Driving in Estonia vs. France: Key Differences Explained
When venturing abroad, understanding the variations in road regulations can significantly enhance your travel experience. This comparison between Estonia and France reveals crucial distinctions, such as speed limits, lane usage, and alcohol regulations. Equip yourself with this knowledge to navigate their roads safely and confidently as you explore both countries.
Lanes
| Estonia | 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 | 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: 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. |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
estonia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
france:
Not commonly used; used for temporary markings during roadworks.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
estonia:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
france:
Used for temporary markings during roadworks; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Right
estonia:
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: Usage
estonia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
france:
Reserved for buses, taxis, and sometimes cyclists.
Bus Lanes: Markings
estonia:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
france:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Speeds Limits
| Estonia | France | |
|---|---|---|
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 110 km/h (summer period: May to October) | 130 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 110 km/h (summer period: May to October) | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-90 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Not common; fines are usually mailed after citation |
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
estonia:
90 km/h
france:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
estonia:
90 km/h
france:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
estonia:
110 km/h (summer period: May to October)
france:
130 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
estonia:
110 km/h (summer period: May to October)
france:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
estonia:
80-90 km/h
france:
90 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
estonia:
Yes
france:
Not common; fines are usually mailed after citation
Signals
| Estonia | France | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1] | Yellow | Amber |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Estonia | 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 | Estonian; symbols are standard | French; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangular with red border |
Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1]
estonia:
Yellow
france:
Amber
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
estonia:
Not used in Estonia
france:
Not used in France
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
estonia:
Signal when exiting
france:
Signal when entering and exiting
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
estonia:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
france:
Unnecessary use discouraged especially at night; local ordinances may apply
Traffic Signs: Language
estonia:
Estonian; symbols are standard
france:
French; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
estonia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
france:
Triangular with red border
Turns
| Estonia | France | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited unless indicated by a sign | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Allowed if not specifically prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
estonia:
Prohibited unless indicated by a sign
france:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
estonia:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
france:
Allowed if not specifically prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Estonia | 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 every year; proof must be carried | Yes, an MOT style test is required periodically |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Displayed on windshield |
| 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
estonia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
france:
Accepted for short visits
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
estonia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
france:
International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
estonia:
Required every year; proof must be carried
france:
Yes, an MOT style test is required periodically
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
estonia:
Displayed on the windshield
france:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
estonia:
Mandatory
france:
Mandatory in vehicle
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
estonia:
Mandatory
france:
Mandatory in vehicle
Road Etiquette
| Estonia | 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
estonia:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
france:
Reserved mainly for use in emergencies
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
estonia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
france:
Pull over and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Estonia | France | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.02% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used | Common; checkpoints used regularly |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
estonia:
0.02%
france:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
estonia:
0.00%
france:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
estonia:
0.00%; zero tolerance
france:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
estonia:
Common; checkpoints used
france:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
Enforcement: Fines
estonia:
Varies; can be substantial
france:
Can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Estonia | France | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal if turning immediately upon entry | Signal when entering if turning right |
Signaling: Entering
estonia:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
france:
Signal when entering if turning right
Emergency Services
| Estonia | France | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | 112 | 17 or through local police |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider | Check with your insurance provider or assistance service |
Contact: Traffic Police
estonia:
112
france:
17 or through local police
Contact: Roadside Assistance
estonia:
Check with your insurance provider
france:
Check with your insurance provider or assistance service
Penalties And Fines
| Estonia | France | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; substantial fines apply | 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 apply, points on license | €135 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply, points on license | €135 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply, points on license | €135 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes | Possible; fines can be paid directly to police for minor offenses |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically must pay within specified period to avoid additional penalties | Varies; typically 45 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
estonia:
Varies; substantial fines apply
france:
Varies; typically €68 to €3750, license points
Common Fines: Alcohol
estonia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
france:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time, and license confiscation
Common Fines: Seat Belts
estonia:
Fines apply, points on license
france:
€135
Common Fines: Phone Use
estonia:
Fines apply, points on license
france:
€135
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
estonia:
Fines apply, points on license
france:
€135
Payment: On The Spot
estonia:
Yes
france:
Possible; fines can be paid directly to police for minor offenses
Payment: Deadline
estonia:
Varies; typically must pay within specified period to avoid additional penalties
france:
Varies; typically 45 days to pay