France has an excellent road and autoroute infrastructure - roads are well maintained and signed, toll roads can usually be avoided if preferred, and other than in larger cities, traffic and congestion is not a problem.

Driving in France - Some Basic Rules

Seat belts must be worn
Children under the age of 10 must travel in the back and wear a seat belt adapted for children
Mobile phone can only be used with a hands-free system
You must carry a valid driver's license (carte grise), car registration, and proof of insurance
You must carry a red warning triangle and a high-visibility vest to be used in case of a break-down
In cities and smaller communities, the driver coming from the right in an intersection has the right of way unless otherwise indicated - this applies also to smaller roads entering a more major road
You must stop for pedestrians unless you are less than 50 meters from a designated pedestrian crossing
In the event of an accident, call the police (Telephone number 17)

Roundabouts (traffic circles used at intersections instead of stoplights) are very common and it is important to know that cars that have already entered the roundabout have the right of way
In cities and smaller communities, the driver coming from the right in an intersection has the right of way unless otherwise indicated - this applies also to smaller roads entering a more major road
You must stop for pedestrians unless you are less than 50 meters from a designated pedestrian crossing
In the event of an accident, call the police (Telephone number 17)

Speed Limits:

Autoroutes (marked with an A and mostly tolled) - 130 Km/h, 110 Km/h on wet roads
Expressways - 110 Km/h
Regional highways - 90 Km/h
Towns and Villages - 50 Km/h

As of May 2011, warnings signs for speed cameras are no longer required.

Drinking and Driving

As in most countries, France does not tolerate drinking and driving, in fact legal blood alcohol limits and penalties are likely more strict than most places including the UK. The UK limit is 0.8 mg per ml and the limit in France is 0.5 mg per ml.

In practical terms, 0.5 translates into a not very large beer and you can be pulled over and subjected to a breathalyzer test at any time without warning or probable cause. Expect to be treated harshly if you are over the limit and are pulled over - a conviction in France will result in a hefty fine at the very least, your vehicle may be impounded, and could mean a jail sentence.

Don't ruin your holiday by taking chances on the road.

Convert miles per gallon to liters per 100 km. (or vice versa)