Driving Differences: Chile vs. France Explained
When exploring the contrasting driving practices of Chile and France, understanding the distinct regulations and norms is crucial for ensuring a safe journey. Key differences include speed limits, lane usage, and traffic signals. Discover how these variations can impact your experience on the road and enhance your travel safety abroad.
Lanes
| Chile | France | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads or separates oncoming traffic on two-way streets. | Not commonly used; used for temporary markings during roadworks. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Indicates passing or changing lanes is permitted when safe on two-way roads. | Used for temporary markings during roadworks; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Prohibited unless 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: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis; can be used by private vehicles outside peak hours depending on local regulations. | Reserved for buses, taxis, and sometimes cyclists. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUSES EXCLUSIVO'; marked with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement. | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
chile:
Marks the left edge on divided roads or separates oncoming traffic on two-way streets.
france:
Not commonly used; used for temporary markings during roadworks.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
chile:
Indicates passing or changing lanes is permitted when safe on two-way roads.
france:
Used for temporary markings during roadworks; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Right
chile:
Prohibited unless 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: Usage
chile:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis; can be used by private vehicles outside peak hours depending on local regulations.
france:
Reserved for buses, taxis, and sometimes cyclists.
Bus Lanes: Markings
chile:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUSES EXCLUSIVO'; marked with road signs.
france:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
chile:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
france:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
chile:
No
france:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
chile:
N/A
france:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Chile | France | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 40 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 120 km/h | 130 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Common; fines may be paid directly to police or in designated locations | Not common; fines are usually mailed after citation |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
chile:
40 km/h
france:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
chile:
100 km/h
france:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
chile:
100 km/h
france:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
chile:
100 km/h
france:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
chile:
120 km/h
france:
130 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
chile:
No
france:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
chile:
N/A
france:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
chile:
Common; fines may be paid directly to police or in designated locations
france:
Not common; fines are usually mailed after citation
Signals
| Chile | France | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Chile | Not used in France |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when exiting | Signal when entering and exiting |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Excessive use discouraged, especially near hospitals and schools | Unnecessary use discouraged especially at night; local ordinances may apply |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish; symbols are standard | French; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle shaped with red border; some variations in colors | Triangular with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
chile:
Not used in Chile
france:
Not used in France
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
chile:
Signal when exiting
france:
Signal when entering and exiting
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
chile:
Excessive use discouraged, especially near hospitals and schools
france:
Unnecessary use discouraged especially at night; local ordinances may apply
Traffic Signs: Language
chile:
Spanish; symbols are standard
france:
French; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
chile:
Triangle shaped with red border; some variations in colors
france:
Triangular with red border
Turns
| Chile | France | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by locality; check for signs | Allowed if not specifically prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
chile:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
france:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
chile:
Varies by locality; check for signs
france:
Allowed if not specifically prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Chile | France | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Required annually | Yes, an MOT style test is required periodically |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Mandatory in vehicle |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Mandatory in vehicle |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
chile:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
france:
Accepted for short visits
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
chile:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
france:
International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
chile:
Required annually
france:
Yes, an MOT style test is required periodically
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
chile:
Mandatory
france:
Mandatory in vehicle
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
chile:
Mandatory
france:
Mandatory in vehicle
Road Etiquette
| Chile | 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 right and stop if necessary | Pull over and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
chile:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
france:
Reserved mainly for use in emergencies
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
chile:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
france:
Pull over and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Chile | France | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.03% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used frequently | Common; checkpoints used regularly |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial penalties, including suspension of license | Can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
chile:
0.03%
france:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
chile:
0.00%
france:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
chile:
0.00%; zero tolerance
france:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
chile:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
france:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
Enforcement: Fines
chile:
Substantial penalties, including suspension of license
france:
Can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Chile | France | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal if turning upon entry | Signal when entering if turning right |
Signaling: Entering
chile:
Signal if turning upon entry
france:
Signal when entering if turning right
Emergency Services
| Chile | France | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 133 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 133 or 139 on mobile phones | 17 or through local police |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local assistance services | Check with your insurance provider or assistance service |
Contact: General Emergency
chile:
133
france:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
chile:
133 or 139 on mobile phones
france:
17 or through local police
Contact: Roadside Assistance
chile:
Check with your insurance provider or local assistance services
france:
Check with your insurance provider or assistance service
Penalties And Fines
| Chile | France | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; high fines, includes license suspension possibilities | Varies; typically €68 to €3750, license points |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Severe penalties, including fines and imprisonment | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time, and license confiscation |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply for non-use | €135 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines for use without hands-free technology | €135 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Significant fines, includes license suspension | €135 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Sometimes possible; otherwise must be paid at designated locations | Possible; fines can be paid directly to police for minor offenses |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically short timeframe to pay | Varies; typically 45 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
chile:
Varies; high fines, includes license suspension possibilities
france:
Varies; typically €68 to €3750, license points
Common Fines: Alcohol
chile:
Severe penalties, including fines and imprisonment
france:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time, and license confiscation
Common Fines: Seat Belts
chile:
Fines apply for non-use
france:
€135
Common Fines: Phone Use
chile:
Fines for use without hands-free technology
france:
€135
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
chile:
Significant fines, includes license suspension
france:
€135
Payment: On The Spot
chile:
Sometimes possible; otherwise must be paid at designated locations
france:
Possible; fines can be paid directly to police for minor offenses
Payment: Deadline
chile:
Varies; typically short timeframe to pay
france:
Varies; typically 45 days to pay