The French drive on the right side of the road.
"Priorité à Droite": In France, the rules of the road require you to yield to traffic coming from the right (priorité à droite), unless otherwise marked by road signs. When arriving at a stop sign, you must yield to traffic coming from both the left and the right, unless each corner of the intersection is marked with a stop sign; in this case, priority is given to the order in which vehicles arrive at the stop sign.
Traffic Circles - At most traffic circles, the priority is to the left. This means that a vehicle exiting the circle has priority over a vehicle entering the circle. Most entrances to a traffic circle are marked with a stop sign or a sign indicating "vous n'avez pas la priorité" that warns you that vehicles coming from your left have priority. A notable exception to this is the Place de l'Étoile, one of Parisí most famous landmarks. Here, priority is to the right. However police is there most of the time to regulate traffic.
Seat belts and other safety devices - Seatbelts are compulsory for all passengers, as is safety seating for babies and children. Babies younger than nine months should be in a car cot; for children nine months to four years, a car seat is required. For older children who are yet too small to be adequately protected by a seatbelt, a special seat booster is mandatory.
Driver's licence - To drive in France, you must hold a valid licence. It can be used for a limited period of time, after which you will need an International Driving Permit (IDP). This permit is a translation of your driverís license into nine languages. Although you are required to have the IDP to drive in France, most car rental agencies do not require the permit in order to lease cars to tourists. The IDP must be obtained in your home country, through the American Automobile Association in the U.S. or through the Canadian Automobile Association in Canada. It is a handy document if you have an accident or mechanical problems, as the police may not be able to read an English driverís license.
For more information on the obtaining of an IDP, check with your local AAA or CAA.
If you rent, lease or borrow a car, you will need an International Insurance Certificate or Green Card (carte verte) to prove that you have liability insurance. The Green Card can be obtained through the car rental agency, the lease dealer or through some travel agents. Most credit cards cover standard insurance. If your own auto insurance applies abroad, you will still need the Green Card to prove this to French officials. If you are using your own insurance and you have a collision while in France, the accident will appear on your domestic record. You may be required to purchase theft insurance if your destination with the rented or leased automobile is believed to have high risk of auto theft.
In France, the speed limits are as follows:
The legal limit for alcohol in the bloodstream for drivers is 0.7%. If you are convicted of driving while over the legal limit, you can face a prison sentence of between one month and one year and/or a fine of between 8,000 - 15,000 francs.
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