Driving Differences: Croatia vs France Explained
When comparing the nuances of road regulations in Croatia and France, it's essential to understand their unique approaches to traffic management and safety. Key distinctions include speed limits, lane usage, and the treatment of emergency vehicles. This guide will help you navigate these crucial variations, ensuring a safer journey abroad.
Lanes
| Croatia | France | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Not commonly used; used for temporary markings during roadworks. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. | Used for temporary markings during roadworks; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Not commonly practiced. | Allowed only in specific conditions, such as heavy traffic; not generally recommended. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | Reserved for buses, taxis, and sometimes cyclists. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. |
| 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
croatia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
france:
Not commonly used; used for temporary markings during roadworks.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
croatia:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
france:
Used for temporary markings during roadworks; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Right
croatia:
Not commonly practiced.
france:
Allowed only in specific conditions, such as heavy traffic; not generally recommended.
Bus Lanes: Usage
croatia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
france:
Reserved for buses, taxis, and sometimes cyclists.
Bus Lanes: Markings
croatia:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
france:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
croatia:
N/A
france:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
croatia:
No
france:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
croatia:
N/A
france:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Croatia | France | |
|---|---|---|
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | 100 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 | Not common; fines are usually mailed after citation |
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
croatia:
90 km/h
france:
80 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
croatia:
90 km/h
france:
100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
croatia:
No
france:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
croatia:
N/A
france:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
croatia:
Yes
france:
Not common; fines are usually mailed after citation
Signals
| Croatia | France | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not 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 | Croatian; symbols are standard | French; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle with red border | Triangular with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
croatia:
Not used
france:
Not used in France
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
croatia:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
france:
Unnecessary use discouraged especially at night; local ordinances may apply
Traffic Signs: Language
croatia:
Croatian; symbols are standard
france:
French; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
croatia:
Triangle with red border
france:
Triangular with red border
Turns
| Croatia | France | |
|---|---|---|
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Allowed if not specifically prohibited by signs |
U- Turns Allowed
croatia:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
france:
Allowed if not specifically prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Croatia | France | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted temporarily; no International Driving Permit necessary for EEA citizens | Accepted for short visits |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit required | International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspection required | 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
croatia:
Accepted temporarily; no International Driving Permit necessary for EEA citizens
france:
Accepted for short visits
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
croatia:
International Driving Permit required
france:
International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
croatia:
Annual inspection required
france:
Yes, an MOT style test is required periodically
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
croatia:
Mandatory
france:
Mandatory in vehicle
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
croatia:
Mandatory
france:
Mandatory in vehicle
Road Etiquette
| Croatia | 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
croatia:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
france:
Reserved mainly for use in emergencies
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
croatia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
france:
Pull over and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Croatia | France | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.02% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common | Common; checkpoints used regularly |
Limits: Professional Drivers
croatia:
0.00%
france:
0.02%
Enforcement: Random Checks
croatia:
Common
france:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
Roundabouts
| Croatia | France | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal if turning immediately upon entry | Signal when entering if turning right |
Signaling: Entering
croatia:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
france:
Signal when entering if turning right
Emergency Services
| Croatia | France | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | 92 | 17 or through local police |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | 188 or check with your insurance provider | Check with your insurance provider or assistance service |
Contact: Traffic Police
croatia:
92
france:
17 or through local police
Contact: Roadside Assistance
croatia:
188 or check with your insurance provider
france:
Check with your insurance provider or assistance service
Penalties And Fines
| Croatia | France | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; significant fines 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 | Fines enforced | €135 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines enforced | €135 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Significant fines | €135 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, often | Possible; fines can be paid directly to police for minor offenses |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; stated at the time of fine | Varies; typically 45 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
croatia:
Varies; significant fines possible
france:
Varies; typically €68 to €3750, license points
Common Fines: Alcohol
croatia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
france:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time, and license confiscation
Common Fines: Seat Belts
croatia:
Fines enforced
france:
€135
Common Fines: Phone Use
croatia:
Fines enforced
france:
€135
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
croatia:
Significant fines
france:
€135
Payment: On The Spot
croatia:
Yes, often
france:
Possible; fines can be paid directly to police for minor offenses
Payment: Deadline
croatia:
Varies; stated at the time of fine
france:
Varies; typically 45 days to pay