Drivers warned about French road rules

Friday, 12 Jul, 2019 0

UK motorists heading to France this summer are being urged to read up on driving rules to avoid breaking the law.

Research by RAC Europe suggests the majority of British drivers are in the dark about a number of French driving rules and risk being fined.

Research found that:

– 63% of motorbike riders or car drivers are not aware tailgating is illegal in France

– 49% do not know the only legal way of using a handheld mobile phone in the country is to park up in a designated parking place and switch the engine off

– only 14% are currently aware of the new ‘Mesta Fusion’ speed cameras being rolled out across France this year.

RAC Europe spokesman Rod Dennis said: "With thousands of UK drivers taking their own cars – and motorbikes – to France in the coming weeks, it can be easy to forget that certain driving conventions can be quite different to those this side of the Channel.

"Breaking down on a French motorway, for instance, results in a driver having to pay a mandatory fee to have their vehicle recovered, before a breakdown assistance company can come to help – a very different experience to here in the UK. So it’s important UK drivers check their breakdown policy covers them before they leave home.

"Luckily, the vast majority of drivers say they have European breakdown cover in place before they leave – which is just as well, as a good policy is vital in helping drivers out of a sticky situation should they be unlucky enough to suffer a breakdown away from home."

Bev

Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.

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