Driving in France vs. Tunisia: Key Safety Differences
When navigating the roads of France and Tunisia, drivers will encounter notable contrasts in regulations and practices. From lane markings and speed limits to emergency protocols, understanding these variations is essential for ensuring a safe journey. This comparison highlights crucial distinctions to enhance your driving experience abroad.
Lanes
| France | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | Not typically permitted. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses, taxis, and sometimes cyclists. | N/A |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | 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.
tunisia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
france:
Used for temporary markings during roadworks; passing permitted when safe.
tunisia:
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.
tunisia:
Not typically permitted.
Bus Lanes: Presence
france:
Yes
tunisia:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
france:
Reserved for buses, taxis, and sometimes cyclists.
tunisia:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
france:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
tunisia:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
france:
Yes
tunisia:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
france:
Exclusive for bicycles.
tunisia:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
france:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
tunisia:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
france:
Yes
tunisia:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
france:
Electronic signs display current limits.
tunisia:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| France | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 110 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90 km/h | 80 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 |
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
france:
80 km/h
tunisia:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
france:
80 km/h
tunisia:
90 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
france:
130 km/h
tunisia:
110 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
france:
100 km/h
tunisia:
90 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
france:
90 km/h
tunisia:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
france:
Yes
tunisia:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
france:
Electronic signs display current limits
tunisia:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
france:
Not common; fines are usually mailed after citation
tunisia:
Yes
Signals
| France | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in France | Not typically used |
| 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 | Arabic and French; 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
tunisia:
Not typically used
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
france:
Signal when entering and exiting
tunisia:
Signal when exiting
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
france:
Unnecessary use discouraged especially at night; local ordinances may apply
tunisia:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Traffic Signs: Language
france:
French; symbols are standard
tunisia:
Arabic and French; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
france:
Triangular with red border
tunisia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| France | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Prohibited |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed if not specifically prohibited by signs | Allowed at intersections unless otherwise posted |
Right Turn On Red
france:
Not allowed
tunisia:
Prohibited
U- Turns Allowed
france:
Allowed if not specifically prohibited by signs
tunisia:
Allowed at intersections unless otherwise posted
Documentation
| France | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended |
| 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; proof may be required |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory in vehicle | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory in vehicle | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
france:
Accepted for short visits
tunisia:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
france:
International Driving Permit recommended
tunisia:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
france:
Yes, an MOT style test is required periodically
tunisia:
Mandatory; proof may be required
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
france:
Mandatory in vehicle
tunisia:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
france:
Mandatory in vehicle
tunisia:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| France | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging | Common practice, especially in heavy traffic | Encouraged, especially in heavy traffic |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Reserved mainly for use in emergencies | Moderate use |
| 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
tunisia:
Encouraged, especially in heavy traffic
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
france:
Reserved mainly for use in emergencies
tunisia:
Moderate use
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
france:
Pull over and stop if necessary
tunisia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| France | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00%; zero tolerance policy |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used regularly | Common; checkpoints used broadly |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial | Substantial; varies by offense |
Limits: Professional Drivers
france:
0.02%
tunisia:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
france:
0.00%
tunisia:
0.00%; zero tolerance policy
Enforcement: Random Checks
france:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
tunisia:
Common; checkpoints used broadly
Enforcement: Fines
france:
Can be substantial
tunisia:
Substantial; varies by offense
Roundabouts
| France | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal when entering if turning right | Signal if turning immediately upon entry |
Signaling: Entering
france:
Signal when entering if turning right
tunisia:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Emergency Services
| France | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 197 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 17 or through local police | 197 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or assistance service | Check with your insurance provider or local services |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
france:
112
tunisia:
197
Contact: Traffic Police
france:
17 or through local police
tunisia:
197
Contact: Roadside Assistance
france:
Check with your insurance provider or assistance service
tunisia:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
france:
Mandatory
tunisia:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
france:
Mandatory
tunisia:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| France | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; typically €68 to €3750, license points | Varies; DT 40 to DT 500 |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time, and license confiscation | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | €135 | DT 40 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | €135 | DT 60 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | €135 | Varies; DT 60 to DT 200 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines can be paid directly to police for minor offenses | Yes |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 45 days to pay | Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
france:
Varies; typically €68 to €3750, license points
tunisia:
Varies; DT 40 to DT 500
Common Fines: Alcohol
france:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time, and license confiscation
tunisia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
france:
€135
tunisia:
DT 40
Common Fines: Phone Use
france:
€135
tunisia:
DT 60
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
france:
€135
tunisia:
Varies; DT 60 to DT 200
Payment: On The Spot
france:
Possible; fines can be paid directly to police for minor offenses
tunisia:
Yes
Payment: Deadline
france:
Varies; typically 45 days to pay
tunisia:
Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay