Driving in France vs United Kingdom: Key Differences Revealed
When navigating the roads of France and the United Kingdom, drivers encounter distinct rules that shape their experience behind the wheel. From varying speed limits to unique lane usage practices, understanding these contrasts is crucial for ensuring a safe journey. Dive into our detailed comparison to learn how to drive confidently and comply with local regulations in each country.
Lanes
| France | United kingdom | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid White Line | No crossing or lane changes allowed. | Do not cross unless it is safe and necessary (e.g., overtaking a stationary vehicle). |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Not commonly used; used for temporary markings during roadworks. | Not commonly used in the UK, yellow lines usually indicate parking restrictions. |
| Markings: Double Solid White Line | No crossing in either direction. | Do not cross or straddle in either direction. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Used for temporary markings during roadworks; passing permitted when safe. | Not commonly used for lane markings in the UK. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed only in specific conditions, such as heavy traffic; not generally recommended. | Prohibited unless in specific situations such as roadworks. |
| Overtaking: Prohibited Areas[ Index 4] | Railroad crossings | Near schools |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses, taxis, and sometimes cyclists. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis, cyclists, and motorcycles during specific hours. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS LANE'; often with signs indicating operating hours. |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Mostly exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | No | No, generally not used in the UK for regular roads, but sometimes used on specific toll roads. |
Driving Side
france:
Right
united kingdom:
Left
Markings: Solid White Line
france:
No crossing or lane changes allowed.
united kingdom:
Do not cross unless it is safe and necessary (e.g., overtaking a stationary vehicle).
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
france:
Not commonly used; used for temporary markings during roadworks.
united kingdom:
Not commonly used in the UK, yellow lines usually indicate parking restrictions.
Markings: Double Solid White Line
france:
No crossing in either direction.
united kingdom:
Do not cross or straddle in either direction.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
france:
Used for temporary markings during roadworks; passing permitted when safe.
united kingdom:
Not commonly used for lane markings in the UK.
Overtaking: On Right
france:
Allowed only in specific conditions, such as heavy traffic; not generally recommended.
united kingdom:
Prohibited unless in specific situations such as roadworks.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas[ Index 4]
france:
Railroad crossings
united kingdom:
Near schools
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
france:
Use rightmost lane.
united kingdom:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
france:
Reserved for buses, taxis, and sometimes cyclists.
united kingdom:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis, cyclists, and motorcycles during specific hours.
Bus Lanes: Markings
france:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
united kingdom:
Labeled 'BUS LANE'; often with signs indicating operating hours.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
france:
Exclusive for bicycles.
united kingdom:
Mostly exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
france:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
united kingdom:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
france:
No
united kingdom:
No, generally not used in the UK for regular roads, but sometimes used on specific toll roads.
Speeds Limits
| France | United kingdom | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 30 mph |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 20 mph in some areas |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 60 mph |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 50 mph |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 50 mph |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 130 km/h | 70 mph |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 60 mph |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90 km/h | 60 mph |
| Speed Units | km/h | mph |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Not common; fines are usually mailed after citation | Not typically used; fines are usually mailed |
Urban Areas: Standard
france:
50 km/h
united kingdom:
30 mph
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
france:
30 km/h
united kingdom:
20 mph in some areas
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
france:
80 km/h
united kingdom:
60 mph
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
france:
80 km/h
united kingdom:
50 mph
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
france:
80 km/h
united kingdom:
50 mph
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
france:
130 km/h
united kingdom:
70 mph
Highways: Buses And Vans
france:
100 km/h
united kingdom:
60 mph
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
france:
90 km/h
united kingdom:
60 mph
Speed Units
france:
km/h
united kingdom:
mph
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
france:
Not common; fines are usually mailed after citation
united kingdom:
Not typically used; fines are usually mailed
Signals
| France | United kingdom | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in France | Prepare to go, not used in the USA |
| 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 | English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with red border | Triangular-shaped with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
france:
Not used in France
united kingdom:
Prepare to go, not used in the USA
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
france:
Unnecessary use discouraged especially at night; local ordinances may apply
united kingdom:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Traffic Signs: Language
france:
French; symbols are standard
united kingdom:
English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
france:
Triangular with red border
united kingdom:
Triangular-shaped with a red border
Turns
| France | United kingdom | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Not permitted in the UK |
| Left Turn: General | Permitted unless prohibited by signs | Left turns permitted; use caution |
| Left Turn: At Intersections | Yield to oncoming traffic when turning left | Priority must be given to pedestrians and oncoming traffic. |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed if not specifically prohibited by signs | Allowed except where prohibited by signage |
Right Turn On Red
france:
Not allowed
united kingdom:
Not permitted in the UK
Left Turn: General
france:
Permitted unless prohibited by signs
united kingdom:
Left turns permitted; use caution
Left Turn: At Intersections
france:
Yield to oncoming traffic when turning left
united kingdom:
Priority must be given to pedestrians and oncoming traffic.
U- Turns Allowed
france:
Allowed if not specifically prohibited by signs
united kingdom:
Allowed except where prohibited by signage
Documentation
| France | United kingdom | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits | Accepted, International Driving Permit recommended for long stays |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit often required alongside national license |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes, an MOT style test is required periodically | MOT test is required annually for vehicles older than 3 years |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Not displayed; records are electronic |
| 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
united kingdom:
Accepted, International Driving Permit recommended for long stays
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
france:
International Driving Permit recommended
united kingdom:
International Driving Permit often required alongside national license
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
france:
Yes, an MOT style test is required periodically
united kingdom:
MOT test is required annually for vehicles older than 3 years
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
france:
Displayed on windshield
united kingdom:
Not displayed; records are electronic
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
france:
Mandatory in vehicle
united kingdom:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
france:
Mandatory in vehicle
united kingdom:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| France | United kingdom | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 side and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
france:
Reserved mainly for use in emergencies
united kingdom:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
france:
Pull over and stop if necessary
united kingdom:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| France | United kingdom | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.02% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used regularly | Common; checkpoints used in some areas |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial | Substantial fines apply |
Limits: General Drivers
france:
0.05%
united kingdom:
0.08%
Limits: Underage Drivers
france:
0.00%
united kingdom:
0.02%
Enforcement: Random Checks
france:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
united kingdom:
Common; checkpoints used in some areas
Enforcement: Fines
france:
Can be substantial
united kingdom:
Substantial fines apply
Roundabouts
| France | United kingdom | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal when entering if turning right | Signal left if taking the first exit, no signal for straight |
| Lane Usage: Right | Use for first exit or straight | Use for first exit |
Signaling: Entering
france:
Signal when entering if turning right
united kingdom:
Signal left if taking the first exit, no signal for straight
Lane Usage: Right
france:
Use for first exit or straight
united kingdom:
Use for first exit
Emergency Services
| France | United kingdom | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 999 or 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 17 or through local police | 999 or 112 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or assistance service | Check with your insurance provider or RAC/AA |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
france:
112
united kingdom:
999 or 112
Contact: Traffic Police
france:
17 or through local police
united kingdom:
999 or 112
Contact: Roadside Assistance
france:
Check with your insurance provider or assistance service
united kingdom:
Check with your insurance provider or RAC/AA
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
france:
Mandatory
united kingdom:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
france:
Mandatory
united kingdom:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| France | United kingdom | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; typically €68 to €3750, license points | Varies; £100 and 3 penalty points |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time, and license confiscation | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | €135 | £100 fine |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | €135 | £200 and 6 penalty points |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | €135 | £100 fine and 3 penalty points |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines can be paid directly to police for minor offenses | Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 45 days to pay | Varies; typically 28 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
france:
Varies; typically €68 to €3750, license points
united kingdom:
Varies; £100 and 3 penalty points
Common Fines: Alcohol
france:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time, and license confiscation
united kingdom:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
france:
€135
united kingdom:
£100 fine
Common Fines: Phone Use
france:
€135
united kingdom:
£200 and 6 penalty points
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
france:
€135
united kingdom:
£100 fine and 3 penalty points
Payment: On The Spot
france:
Possible; fines can be paid directly to police for minor offenses
united kingdom:
Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail
Payment: Deadline
france:
Varies; typically 45 days to pay
united kingdom:
Varies; typically 28 days to pay