Driving Safety: France vs. Peru – Key Differences Explained
When exploring the roads of France and Peru, drivers encounter distinct regulations that significantly impact their journey. Key contrasts include speed limits, lane usage, and traffic signal protocols. Understanding these variances is essential for ensuring a secure and enjoyable driving experience in both nations.
Lanes
| France | Peru | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | 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' or 'BUS ONLY'; 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.
peru:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
france:
Used for temporary markings during roadworks; passing permitted when safe.
peru:
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.
peru:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Bus Lanes: Usage
france:
Reserved for buses, taxis, and sometimes cyclists.
peru:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
france:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
peru:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
france:
N/A
peru:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
france:
Yes
peru:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
france:
Electronic signs display current limits.
peru:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| France | Peru | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 130 km/h | 100-120 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 | Common; often collected by traffic police |
Urban Areas: Standard
france:
50 km/h
peru:
40-60 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
france:
80 km/h
peru:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
france:
80 km/h
peru:
90 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
france:
130 km/h
peru:
100-120 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
france:
Yes
peru:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
france:
Electronic signs display current limits
peru:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
france:
Not common; fines are usually mailed after citation
peru:
Common; often collected by traffic police
Signals
| France | Peru | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1] | Amber | Yellow |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in France | Not used in Peru |
| 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 | Spanish; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with red border | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1]
france:
Amber
peru:
Yellow
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
france:
Not used in France
peru:
Not used in Peru
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
france:
Signal when entering and exiting
peru:
Signal when exiting
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
france:
Unnecessary use discouraged especially at night; local ordinances may apply
peru:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Traffic Signs: Language
france:
French; symbols are standard
peru:
Spanish; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
france:
Triangular with red border
peru:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| France | Peru | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Not allowed unless indicated by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed if not specifically prohibited by signs | Only at intersections without signs prohibiting |
Right Turn On Red
france:
Not allowed
peru:
Not allowed unless indicated by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
france:
Allowed if not specifically prohibited by signs
peru:
Only at intersections without signs prohibiting
Documentation
| France | Peru | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes, an MOT style test is required periodically | Mandatory, proof is required during checks |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Typically displayed on vehicle |
| 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
peru:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
france:
International Driving Permit recommended
peru:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
france:
Yes, an MOT style test is required periodically
peru:
Mandatory, proof is required during checks
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
france:
Displayed on windshield
peru:
Typically displayed on vehicle
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
france:
Mandatory in vehicle
peru:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
france:
Mandatory in vehicle
peru:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| France | Peru | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Reserved mainly for use in emergencies | Often used more 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
peru:
Often used more compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
france:
Pull over and stop if necessary
peru:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| France | Peru | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used regularly | Common; checkpoints used widely |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial | Substantial; can lead to license suspension |
Limits: Professional Drivers
france:
0.02%
peru:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
france:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
peru:
Common; checkpoints used widely
Enforcement: Fines
france:
Can be substantial
peru:
Substantial; can lead to license suspension
Roundabouts
| France | Peru | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal when entering if turning right | Signal if turning immediately upon entry |
Signaling: Entering
france:
Signal when entering if turning right
peru:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Emergency Services
| France | Peru | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 105 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 17 or through local police | Varies; use 105 or specific traffic lines |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or assistance service | Check with your insurance provider or local service |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
france:
112
peru:
105
Contact: Traffic Police
france:
17 or through local police
peru:
Varies; use 105 or specific traffic lines
Contact: Roadside Assistance
france:
Check with your insurance provider or assistance service
peru:
Check with your insurance provider or local service
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
france:
Mandatory
peru:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| France | Peru | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; typically €68 to €3750, license points | Varies; fines can be significant |
| 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, enforcement can be strict |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | €135 | Fines apply, enforcement can be strict |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | €135 | Fines apply, often substantial |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines can be paid directly to police for minor offenses | Common; traffic police often collect fines immediately |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 45 days to pay | Varies; typically a few days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
france:
Varies; typically €68 to €3750, license points
peru:
Varies; fines can be significant
Common Fines: Alcohol
france:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time, and license confiscation
peru:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
france:
€135
peru:
Fines apply, enforcement can be strict
Common Fines: Phone Use
france:
€135
peru:
Fines apply, enforcement can be strict
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
france:
€135
peru:
Fines apply, often substantial
Payment: On The Spot
france:
Possible; fines can be paid directly to police for minor offenses
peru:
Common; traffic police often collect fines immediately
Payment: Deadline
france:
Varies; typically 45 days to pay
peru:
Varies; typically a few days to pay