| The French motorway network is limited to 130 km/h for most of the country. The advantage of freeways is that you can cover long distances in a short time. In 95% of cases, freeways have to be paid for. Freeways offer 3 lanes of traffic, but as on freeways, we drive on the right. The left-hand lane is for overtaking. |
| Like all forms of traffic, freeway lanes have their own specific traffic rules.
Here are just a few examples: – It is forbidden to make maneuvers along the French motorway network, as well as to make U-turns or move off. Stopping and parking are also forbidden outside the designated parking areas. – Also, freeway lanes can be deceptive, so it’s strictly forbidden to drive the wrong way on the freeway. – The speed limit on the freeway is 130 km/h, and 110 km/h for novice drivers (young drivers). In addition, when driving in rain or dense fog, all vehicles must travel at a maximum speed of 110 km/h. To avoid accidents, motorway users must drive at least 80 km/h. |
| The French motorway network represents an extremely complex set of lanes. Here are the different possibilities you may encounter:
– Freeway entrances and insertion lanes to enable motorists to join freeway lanes. – Freeway junctions and bifurcations – Freeway interchanges – Freeway exits: Freeway exits are specially designed lanes enabling motorists to leave the motorway network. |
| Freeway sections have their own specific road signs, enabling drivers to recognize that they are indeed driving along a freeway.
The signage elements directly associated with freeways are rectangular signs with a blue background. It’s important to respect the rules of road safety: – Respect safety distances – Take breaks every 2 hours – Check dashboard warning lights – Use the hard shoulder and freeway refuges (for emergencies only), and put vehicle passengers on the other side of the barriers with yellow vests and triangles. – Contact the emergency services using the devices provided: use the orange SOS call points along the freeways. |
| A freeway toll may be an open system, which means that you will only pass through a toll barrier on your way in or out. In an open system, you only pass through one toll plaza, where you pay a flat-rate toll.
The closed toll system is the one most commonly found on freeways. With this type of toll, you pay a toll on entering and leaving the freeway. The amount is proportional to the distance travelled along a section of freeway.
There are two ways to pay: – Either with the magnetic ticket: Reading the ticket will tell you the exact amount of the toll. You can then pay by credit card or cash. Just follow the green arrows. – Or by electronic toll collection: with an electronic toll collection badge, you don’t need to stop to pick up a ticket and pay for your journey. Payment is made automatically as you pass through the toll plaza. To do this, you need to subscribe to the service and then place an electronic toll tag on the front windscreen. |
To sum up, on freeways as well as on national and departmental roads, a prudent driver must keep to the right-hand lane, except when overtaking, and must adapt his or her speed to that of the traffic flow, respecting the signs and rules laid down in the Highway Code.
