Driving in France vs. Lithuania: Key Differences Explained

When exploring the roadways of France and Lithuania, you'll encounter distinct driving regulations and practices. Key distinctions include speed limits, lane markings, and alcohol restrictions. Understanding these contrasts can significantly enhance your safety and confidence while navigating unfamiliar terrains in these European countries.

francelithuania

RIGHT

Driving Side

The driving side in france is the Right Side of the road

Driving Safety Score

The driving Driving Safety Score in france is 86

1.829 $

Gas Price in USD

The driving Driving Safety Score for france is 1.829 US Dollars

While the driving side of a country remains the same, the driving safety score is updated annually based on each countries car accident fatality rate. Lastly, the gas price is only an estimate. Due to frequent fluctuations, it serves as a general reference rather than an exact figure for each country.

Lanes

Small text specific to the section aboe, explaining the main ...Small text specific to the section aboe, explaining the main ...

	France	Lithuania
Markings: Solid Yellow Line	Not commonly used; used for temporary markings during roadworks.	Separation of opposing traffic directions.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line	Used for temporary markings during roadworks; passing permitted when safe.	Passing permitted with caution.
Overtaking: On Right	Allowed only in specific conditions, such as heavy traffic; not generally recommended.	Allowed on multi-lane roads
Bus Lanes: Usage	Reserved for buses, taxis, and sometimes cyclists.	Reserved for buses and taxis during peak hours.
Bus Lanes: Markings	Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.	Labeled 'BUS' or 'A'; often with road signs.
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.

lithuania:

Separation of opposing traffic directions.

Markings: Dashed Yellow Line

france:

Used for temporary markings during roadworks; passing permitted when safe.

lithuania:

Passing permitted with caution.

Overtaking: On Right

france:

Allowed only in specific conditions, such as heavy traffic; not generally recommended.

lithuania:

Allowed on multi-lane roads

Bus Lanes: Usage

france:

Reserved for buses, taxis, and sometimes cyclists.

lithuania:

Reserved for buses and taxis during peak hours.

Bus Lanes: Markings

france:

Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.

lithuania:

Labeled 'BUS' or 'A'; often with road signs.

High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements

france:

N/A

lithuania:

N/A

Variable Speed Limits: Presence

france:

Yes

lithuania:

Variable Speed Limits: Indications

france:

Electronic signs display current limits.

lithuania:

N/A

Speeds Limits

Small text specific to the section aboe, explaining the main ...Small text specific to the section aboe, explaining the main ...

	France	Lithuania
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles	80 km/h	90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers	80 km/h	70 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, issued by police.

Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles

france:

80 km/h

lithuania:

90 km/h

Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers

france:

80 km/h

lithuania:

70 km/h

Variable Speed Limits: Presence

france:

Yes

lithuania:

Variable Speed Limits: Indications

france:

Electronic signs display current limits

lithuania:

N/A

Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines

france:

Not common; fines are usually mailed after citation

lithuania:

Yes, issued by police.

Signals

Small text specific to the section aboe, explaining the main ...Small text specific to the section aboe, explaining the main ...

	France	Lithuania
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together	Not used in France	Indicates prepared to start
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
Traffic Signs: Language	French; symbols are standard	Lithuanian; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning	Triangular with red border	Triangle-shaped with red border

Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together

france:

Not used in France

lithuania:

Indicates prepared to start

Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts

france:

Signal when entering and exiting

lithuania:

Signal when exiting

Horn Usage: Prohibited Times

france:

Unnecessary use discouraged especially at night; local ordinances may apply

lithuania:

Unnecessary use discouraged

Traffic Signs: Language

france:

French; symbols are standard

lithuania:

Lithuanian; symbols are standard

Traffic Signs: Warning

france:

Triangular with red border

lithuania:

Triangle-shaped with red border

Turns

Small text specific to the section aboe, explaining the main ...Small text specific to the section aboe, explaining the main ...

	France		Lithuania
Right Turn On Red	Not allowed		Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed	Allowed if not specifically prohibited by signs		Allowed unless prohibited by a sign

Right Turn On Red

france:

Not allowed

lithuania:

Allowed unless prohibited by a sign

U- Turns Allowed

france:

Allowed if not specifically prohibited by signs

lithuania:

Allowed unless prohibited by a sign

Documentation

Small text specific to the section aboe, explaining the main ...Small text specific to the section aboe, explaining the main ...

	France	Lithuania
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A	Accepted for short visits	Accepted; International Driving Permit not required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U	International Driving Permit recommended	Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement	Yes, an MOT style test is required periodically	Mandatory annual check
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker	Displayed on windshield	Displayed on license plate or windshield
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

lithuania:

Accepted; International Driving Permit not required

Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U

france:

International Driving Permit recommended

lithuania:

Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended

Vehicle Inspection: Requirement

france:

Yes, an MOT style test is required periodically

lithuania:

Mandatory annual check

Vehicle Inspection: Sticker

france:

Displayed on windshield

lithuania:

Displayed on license plate or windshield

Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles

france:

Mandatory in vehicle

lithuania:

Mandatory

Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest

france:

Mandatory in vehicle

lithuania:

Mandatory

Road Etiquette

Small text specific to the section aboe, explaining the main ...Small text specific to the section aboe, explaining the main ...

	France	Lithuania
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging	Common practice, especially in heavy traffic	Common practice
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

Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging

france:

Common practice, especially in heavy traffic

lithuania:

Common practice

Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm

france:

Reserved mainly for use in emergencies

lithuania:

Less frequent use compared to some countries

Emergency Vehicles: Protocol

france:

Pull over and stop if necessary

lithuania:

Pull over to the right and stop if necessary

Alcohol

Small text specific to the section aboe, explaining the main ...Small text specific to the section aboe, explaining the main ...

	France	Lithuania
Limits: General Drivers	0.05%	0.04%
Limits: Professional Drivers	0.02%	0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks	Common; checkpoints used regularly	Common, particularly at night and weekends
Enforcement: Fines	Can be substantial	Substantial; varies based on BAC level
Enforcement: Imprisonment	Possible for severe offenses	Possible for high BAC levels or repeat offenses
Test Refusal	Can result in license suspension	Results in penalties and license suspension

Limits: General Drivers

france:

0.05%

lithuania:

0.04%

Limits: Professional Drivers

france:

0.02%

lithuania:

0.00%

Enforcement: Random Checks

france:

Common; checkpoints used regularly

lithuania:

Common, particularly at night and weekends

Enforcement: Fines

france:

Can be substantial

lithuania:

Substantial; varies based on BAC level

Enforcement: Imprisonment

france:

Possible for severe offenses

lithuania:

Possible for high BAC levels or repeat offenses

Test Refusal

france:

Can result in license suspension

lithuania:

Results in penalties and license suspension

Roundabouts

Small text specific to the section aboe, explaining the main ...Small text specific to the section aboe, explaining the main ...

	France		Lithuania
Signaling: Entering	Signal when entering if turning right		Signal if turning immediately upon entry

Signaling: Entering

france:

Signal when entering if turning right

lithuania:

Signal if turning immediately upon entry

Emergency Services

Small text specific to the section aboe, explaining the main ...Small text specific to the section aboe, explaining the main ...

	France		Lithuania
Contact: Traffic Police	17 or through local police		112
Contact: Roadside Assistance	Check with your insurance provider or assistance service		Contact your insurance provider

Contact: Traffic Police

france:

17 or through local police

lithuania:

112

Contact: Roadside Assistance

france:

Check with your insurance provider or assistance service

lithuania:

Contact your insurance provider

Penalties And Fines

Small text specific to the section aboe, explaining the main ...Small text specific to the section aboe, explaining the main ...

	France	Lithuania
Common Fines: Speeding	Varies; typically €68 to €3750, license points	Varies; fines based on km/h over the limit
Common Fines: Alcohol	Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time, and license confiscation	High fines, possible license suspension or imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts	€135	Mandatory, fines apply
Common Fines: Phone Use	€135	Fines apply, use of hands-free device required
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation	€135	Fines apply
Payment: On The Spot	Possible; fines can be paid directly to police for minor offenses	Yes, by police
Payment: Deadline	Varies; typically 45 days to pay	Varies; typically 30 days to pay

Common Fines: Speeding

france:

Varies; typically €68 to €3750, license points

lithuania:

Varies; fines based on km/h over the limit

Common Fines: Alcohol

france:

Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time, and license confiscation

lithuania:

High fines, possible license suspension or imprisonment

Common Fines: Seat Belts

france:

€135

lithuania:

Mandatory, fines apply

Common Fines: Phone Use

france:

€135

lithuania:

Fines apply, use of hands-free device required

Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation

france:

€135

lithuania:

Fines apply

Payment: On The Spot

france:

Possible; fines can be paid directly to police for minor offenses

lithuania:

Yes, by police

Payment: Deadline

france:

Varies; typically 45 days to pay

lithuania:

Varies; typically 30 days to pay