Driving Differences: France vs Italy Explained
Driving in France and Italy presents unique challenges and regulations that travelers should understand for a safer journey. Key distinctions include speed limits, lane usage, and traffic signaling. While both countries emphasize road etiquette, Italy enforces stricter alcohol limits, making it essential for visitors to familiarize themselves with these variations to ensure a secure driving experience.
Lanes
| France | Italy | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Not commonly used; used for temporary markings during roadworks. | Not commonly used; occasionally as edge line. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Used for temporary markings during roadworks; passing permitted when safe. | Not used for lane separation; may indicate temporary diversions. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed only in specific conditions, such as heavy traffic; not generally recommended. | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses, taxis, and sometimes cyclists. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
france:
Not commonly used; used for temporary markings during roadworks.
italy:
Not commonly used; occasionally as edge line.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
france:
Used for temporary markings during roadworks; passing permitted when safe.
italy:
Not used for lane separation; may indicate temporary diversions.
Overtaking: On Right
france:
Allowed only in specific conditions, such as heavy traffic; not generally recommended.
italy:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Bus Lanes: Usage
france:
Reserved for buses, taxis, and sometimes cyclists.
italy:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
france:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
italy:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
france:
N/A
italy:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| France | Italy | |
|---|---|---|
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Not common; fines are usually mailed after citation | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation |
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
france:
80 km/h
italy:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
france:
80 km/h
italy:
70 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
france:
90 km/h
italy:
80 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
france:
Not common; fines are usually mailed after citation
italy:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
Signals
| France | Italy | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in France | Used; prepare to go when green appears |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged especially at night; local ordinances may apply | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply |
| Traffic Signs: Language | French; symbols are standard | Italian; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with red border | Triangle-shaped with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
france:
Not used in France
italy:
Used; prepare to go when green appears
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
france:
Signal when entering and exiting
italy:
Signal when exiting
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
france:
Unnecessary use discouraged especially at night; local ordinances may apply
italy:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Traffic Signs: Language
france:
French; symbols are standard
italy:
Italian; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
france:
Triangular with red border
italy:
Triangle-shaped with a red border
Turns
| France | Italy | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Not allowed unless indicated by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed if not specifically prohibited by signs | Varies by locality; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
france:
Not allowed
italy:
Not allowed unless indicated by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
france:
Allowed if not specifically prohibited by signs
italy:
Varies by locality; check for signs
Documentation
| France | Italy | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted with International Driving Permit |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes, an MOT style test is required periodically | Mandatory for vehicles over four years old |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on license plate |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory in vehicle | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory in vehicle | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
france:
Accepted for short visits
italy:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
france:
International Driving Permit recommended
italy:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
france:
Yes, an MOT style test is required periodically
italy:
Mandatory for vehicles over four years old
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
france:
Displayed on windshield
italy:
Displayed on license plate
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
france:
Mandatory in vehicle
italy:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
france:
Mandatory in vehicle
italy:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| France | Italy | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Reserved mainly for use in emergencies | Less frequent use compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over and stop if necessary | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
france:
Reserved mainly for use in emergencies
italy:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
france:
Pull over and stop if necessary
italy:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| France | Italy | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used regularly | Common; checkpoints used frequently |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial | Substantial |
Limits: Professional Drivers
france:
0.02%
italy:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
france:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
italy:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
Enforcement: Fines
france:
Can be substantial
italy:
Substantial
Roundabouts
| France | Italy | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal when entering if turning right | Signal if turning immediately upon entry |
Signaling: Entering
france:
Signal when entering if turning right
italy:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Emergency Services
| France | Italy | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | 17 or through local police | 113 (State Police) |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or assistance service | 116 (ACI) |
Contact: Traffic Police
france:
17 or through local police
italy:
113 (State Police)
Contact: Roadside Assistance
france:
Check with your insurance provider or assistance service
italy:
116 (ACI)
Penalties And Fines
| France | Italy | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; typically €68 to €3750, license points | Varies; significant fines, possible license suspension |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time, and license confiscation | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | €135 | Varies; fines apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | €135 | Fines apply, strict enforcement |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | €135 | Fines apply, may include points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines can be paid directly to police for minor offenses | Possible, especially for foreign drivers |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 45 days to pay | Varies; typically a set period to pay, often 60 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
france:
Varies; typically €68 to €3750, license points
italy:
Varies; significant fines, possible license suspension
Common Fines: Alcohol
france:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time, and license confiscation
italy:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
france:
€135
italy:
Varies; fines apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
france:
€135
italy:
Fines apply, strict enforcement
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
france:
€135
italy:
Fines apply, may include points on license
Payment: On The Spot
france:
Possible; fines can be paid directly to police for minor offenses
italy:
Possible, especially for foreign drivers
Payment: Deadline
france:
Varies; typically 45 days to pay
italy:
Varies; typically a set period to pay, often 60 days