Driving in France vs. Norway: Key Safety Differences
When navigating the roads of France and Norway, drivers encounter distinct regulations and practices that influence their travel experience. Key differences include speed limits, lane usage, and enforcement measures. Understanding these variations is crucial for ensuring a safe and enjoyable journey in each country.
Lanes
| France | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Not commonly used; used for temporary markings during roadworks. | Used to separate traffic moving in opposite directions. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Used for temporary markings during roadworks; passing permitted when safe. | Not standard in Norway. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed only in specific conditions, such as heavy traffic; not generally recommended. | Only permitted in specific situations, e.g., if the vehicle in front has signaled a left turn. |
| 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' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Minimum two or more occupants |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
france:
Not commonly used; used for temporary markings during roadworks.
norway:
Used to separate traffic moving in opposite directions.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
france:
Used for temporary markings during roadworks; passing permitted when safe.
norway:
Not standard in Norway.
Overtaking: On Right
france:
Allowed only in specific conditions, such as heavy traffic; not generally recommended.
norway:
Only permitted in specific situations, e.g., if the vehicle in front has signaled a left turn.
Bus Lanes: Usage
france:
Reserved for buses, taxis, and sometimes cyclists.
norway:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
france:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
norway:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
france:
No
norway:
Yes
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
france:
N/A
norway:
Minimum two or more occupants
Speeds Limits
| France | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 30-50 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 130 km/h | 90-110 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 90-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Not common; fines are usually mailed after citation | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
france:
50 km/h
norway:
30-50 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
france:
130 km/h
norway:
90-110 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
france:
100 km/h
norway:
90-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
france:
90 km/h
norway:
80 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
france:
Not common; fines are usually mailed after citation
norway:
Yes
Signals
| France | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in France | Not used in Norway |
| 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 | Norwegian; symbols are standard, with English in some places |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with red border | Triangular-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
france:
Not used in France
norway:
Not used in Norway
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
france:
Signal when entering and exiting
norway:
Signal when exiting
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
france:
Unnecessary use discouraged especially at night; local ordinances may apply
norway:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Traffic Signs: Language
france:
French; symbols are standard
norway:
Norwegian; symbols are standard, with English in some places
Traffic Signs: Warning
france:
Triangular with red border
norway:
Triangular-shaped with red border
Turns
| France | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed if not specifically prohibited by signs | Varies by locality; check for signs |
U- Turns Allowed
france:
Allowed if not specifically prohibited by signs
norway:
Varies by locality; check for signs
Documentation
| France | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits | Accepted with a national driving license |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes, an MOT style test is required periodically | Yes, periodic inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | None |
| 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
norway:
Accepted with a national driving license
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
france:
Yes, an MOT style test is required periodically
norway:
Yes, periodic inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
france:
Displayed on windshield
norway:
None
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
france:
Mandatory in vehicle
norway:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
france:
Mandatory in vehicle
norway:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| France | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
norway:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
france:
Pull over and stop if necessary
norway:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| France | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used regularly | Common; checkpoints used frequently |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial | High fines and possible license revocation |
Limits: General Drivers
france:
0.05%
norway:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
france:
0.00%
norway:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
france:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
norway:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
Enforcement: Fines
france:
Can be substantial
norway:
High fines and possible license revocation
Roundabouts
| France | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal when entering if turning right | Signal if turning immediately upon entry |
Signaling: Entering
france:
Signal when entering if turning right
norway:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Emergency Services
| France | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | 17 or through local police | 02800 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or assistance service | Check with your insurance provider or NAF |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Recommended |
Contact: Traffic Police
france:
17 or through local police
norway:
02800
Contact: Roadside Assistance
france:
Check with your insurance provider or assistance service
norway:
Check with your insurance provider or NAF
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
france:
Mandatory
norway:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| France | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; typically €68 to €3750, license points | Varies; substantial fines and possible points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time, and license confiscation | Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | €135 | 1500 NOK |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | €135 | 1700 NOK |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | €135 | Varies; substantial fines |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines can be paid directly to police for minor offenses | Yes, typically required |
| 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
norway:
Varies; substantial fines and possible points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
france:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time, and license confiscation
norway:
Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
france:
€135
norway:
1500 NOK
Common Fines: Phone Use
france:
€135
norway:
1700 NOK
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
france:
€135
norway:
Varies; substantial fines
Payment: On The Spot
france:
Possible; fines can be paid directly to police for minor offenses
norway:
Yes, typically required
Payment: Deadline
france:
Varies; typically 45 days to pay
norway:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay