Driving in France vs. Ivory Coast: Key Safety Differences
When navigating the roads of France and Ivory Coast, it's essential to understand the key distinctions in regulations and practices. From lane markings to speed limits, drivers will find notable contrasts, such as France’s strict rules on overtaking and Ivory Coast’s varied speed limits. Stay informed to ensure a secure journey in each country.
Lanes
| France | Ivory coast | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Not commonly used; used for temporary markings during roadworks. | Marks the left edge on divided roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Used for temporary markings during roadworks; passing permitted when safe. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| 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. | Typically reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Exclusive for bicycles, but limited in urban areas. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | Bicycle symbols and possibly colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Not applicable |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | Not applicable |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
france:
Not commonly used; used for temporary markings during roadworks.
ivory coast:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
france:
Used for temporary markings during roadworks; passing permitted when safe.
ivory coast:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Right
france:
Allowed only in specific conditions, such as heavy traffic; not generally recommended.
ivory coast:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Bus Lanes: Usage
france:
Reserved for buses, taxis, and sometimes cyclists.
ivory coast:
Typically reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
france:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
ivory coast:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
france:
Exclusive for bicycles.
ivory coast:
Exclusive for bicycles, but limited in urban areas.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
france:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
ivory coast:
Bicycle symbols and possibly colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
france:
N/A
ivory coast:
Not applicable
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
france:
Yes
ivory coast:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
france:
Electronic signs display current limits.
ivory coast:
Not applicable
Speeds Limits
| France | Ivory coast | |
|---|---|---|
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 130 km/h | 110 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 110 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits | Not applicable |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Not common; fines are usually mailed after citation | Yes, for some infractions. |
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
france:
80 km/h
ivory coast:
90 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
france:
130 km/h
ivory coast:
110 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
france:
100 km/h
ivory coast:
110 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
france:
90 km/h
ivory coast:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
france:
Yes
ivory coast:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
france:
Electronic signs display current limits
ivory coast:
Not applicable
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
france:
Not common; fines are usually mailed after citation
ivory coast:
Yes, for some infractions.
Signals
| France | Ivory coast | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in France | Not used in Ivory Coast |
| 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 |
| Headlight Flash: Usage | To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking | To warn other drivers of your presence |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
france:
Not used in France
ivory coast:
Not used in Ivory Coast
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
france:
Signal when entering and exiting
ivory coast:
Signal when exiting
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
france:
Unnecessary use discouraged especially at night; local ordinances may apply
ivory coast:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Headlight Flash: Usage
france:
To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking
ivory coast:
To warn other drivers of your presence
Turns
| France | Ivory coast | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Allowed unless prohibited 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
ivory coast:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
france:
Allowed if not specifically prohibited by signs
ivory coast:
Varies by locality; check for signs
Documentation
| France | Ivory coast | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes, an MOT style test is required periodically | Annual vehicle inspection required |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory in vehicle | Recommended but not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory in vehicle | Recommended but not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
france:
Accepted for short visits
ivory coast:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
france:
International Driving Permit recommended
ivory coast:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
france:
Yes, an MOT style test is required periodically
ivory coast:
Annual vehicle inspection required
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
france:
Mandatory in vehicle
ivory coast:
Recommended but not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
france:
Mandatory in vehicle
ivory coast:
Recommended but not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| France | Ivory coast | |
|---|---|---|
| Flashing Lights: Usage | To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake | To warn of hazards |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Reserved mainly for use in emergencies | More frequent use compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over and stop if necessary | Pull over to the side and stop if necessary |
Flashing Lights: Usage
france:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
ivory coast:
To warn of hazards
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
france:
Reserved mainly for use in emergencies
ivory coast:
More frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
france:
Pull over and stop if necessary
ivory coast:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| France | Ivory coast | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.04% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance applies |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used regularly | Less common; checkpoints used in some areas |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
france:
0.05%
ivory coast:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
france:
0.02%
ivory coast:
0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers
france:
0.00%
ivory coast:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance applies
Enforcement: Random Checks
france:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
ivory coast:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
Enforcement: Fines
france:
Can be substantial
ivory coast:
Varies; can be substantial
Roundabouts
| France | Ivory coast | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal when entering if turning right | Signal if turning immediately upon entry |
Signaling: Entering
france:
Signal when entering if turning right
ivory coast:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Emergency Services
| France | Ivory coast | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 170 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 17 or through local police | 171 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or assistance service | Check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
france:
112
ivory coast:
170
Contact: Traffic Police
france:
17 or through local police
ivory coast:
171
Contact: Roadside Assistance
france:
Check with your insurance provider or assistance service
ivory coast:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
france:
Mandatory
ivory coast:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
france:
Mandatory
ivory coast:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| France | Ivory coast | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; typically €68 to €3750, license points | Varies; fines may apply, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time, and license confiscation | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | €135 | Varies, points may apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | €135 | Fines may apply, points may apply |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | €135 | Fines may apply, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines can be paid directly to police for minor offenses | Possible for some infractions |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 45 days to pay | Varies; typically stipulated |
Common Fines: Speeding
france:
Varies; typically €68 to €3750, license points
ivory coast:
Varies; fines may apply, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
france:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time, and license confiscation
ivory coast:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
france:
€135
ivory coast:
Varies, points may apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
france:
€135
ivory coast:
Fines may apply, points may apply
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
france:
€135
ivory coast:
Fines may apply, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
france:
Possible; fines can be paid directly to police for minor offenses
ivory coast:
Possible for some infractions
Payment: Deadline
france:
Varies; typically 45 days to pay
ivory coast:
Varies; typically stipulated