Driving in France vs. Netherlands: Key Safety Differences
Explore the diverse road rules and regulations between France and the Netherlands, ensuring a safer journey abroad. Key distinctions include lane markings, speed limits, and vehicle documentation. Understanding these variations not only enhances your driving experience but also promotes road safety in unfamiliar territories.
Lanes
| France | Netherlands | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Not commonly used; used for temporary markings during roadworks. | Not commonly used in the Netherlands, replaced by solid white lines on the road edges. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Used for temporary markings during roadworks; passing permitted when safe. | Not typically used; centerlines are usually white. |
| 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', 'LIJNBUS' or 'TAXI'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | Bicycle symbols and often distinct red coloring. |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
france:
Not commonly used; used for temporary markings during roadworks.
netherlands:
Not commonly used in the Netherlands, replaced by solid white lines on the road edges.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
france:
Used for temporary markings during roadworks; passing permitted when safe.
netherlands:
Not typically used; centerlines are usually white.
Overtaking: On Right
france:
Allowed only in specific conditions, such as heavy traffic; not generally recommended.
netherlands:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Bus Lanes: Usage
france:
Reserved for buses, taxis, and sometimes cyclists.
netherlands:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
france:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
netherlands:
Labeled 'BUS', 'LIJNBUS' or 'TAXI'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
france:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
netherlands:
Bicycle symbols and often distinct red coloring.
Speeds Limits
| France | Netherlands | |
|---|---|---|
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 130 km/h | 100-130 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Not common; fines are usually mailed after citation | Yes, but fines are often mailed after citation |
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
france:
130 km/h
netherlands:
100-130 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
france:
100 km/h
netherlands:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
france:
90 km/h
netherlands:
80-100 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
france:
Not common; fines are usually mailed after citation
netherlands:
Yes, but fines are often mailed after citation
Signals
| France | Netherlands | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in France | Not used in Netherlands |
| 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 | Dutch; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with red border | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
france:
Not used in France
netherlands:
Not used in Netherlands
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
france:
Signal when entering and exiting
netherlands:
Signal when exiting
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
france:
Unnecessary use discouraged especially at night; local ordinances may apply
netherlands:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Traffic Signs: Language
france:
French; symbols are standard
netherlands:
Dutch; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
france:
Triangular with red border
netherlands:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| France | Netherlands | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Not allowed unless a green arrow is present |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed if not specifically prohibited by signs | Usually prohibited unless explicitly allowed by signs |
Right Turn On Red
france:
Not allowed
netherlands:
Not allowed unless a green arrow is present
U- Turns Allowed
france:
Allowed if not specifically prohibited by signs
netherlands:
Usually prohibited unless explicitly allowed by signs
Documentation
| France | Netherlands | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits | Accepted; International Driving Permit not necessary |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for up to 185 days if accompanied by an International Driving Permit |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes, an MOT style test is required periodically | Periodic technical inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | No sticker used; information in vehicle registration |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory in vehicle | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory in vehicle | Recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
france:
Accepted for short visits
netherlands:
Accepted; International Driving Permit not necessary
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
france:
International Driving Permit recommended
netherlands:
Accepted for up to 185 days if accompanied by an International Driving Permit
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
france:
Yes, an MOT style test is required periodically
netherlands:
Periodic technical inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
france:
Displayed on windshield
netherlands:
No sticker used; information in vehicle registration
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
france:
Mandatory in vehicle
netherlands:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
france:
Mandatory in vehicle
netherlands:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| France | Netherlands | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
netherlands:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
france:
Pull over and stop if necessary
netherlands:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| France | Netherlands | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.02% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used regularly | Common; checkpoints used |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial | Can be substantial, and may lead to license suspension |
Limits: Underage Drivers
france:
0.00%
netherlands:
0.02%
Enforcement: Random Checks
france:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
netherlands:
Common; checkpoints used
Enforcement: Fines
france:
Can be substantial
netherlands:
Can be substantial, and may lead to license suspension
Roundabouts
| France | Netherlands | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal when entering if turning right | No signal required unless exiting immediately |
Signaling: Entering
france:
Signal when entering if turning right
netherlands:
No signal required unless exiting immediately
Emergency Services
| France | Netherlands | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | 17 or through local police | Call 112 for police assistance |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or assistance service | Check with your insurance provider or ANWB |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Recommended |
Contact: Traffic Police
france:
17 or through local police
netherlands:
Call 112 for police assistance
Contact: Roadside Assistance
france:
Check with your insurance provider or assistance service
netherlands:
Check with your insurance provider or ANWB
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
france:
Mandatory
netherlands:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| France | Netherlands | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; typically €68 to €3750, license points | Varies; can be significant, 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 | Fines apply, points on license |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | €135 | Fines apply, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | €135 | Fines apply, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines can be paid directly to police for minor offenses | Possible; fines also typically paid online or by mail |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 45 days to pay | Varies; payment within specified period required |
Common Fines: Speeding
france:
Varies; typically €68 to €3750, license points
netherlands:
Varies; can be significant, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
france:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time, and license confiscation
netherlands:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
france:
€135
netherlands:
Fines apply, points on license
Common Fines: Phone Use
france:
€135
netherlands:
Fines apply, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
france:
€135
netherlands:
Fines apply, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
france:
Possible; fines can be paid directly to police for minor offenses
netherlands:
Possible; fines also typically paid online or by mail
Payment: Deadline
france:
Varies; typically 45 days to pay
netherlands:
Varies; payment within specified period required