOT style test is required periodically |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield in some states | Displayed on windshield |
| 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
australia:
Accepted for short periods; International Driving Permit recommended.
france:
Accepted for short visits
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
australia:
Accepted for short periods; International Driving Permit recommended.
france:
International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
australia:
Varies by state; proof may be required
france:
Yes, an MOT style test is required periodically
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
australia:
Displayed on license plate or windshield in some states
france:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
australia:
Not mandatory
france:
Mandatory in vehicle
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
australia:
Not mandatory
france:
Mandatory in vehicle
Road Etiquette
| Australia | France | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Reserved mainly for use in emergencies |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary | Pull over and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
australia:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
france:
Reserved mainly for use in emergencies
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
australia:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
france:
Pull over and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Australia | France | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance in all states. | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; roadside breath testing often conducted | Common; checkpoints used regularly |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by state; can be substantial | Can be substantial |
Limits: Underage Drivers
australia:
0.00%; zero tolerance in all states.
france:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
australia:
Common; roadside breath testing often conducted
france:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
Enforcement: Fines
australia:
Varies by state; can be substantial
france:
Can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Australia | France | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal right if intending to turn immediately | Signal when entering if turning right |
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
| Lane Usage: Left | Use for subsequent exits, move to left lane before exit when safe | Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe |
Signaling: Entering
australia:
Signal right if intending to turn immediately
france:
Signal when entering if turning right
Signaling: Exiting
australia:
Signal left when preparing to exit
france:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
australia:
Use for subsequent exits, move to left lane before exit when safe
france:
Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe
Emergency Services
| Australia | France | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 000 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Varies by state; contact local police | 17 or through local police |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or NRMA | 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: General Emergency
australia:
000
france:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
australia:
Varies by state; contact local police
france:
17 or through local police
Contact: Roadside Assistance
australia:
Check with your insurance provider or NRMA
france:
Check with your insurance provider or assistance service
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
australia:
Not mandatory, but recommended
france:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
australia:
Not mandatory, but recommended
france:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Australia | France | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; AUD 100 to AUD 3,000, demerit points possible | Varies; typically €68 to €3750, license points |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time, and license confiscation |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | AUD 200 to AUD 500, demerit points possible | €135 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | AUD 200 to AUD 1,600, demerit points possible | €135 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | AUD 300 to AUD 900, demerit points possible | €135 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; varies by jurisdiction. | Possible; fines can be paid directly to police for minor offenses |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 14 to 28 days to pay | Varies; typically 45 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
australia:
Varies; AUD 100 to AUD 3,000, demerit points possible
france:
Varies; typically €68 to €3750, license points
Common Fines: Alcohol
australia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
france:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time, and license confiscation
Common Fines: Seat Belts
australia:
AUD 200 to AUD 500, demerit points possible
france:
€135
Common Fines: Phone Use
australia:
AUD 200 to AUD 1,600, demerit points possible
france:
€135
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
australia:
AUD 300 to AUD 900, demerit points possible
france:
€135
Payment: On The Spot
australia:
Yes; varies by jurisdiction.
france:
Possible; fines can be paid directly to police for minor offenses
Payment: Deadline
australia:
Varies; typically 14 to 28 days to pay
france:
Varies; typically 45 days to pay