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.
Lanes
| 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:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
france:
Electronic signs display current limits.
lithuania:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| 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:
No
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
| 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
| 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
| 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
| 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
| 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
| 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
| 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
| 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