Driving in France vs. Serbia: Key Safety Differences
When navigating the roads of France and Serbia, understanding the distinct driving customs is crucial for a safe journey. Key variations include speed limits, lane usage, and alcohol regulations. While France adopts a more lenient stance on overtaking, Serbia enforces stricter blood alcohol limits, emphasizing the need for awareness and adaptability on foreign roads.
Lanes
| France | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
france:
Not commonly used; used for temporary markings during roadworks.
serbia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
france:
Used for temporary markings during roadworks; passing permitted when safe.
serbia:
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.
serbia:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Bus Lanes: Usage
france:
Reserved for buses, taxis, and sometimes cyclists.
serbia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
france:
N/A
serbia:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| France | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 130 km/h | 120 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 |
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
france:
80 km/h
serbia:
70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
france:
130 km/h
serbia:
120 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
france:
90 km/h
serbia:
80 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
france:
Not common; fines are usually mailed after citation
serbia:
Yes
Signals
| France | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in France | Not used in Serbia |
| 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 | Serbian; 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
serbia:
Not used in Serbia
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
france:
Signal when entering and exiting
serbia:
Signal when exiting
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
france:
Unnecessary use discouraged especially at night; local ordinances may apply
serbia:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Traffic Signs: Language
france:
French; symbols are standard
serbia:
Serbian; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
france:
Triangular with red border
serbia:
Triangle-shaped with red border
Turns
| France | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed if not specifically prohibited by signs | Varies by city; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
france:
Not allowed
serbia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
france:
Allowed if not specifically prohibited by signs
serbia:
Varies by city; check for signs
Documentation
| France | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit may be required |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes, an MOT style test is required periodically | Mandatory periodic inspections |
| 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
serbia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit may be required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
france:
International Driving Permit recommended
serbia:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
france:
Yes, an MOT style test is required periodically
serbia:
Mandatory periodic inspections
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
france:
Mandatory in vehicle
serbia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
france:
Mandatory in vehicle
serbia:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| France | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
serbia:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
france:
Pull over and stop if necessary
serbia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| France | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used regularly | Common; police regularly perform checks |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial | Substantial, varies by severity |
Limits: General Drivers
france:
0.05%
serbia:
0.03%
Limits: Professional Drivers
france:
0.02%
serbia:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
france:
0.00%
serbia:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
france:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
serbia:
Common; police regularly perform checks
Enforcement: Fines
france:
Can be substantial
serbia:
Substantial, varies by severity
Roundabouts
| France | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal when entering if turning right | Signal if turning immediately upon entry |
Signaling: Entering
france:
Signal when entering if turning right
serbia:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Emergency Services
| France | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | 17 or through local police | 192 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or assistance service | 1987 |
Contact: Traffic Police
france:
17 or through local police
serbia:
192
Contact: Roadside Assistance
france:
Check with your insurance provider or assistance service
serbia:
1987
Penalties And Fines
| France | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; typically €68 to €3750, license points | Varies; typically €20 to €100, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time, and license confiscation | Varies; heavy fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | €135 | €20 to €40 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | €135 | €30 to €50 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | €135 | €30 to €50, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines can be paid directly to police for minor offenses | Yes, possible for smaller fines |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 45 days to pay | Varies; typically 8 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
france:
Varies; typically €68 to €3750, license points
serbia:
Varies; typically €20 to €100, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
france:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time, and license confiscation
serbia:
Varies; heavy fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
france:
€135
serbia:
€20 to €40
Common Fines: Phone Use
france:
€135
serbia:
€30 to €50
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
france:
€135
serbia:
€30 to €50, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
france:
Possible; fines can be paid directly to police for minor offenses
serbia:
Yes, possible for smaller fines
Payment: Deadline
france:
Varies; typically 45 days to pay
serbia:
Varies; typically 8 days to pay