Driving in France vs Kuwait: Key Differences Explained
When navigating the roads of France and Kuwait, understanding the contrasting regulations is essential for a safe journey. Key distinctions include speed limits, lane usage, and alcohol policies, with France emphasizing varied limits and cyclist lanes, while Kuwait enforces stricter alcohol restrictions. Prepare yourself for a unique driving experience in each nation.
Lanes
France | Kuwait | |
---|---|---|
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. | Not commonly practiced. |
Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses, taxis, and sometimes cyclists. | Reserved for buses. |
Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | N/A |
Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | N/A |
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | N/A |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
france:
Not commonly used; used for temporary markings during roadworks.
kuwait:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
france:
Used for temporary markings during roadworks; passing permitted when safe.
kuwait:
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.
kuwait:
Not commonly practiced.
Bus Lanes: Usage
france:
Reserved for buses, taxis, and sometimes cyclists.
kuwait:
Reserved for buses.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
france:
Yes
kuwait:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
france:
Exclusive for bicycles.
kuwait:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
france:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
kuwait:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
france:
N/A
kuwait:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
france:
Yes
kuwait:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
france:
Electronic signs display current limits.
kuwait:
N/A
Speeds Limits
France | Kuwait | |
---|---|---|
Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 45-60 km/h |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 45 km/h |
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 80-120 km/h |
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 130 km/h | 120 km/h |
Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits | N/A |
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Not common; fines are usually mailed after citation | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
france:
50 km/h
kuwait:
45-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
france:
30 km/h
kuwait:
45 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
france:
80 km/h
kuwait:
80-120 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
france:
80 km/h
kuwait:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
france:
80 km/h
kuwait:
70-90 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
france:
130 km/h
kuwait:
120 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
france:
90 km/h
kuwait:
80-90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
france:
Yes
kuwait:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
france:
Electronic signs display current limits
kuwait:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
france:
Not common; fines are usually mailed after citation
kuwait:
Yes
Signals
France | Kuwait | |
---|---|---|
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in France | Not used |
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 | Arabic; English is commonly used alongside Arabic |
Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with red border | Triangular-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
france:
Not used in France
kuwait:
Not used
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
france:
Signal when entering and exiting
kuwait:
Signal when exiting
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
france:
Unnecessary use discouraged especially at night; local ordinances may apply
kuwait:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Traffic Signs: Language
france:
French; symbols are standard
kuwait:
Arabic; English is commonly used alongside Arabic
Traffic Signs: Warning
france:
Triangular with red border
kuwait:
Triangular-shaped with red border
Turns
France | Kuwait | |
---|---|---|
Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Prohibited unless signs allow |
U- Turns Allowed | Allowed if not specifically prohibited by signs | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
Right Turn On Red
france:
Not allowed
kuwait:
Prohibited unless signs allow
U- Turns Allowed
france:
Allowed if not specifically prohibited by signs
kuwait:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
Documentation
France | Kuwait | |
---|---|---|
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits | International Driving Permit required |
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit required |
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes, an MOT style test is required periodically | Annual inspection required |
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on the vehicle |
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory in vehicle | Not mandatory |
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory in vehicle | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
france:
Accepted for short visits
kuwait:
International Driving Permit required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
france:
International Driving Permit recommended
kuwait:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
france:
Yes, an MOT style test is required periodically
kuwait:
Annual inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
france:
Displayed on windshield
kuwait:
Displayed on the vehicle
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
france:
Mandatory in vehicle
kuwait:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
france:
Mandatory in vehicle
kuwait:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
France | Kuwait | |
---|---|---|
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
kuwait:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
france:
Pull over and stop if necessary
kuwait:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
France | Kuwait | |
---|---|---|
Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.00% |
Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.00% |
Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used regularly | Less common |
Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial | Significant fines and legal consequences |
Enforcement: Imprisonment | Possible for severe offenses | Possible for any alcohol consumption while driving |
Limits: General Drivers
france:
0.05%
kuwait:
0.00%
Limits: Professional Drivers
france:
0.02%
kuwait:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
france:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
kuwait:
Less common
Enforcement: Fines
france:
Can be substantial
kuwait:
Significant fines and legal consequences
Enforcement: Imprisonment
france:
Possible for severe offenses
kuwait:
Possible for any alcohol consumption while driving
Roundabouts
France | Kuwait | |
---|---|---|
Signaling: Entering | Signal when entering if turning right | Signal if turning immediately upon entry |
Signaling: Entering
france:
Signal when entering if turning right
kuwait:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Emergency Services
France | Kuwait | |
---|---|---|
Contact: Traffic Police | 17 or through local police | 112 |
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: Traffic Police
france:
17 or through local police
kuwait:
112
Contact: Roadside Assistance
france:
Check with your insurance provider or assistance service
kuwait:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
france:
Mandatory
kuwait:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
france:
Mandatory
kuwait:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
France | Kuwait | |
---|---|---|
Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; typically €68 to €3750, license points | Varies; may include points on license |
Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time, and license confiscation | Very severe penalties for any alcohol |
Common Fines: Seat Belts | €135 | Fines applicable |
Common Fines: Phone Use | €135 | Fines applicable |
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | €135 | Fines and points on license |
Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines can be paid directly to police for minor offenses | Yes, possible |
Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 45 days to pay | Varies; typically within 30 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
france:
Varies; typically €68 to €3750, license points
kuwait:
Varies; may include points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
france:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time, and license confiscation
kuwait:
Very severe penalties for any alcohol
Common Fines: Seat Belts
france:
€135
kuwait:
Fines applicable
Common Fines: Phone Use
france:
€135
kuwait:
Fines applicable
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
france:
€135
kuwait:
Fines and points on license
Payment: On The Spot
france:
Possible; fines can be paid directly to police for minor offenses
kuwait:
Yes, possible
Payment: Deadline
france:
Varies; typically 45 days to pay
kuwait:
Varies; typically within 30 days