France has the following speed limits:

  Dry Weather –

      Toll Motorway  130kmh/ 80mph

      Dual Carriageway  110kmh/ 68mph

      Other Roads  90kmh/ 56mph

      Built-up Areas  50kmh/ 31mph

  Wet Weather –

       Toll Motorway  110kmh/ 68mph

       Dual Carriageway  100kmh/ 62mph

       Other Roads  80kmh/ 50mph

       Built-up Areas  50kmh/ 31mph

In heavy fog or snowy/icy conditions - 50 km/h (30 mph)

In normal conditions, there is a minimum speed of 80 km/h (50 mph) in the lane most left.

On a national road the limit is 90 km/h whilst in urban areas there is a 50 km/h restriction.

There is also a very good radio station which broadcasts information 24/7 on FM 107.7 on all motorways in France, providing up-to-date details of traffic conditions, alerts and deviations.

A good site for French speed and traffic light cameras can be found here, RadarsAuto.com but this is in French. If you want one in English then this is very similar, Speed Cameras In France. But be aware that the French Government either have removed, or are in the process of removing all signs warning you of speed cameras.

Items you should carry when driving in France

1. Warning triangle: if your vehicle breaks down or is involved in an accident, you must give warning to approaching traffic by placing a warning triangel 50 - 150 metres behind your vehicle. The use of hazard warning lights alone is not enough.

2. A complete set of light bulbs: all lamps, including lenses and reflectors must be in working order, even during daylight hours. Failure to be in a position to replace an exterior bulb could result in temporary cessation of your journey and/or an on-the-spot fine.

3. Headlamp beam adaptors: failure to adapt your headlamps at any time, day or night, will render your vehicle unfit for use on the road and could invalidate your motor insurance.

4. GB sticker (or your own country’s sticker): required by law to indicate country of registration.

5. First Aid kit and fire extinguisher: The European Good Samaritan Law requires every driver to stop and provide assistance when an accident is encountered, providing it is safe to do so. This may require a first aid kit and fire extinguisher and it is advisable to have these items when driving in France.

6. Reflective vest: Anyone providing roadside assistance or leaving a stranded vehicle should always wear a reflective vest for their own safety. This is now a legal requirement in a number of European countries. (EU ref: RD1428/2003 and Art.162 Cod4 Bis4 Ter - CDS 2003.)

7. Breathalyser Kit.

8. Driving Licence, Insurance Documents, MOT Certificate. Carrying photocopies of each is also a good idea.

Radar Detectors :-

 In France it is illegal to be in possession of a radar detector, even if it is not fitted or being used and the French police can issue heavy on-the-spot fines, and confiscate equipment if found. Best advice is to remove detector and fittings from the vehicle before driving in France.

 New Laws:- (July 2015)

 The drink drive limit for novice drivers (less than three years driving experience) has been reduced to 0.02%, the same level as that applied to bus/coach drivers.

Drivers are prohibited from using headphones and headsets (any device attached to the ear) when driving. This regulation applies to all drivers and riders and covers devices used for phone calls as well as for listening to music/radio etc. Bluetooth or integrated systems in a motorcycle helmet are still permitted.

A Low Emission Zone has been introduced in Paris, initially affecting only older (Euro 1) trucks and buses. Restrictions will be extended to all older vehicles from 1 July 2016 and tightened progressively between 2017 and 2020.

There have been reports of a new law specifically prohibiting drivers from eating or applying make-up at the wheel. In fact this is not new, and there is no specific law to this effect. Eating/drinking etc. at the wheel is already covered under the more general French equivalent of our 'Driving without due care and attention'.

From January 2016 it will be compulsory for all motorcyclists (two or three wheels) to carry reflective jackets and wear them in the event of an emergency/breakdown.

Signal.

Toll Section(s).

Total Length.

AUTOROUTES

(possibly not all cameras and péages have been listed here.)

A-1

E15

E17

E19

Bd Périphérique (Paris Nord) <-> Arras <-> A25 (Lille)

“Autoroute du Nord”

214km / 133miles

A-2

E19

A1 (Péronne) <-> Belgique <-> (Bruxelles)

Combles to Cambrai is a toll

road. The rest is TOLL-FREE.

1,242km / 772miles

(116km in France)

A3

E15

Bd Périphérique (Paris Est) <-> A1 (Le Blanc Mesnil)

15km / 9miles

A4

E25

E50

E54

Bd Périphérique (Paris Sud-Est) <-> Reims <-> Metz <-> Strasbourg

“Autoroute de l'Est”

482km / 300miles

A5

E17

E54

E511

Paris (N104) <-> Troyes <-> A31 (Langres)

Entire length is a toll road.

238km / 148miles

A6

E05

E15

E50

E60

Bd Périphérique (Paris Sud) <-> Auxerre <-> Chalon-sur-Saône <-> Lyon

“Autoroute du Sud and Autoroute du Soleil”

238km / 148miles

A6a

Paris: Boulevard Péripherique West - A6

A6b

Paris: Boulevard Péripherique East - A6

A7

E15

E80

E714

Lyon <-> Valence <-> Marseille

“Autoroute du Soleil”

302km / 188miles

A8

E74

E80

A7 (Salon-de-P.) <-> Aix-en-P. <-> Cannes <-> Nice <-> Italie <-> (Genova)

“La Provençale”

224km / 139miles

A9

E15

E80

A7 (Orange) <-> Nîmes <-> Montpellier <-> Perpignan <-> Espagne, vers Barcelone par AP-7

“La Languedocienne ou la Catalane”

280km / 173miles

A10

E5

Rungis <-> Orly <–> Bordeaux

“L'Aquitaine”

(The road has toll-free sections between J20 and J22 in Tours, North of the N104 at Paris and South of the N10 (J39) near Bordeaux.)

549km / 340miles

A11

A10 (St Arnoult) <-> Le Mans <-> N23 (Angers) <-> A844 (Nantes)

“L'Océane :”

323km / 200miles

A12

A13 (Versailles) <-> N10 (St Quentin-en-Yvelines)

Entire length is TOLL-FREE.

8.5km / 5.3miles

A13

E46

E5

Bd Périphérique (Paris Ouest) <-> Rouen <-> Caen

“Autoroute de Normandie”

225km / 140miles

A14

A13 (Orgeval) <-> La Défense

15.6km / 9.7miles

A15

Paris (A86) <-> N2014 (Pontoise)

Entire length is TOLL-FREE.

39km / 24miles

A16

N1/N184 (Paris) <-> Beauvais <-> Amiens <-> Boulogne <-> Calais <-> Dunkerque <-> Belgique <-> (Brugge)

“L'Européenne”

(From Boulogne to the Belgian border it is managed by the Direction Départementale de l'Équipement (DDE), which does not impose a toll.)

319km / 198miles

A19

A5 (Sens) <-> A6 (Courtenay)

Entire length is a toll road.

30km / 18.6miles

A20

E9

A71 (Vierzon) <-> Châteauroux <-> Limoges <-> Brive-la-Gaillarde <-> Cahors <-> Montauban <-> A62

“L'Occitane”

428km / 265miles

A21

N43 (Douai) <-> A26 (Bully)

 “Rocade Minière”

Entire length is TOLL-FREE.

30km / 18.6miles

A22

Lille <-> Belgique <-> (Gent)

Entire length is TOLL-FREE.

23km / 14.5miles

A23

A27 (Lille) <-> A2 (Valenciennes)

Entire length is TOLL-FREE.

46km / 28miles

A24

Amiens <-> Lille <-> Belgium (proposed)

A25

A1 (Lille) <-> N225 (Dunkerque)

Entire length is TOLL-FREE.

77km / 46miles

A26

E15

E17

A5 (Troyes) <-> Châlons en Champagne <-> Reims<-> Arras <-> A16 (Calais)

“Autoroute des Anglais”

394km / 245miles

A27

A1(Lille) <-> Belgique <-> (Charleroi, Bruxelles)

Entire length is TOLL-FREE.

15km / 10miles

A28

A10 (Tours) <-> Le Mans <-> Alençon <-> Rouen <-> A16 Abbeville

“Autoroute des Estuaires”

187km / 116miles

A29

E44

A13 (Beuzeville) <-> D929 (Pont de Normandie, Le Havre) <-> Yvetot <-> A28 (St Saëns) et A16 (Amiens) <-> A1 <-> A26 (St Quentin)

173km / 107miles

A30

A31 (Uckange) <-> N52 (Fontoy)

“Autoroute de la Vallée de la Fensch”

Entire length is TOLL-FREE.

31km / 19miles

A31

E17

E21

E23

E25

A6 (Beaune) <-> Dijon <-> Nancy <-> Metz <-> Luxembourg

349km / 216miles

A32

Freyming <-> Merlebach <-> Germany

A33

A31 (Nancy) <-> N4 (Dombasle)

Entire length is TOLL-FREE.

27km / 16.7miles

A34

E44

E46

Reims <-> Charleville <-> Mézières <-> Belgium

Entire length is TOLL-FREE.

62km / 38miles

A35

Allemagne <-> (Karlsruhe) <-> Strasbourg <-> Sélestat <-> Colmar <-> Mulhouse <-> Suisse <-> (Basel)

“Voie Rapide du Piémont des Vosges”

Entire length is TOLL-FREE.

166km / 103miles

A36

A31 (Beaune) <-> Besançon <-> Belfort <-> Mulhouse <-> Allemagne <-> (Freiburg)

“La Comtoise”

237km / 147miles

A37

Changed to A31/A311

A38

A6 (Pouilly-en-A.) <-> Dijon

38km / 23.5miles

A39

Dijon <-> Dole <-> Lons-le-Saunier <-> A40 (Bourg-en-Bresse)

“Autoroute Verte”

142km / 88miles

A40

E62

A6 (Mâcon) <-> Genève <-> N205 (Chamonix)

“Autoroute Blanche ou Autoroute des Titans”

(Autoroute A40 is named Autoroute des Titans ("Highway of the Titans") for the dramatic engineering construction through the mountainous sections between Bourg-en-Bresse and Bellegarde-sur-Valserine, and as Autoroute Blanche ("the White Highway") through the snow laden Alps between Bellegarde-sur-Valserine and Annemasse on the Swiss border.)

208km / 129miles

A41

A40 (Scientrier) <-> Annecy <-> Chambéry <-> Grenoble

“L'Alpine”

126km / 78miles

A42

E611

Lyon <-> A40 (Pont-d'Ain)

70km / 43.4miles

A43

E70

E711

Lyon <-> Chambéry <-> St Jean de Maurienne <-> Tunnel du Fréjus

“Autoroute de la Maurienne”

(Road enters tunnel re-emerging as the Autostrada A32 in Italy towards Turin.)

356km / 221miles

A44

(project) bypassing Lyon to the West

A45

Lyon <-> Saint-Étienne

The A45 is a proposed motorway in central France scheduled to open in 2015 and it will be a toll road.

A46

E15

A6(Anse) <-> A7/A47 (Chasse-sur-Rhône)

65km / 40.3miles

A47

E70

A7/A46 (Givors) <-> N88 (St Chamond)

Entire length is TOLL-FREE.

45km / 27.9miles

A48

Lyon <-> Grenoble

97km / 60.1miles

A49

Valence (par N532) <-> Romans-sur-Isère <-> Grenoble (par A48)

98km / 60.4miles

A50

Marseille <–> Toulon

65km / 40.3miles

A51

Marseille <-> Aix-en-Provence <-> Sisteron <-> N85 (Gap) et Col du Fau (N75) <-> Grenoble

“Autoroute du Trièves” (A51 Nord)

“Autoroute du Val de Durance” (A51 Sud)

196km / 121miles

A52

A8 (Aix-en-Provence) <-> A50 (Aubagne)

37km / 22miles

A54

Nîmes (A9) <-> Arles (RN113) <-> Saint-Martin-de-Crau (RN113) <-> Salon de Provence (A7)

“Autoroute de Camargue”

80km / 49.6miles

A55

N568 (Martigues) <-> Marseille

“Autoroute du littoral”

Entire length is TOLL-FREE.

35km / 21.7miles

A57

Toulon <-> A8 (Le Luc)

(The road is a toll motorway North of Toulon.)

55km / 34.1miles

A61

E9

E72

E80

A62/A68 Toulouse <-> A9 (Narbonne)

“Autoroute des Deux-Mers”

150km / 93miles

A62

E72

A630 Bordeaux <-> Agen <-> A61/A68 Toulouse

“Autoroute des Deux-Mers”

234km / 145miles

A63

E05

E70

E80

A630 (Bordeaux) <-> N10 (Belin-Beliet) et N10 (St Geours de M.) <-> Bayonne <-> Espagne <-> (S.Sebastian)

“Autoroute de la Côte Basque”

121km / 75miles

A64

E80

A63/D1 (Bayonne) <-> Pau <-> Tarbes <-> A620 (Toulouse)

“La Pyrénéenne”

291km / 180.4miles

A65

E07

Bordeaux <-> Pau

One toll for the whole length.

150km / 93miles

A66

A61 <-> N20 (Pamiers)

38km / 23.5miles

A68

A62/A61 (Toulouse) <-> N88 (Albi)

“La Tarnaise”

62km / 38.4miles

A71

A10 (Orléans) <-> Bourges <-> Montluçon <-> A720/A75 (Clermont-Ferrand)

“L'Arverne”

292km / 181miles

A72

E70

N88 (St Etienne) <-> A710/A720 (Clermont-Ferrand)

(Over 35 km (22 miles) of the motorway is limited to 110 km/h

(70 mph) as sections are considered too dangerous for the standard 130 km/h (80 mph) speed limit.)

135km / 84miles

A75

E11

A71/A720 (Clermont-Ferrand) <-> Millau <-> A9 (Béziers)

“La Méridienne”

Entire length is TOLL-FREE, except for the Millau Viaduct, J45-46.

340km / 210miles

A77

A6 (Nemours) <-> Montargis <-> Cosne <-> N7 (Nevers)

“Autoroute de l'Arbre”

162km / 100.4miles

A79

Lyon <-> Romans-sur-Isère <-> Valence <-> Aubenas <-> Ales <-> Narbonne

A81

A11 (Le Mans) <-> Laval <-> N157 (Loiron)

93km / 57.6miles

A82

Brest <-> Nantes (Proposed)

(Planned upgrade of N165)

A83

Nantes <-> N148 (Niort)

“Autoroute des Estuaires”

152.5km / 94.55miles

A84

Caen <-> N175 (Jurques) <-> Avranches <-> Fougères <-> N12 (St Aubin) <-> Rennes

“Autoroute des Estuaires”

Entire length is TOLL-FREE.

170km / 105miles

A85

A11 (Angers) <-> Saumur <-> Tours <-> A71 (Vierzon)

270km / 167.5miles

A86

The second ring road around Paris - or Paris super-périphérique.

Rocade Francilienne, N286 (Versailles) <-> N118/N286, N286 (Antony) <-> A6b/N186, N286 (Thiais) <-> A4 [04], A4 [05] <-> A3 (Rosny-sous-Bois) et A3 (Bondy) <-> Stade de France [09] <-> A15/N315 <-> A14 (Nanterre)

“Périphérique de l'Île de France”

(A part of the A86 makes it the longest urban motorway tunnel, 10 km of continuous tunnel.)

North, East and South only.

69km / 43miles

A87

Angers <-> Cholet <-> Les Herbiers <-> La Roche-s-Yon

142km / 88miles

A88

Caen <-> Falaise <-> Sées

(Replaces N88)

A89

Lyon <–> Arveyres

“La Transeuropéenne”

434km / 269miles

A103

Romainville (A3) <-> Rosny-sous-Bois

2km / 1mile

A104

Rocade Francilienne A1/D170 Roissy <-> A4 Marne la Vallée

“La Francilienne”

76km / 47miles

A105

Brie-Comte-Robert (N104) <-> Melun (N105)

(Former A105 changed to A140)

A106

A6 (Chevilly-Largue) <-> Aéroport de Paris-Orly

6km/ 4miles

A110

Ablis <-> Tours (proposed)

A115

A15 (Sannois) <-> Méry-sur-Oise

9km / 5miles

A126

A10 (Longjumeau) <-> A6

2km / 1mile

A131

A13 (Pont-Audemer) <-> Pont de Tancarville <-> Le Havre

Entire length is TOLL-FREE except for the Pont de Tancarville Bridge at Bourneville.

44km / 27miles

A132

A13 / Pont-L'Évêque <-> Canapville

Entire length is TOLL-FREE.

10km / 6.2miles

A139

A13 (Rouen) <-> N138 (Rouen)

3km / 2miles

A140

A4 <-> Meaux

A150

Rouen <-> A151 <-> Yvetot (A29)

18km / 11miles

A151

A15 (Rouen) <-> N27 (Rouen)

15km / 9miles

A154

N154 (Louviers) <-> A13

7km / 4.34miles

A186

A3 <-> Rosny-sous-Bois

2km / 1mile

A199

N370 (Noisy-le-G.) <-> Marne-la-Vallée

4km / 2.5miles

A203

N43 (Charleville- Mézières) <-> N43 (Sedan)

13km / 8miles

A211

A21 (Lens) <-> N17 (Lens)

3km / 2miles

A216

Calais Terminus (Ferry) <-> A16/A26

A260

Boulogne-sur-Mer <-> A26

A283

Caen <-> Sées

(planned)

A311

A31 (Dijon) <-> Dijon

5km / 3.1miles

A313

A31 <-> Pont-à-Mousson

A314

A4 (Metz) <-> Metz

3km / 2miles

A315

A4 (Metz) <-> Metz

3km / 2miles

A320

E50

A4 (Forbach) <-> Allemagne <-> (Saarbrücken)

16km / 10miles

A330

Nancy <-> N57 (Flavigny-s-M)

10km / 6.5miles

A340

Brumath <-> A4 <-> Haguenau

A350

A35 <-> Strasbourg

A351

Strasbourg (A35) <-> Wolfisheim

A352

N420 (Molsheim) <-> Strasbourg

10km / 6.5miles

A391

Bersaillin (A39) <-> Poligny (N83)

4.5km / 2.79miles

A401

A40 (St-Julien-en-Genevois) <-> A1 (Suisse) <-> Genève/Lausanne

1km / 0.6miles

A404

Saint-Martin-du-Frêne <-> Oyonnax <-> Arbent

21km / 13miles

A406

Mâcon

Just 1 Peage at the Saint Andre de Bage end.

10km / 6.2miles

A410

A40 <-> La Roche-sur-Foron (A41)

A411

A40 (Annemasse) <-> Genève-Vallard

2km / 1mile

A430

Chamousset <-> Gilly-sur-Isère

15km / 9.3miles

A432

Saint-Laurent-de-Mure <-> Montluel

33km / 20.4miles

A450

A7 (Pierre-Bénite) <-> St-Genis-Laval <-> N86 (Brignais - les-Sept-Chemins)

8km / 5miles

A480

N75 (Le Pont-de-Claix) <-> A48 (Grenoble)

9km / 5.5miles

A490

Ring Valence south

A500

La Turbie (A8) <–> Monaco

“Bretelle de Monaco”

2km / 1.24miles

A501

A50 (Aubagne) <-> A52 (Aubagne)

5km / 3miles

A502

A50 (Aubagne) <-> N8 (Aubagne)

2km / 1mile

A507

Ring Marseille east

A508

Tunnel (access to Monaco)

A515

A51 <-> Bouc-Bel Air

A516

A51 <-> Aix-en-Provence

A517

Septèmes-les-Vallons: A7 <-> A51

A520

A52 (Auriol) <-> N560 (Auriol)

3km / 1.86miles

A557

Marseille: A55 <-> A7

A570

La Garde (A57) <-> Hyères

A585

A51 <-> Digne-les-Bains

A620

E80

Rocade Toulousaine (Ouest) A62 <-> A621 <-> A624 <-> A64 <-> A61

19km / 13miles

A621

A620 (Toulouse) <-> D902 (Blagnac)

2km / 1mile

A623

Toulouse: A62/A620 <-> N113

A624

A620 (Toulouse) <-> N124 (Colomiers)

7km / 4miles

A630

E5

E70

Rocade Bordolaise (Nord-Ouest-Sud) A10/N230 <-> A63 <-> A62 <-> A631/N230

(It is the périphérique for Bordeaux and forms part of the European routes E5 E70.)

Entire length is TOLL-FREE.

35km / 21.7miles

A631

A630 <-> Bordeaux-centre

2km / 1mile

A641

A64 <–> Peyrehorade

“Bretelle de Peyrehorade”

6km / 3.72miles

A645

Montréjeau (A64) <–> Chaum

“Bretelle du Val-d'Aran”

6km / 3.72miles

A660

A63 <-> N250 (Facture)

9km / 5.5miles

A680

A68 <-> D112 (Verfeil)

“Bretelle de Verfeil”

(Single carriageway)

8km / 5miles

A701

A10 <-> N20 (Orléans-Nord)

3km / 2miles

A710

A72 <-> Clermont-Ferrand Nord

6km / 4miles

A711

A72 <-> A71/A75 (Clermont-Ferrand)

11km / 6.5miles

A712

A711 <-> Pont-du-Château

A714

A71 <–> Montluçon

“Bretelle de Montluçon”

A719

A71 <-> N209 (Gannat)

9km / 5.58miles

A750

Saint-André de Sangonis (A75) <-> Montpellier

A801

Nantes <–> A83

(Downgraded to N801)

A810

La Rochelle <-> A10

A811

A11 (Nantes) <-> Nantes-centre

10km / 6miles

A814

Ring Caen

A831

Rochefort <-> La Rochelle <-> Fontenay-le-Comte

A837

N137 (Rochefort) <-> A10 (Saintes)

“Autoroute des Oiseaux”

32km / 20miles

A844

A11 (Nantes) <-> N844/N165 (Nantes)

“Périphérique Nord de Nantes”

5km / 3miles

A870

Nantes <-> Cholet <-> Poitiers

Their use is free except when crossing certain structures subjected to toll. They are open to all vehicles except on certain sections having the status of motorway (autoroute).

Number.

Runs Through.

Number.

Runs Through.

N1

339km

Paris - Beauvais - Amiens - Abbeville - Boulogne-sur-Mer - Calais - Dunkerque - Belgium (N39)

N13

331km

Paris - Saint-Germain-en-Laye - Orgeval - Mantes-la-Jolie - Évreux - Lisieux - Caen – Cherbourg

N2

224km

Paris - Soissons - Laon - Maubeuge - Belgium (N6)