HELP GUIDES

Income Tax in France

Healthcare in France

Inheritance Law and Wills in France

Visas and residency cards for France

Driver security

Dashcams: do French courts and insurance firms accept the images?

France’s strict privacy laws mean there are restrictions on the use of the technology

Woman tells of attempted kidnapping by Uber driver in Paris

The family of the 24-year-old say she escaped by jumping from the moving car

Will contrôles techniques on motorbikes be obligatory from October 1?

France has changed its mind multiple times on whether two-wheelers and licence-free cars need a check. We give a summary

news

MAP: French departments where roads are back to 90km/h speed limits

Puy-de-Dôme became the latest department to raise the limit from 80km/h yesterday

103 fines for drivers filming lorry crash in south-east France

Drivers created a 30-kilometre-long tailback when they slowed to capture the scene

Renault 'faulty engine victims' set Sunday deadline for payout deal

Lawyer and class action group say they will start court action if the manufacturer does not act now

More hidden speed limit cars arrive on French roads: How do they work?

The vehicles – which have just started work in the Dordogne – detect speeding drivers while on the roads themselves and are designed to blend in with normal traffic

‘I feared for my life as engine failed at speed on French motorway’

Hundreds of drivers join group suing Renault over faulty engines. One driver who started a website for people to share their experiences claims Renault knew about the fault in 2015, a claim Renault denies

Speed limit set to lower to 30km/h in most of Paris from August 30

The change is intended to improve road safety and reduce noise but one of France’s main drivers’ associations says the move as ‘nonsensical, incomprehensible and dangerous’

Nantes latest city in France to set 30 kph limit in centre

The city of Nantes in western France has become the latest city in France to impose a 30 kph speed limit almost everywhere, after Grenoble and Lille, in an aim to reduce noise and pollution, and improve safety.

Drivers in France still drive dangerously – but a bit better

Drivers on French roads continue to behave dangerously but there is some improvement, a survey from Vinci Autoroutes Foundation published today shows.

Vast illegal ride-sharing network dismantled in France

Five men have been arrested in western Paris on suspicion of running a vast ride-sharing network that exploited illegal workers as drivers.

French drivers welcome new ‘peanut-shaped roundabout’

A new “peanut-shaped roundabout” in north-west France is proving popular among motorists, who say it is safer and easier to use than a normal roundabout or crossroads.

Uninsured vehicles now tracked by cameras in France

Road vehicles without insurance in France will now be tracked by speed cameras, with drivers risking fines of up to €7,500 as a result.

‘Speed cameras of future’ to be installed in France

Hundreds of new generation “speed cameras of the future” are to be installed in France this year, and have been described as stronger and smarter than existing models.

French motorway company makes U-turn on péage bills

French motorway company Vinci Autoroutes will no longer demand that drivers pay back the “free” péage passages they received during gilets jaunes protests, after a government backlash.

French drivers must pay for gilets jaunes ‘free péage’

French motorway company Vinci Autoroutes is to send a bill to every driver that passed through a motorway péage that was supposedly “free” during the gilets jaunes protests.

Gilets Jaunes: Protests continue despite PM comments

Demonstrations against rising fuel prices are to go ahead in France tomorrow (Saturday November 17), with some petrol stations closing in solidarity, despite the conciliatory measures announced by the Prime Minister this week.

More snow for France as thousands remain without power

Météo France has issued more ice and snow alerts across France, as thousands of homes in the Haute-Loire and Corsica are already without power after heavy snow and storm Adrian hit yesterday.

High-tech innovations abound at Paris Motor Show 2018

New cars and innovations are being exhibited at this year’s Paris Motor Show, including self-driving vehicles, voice controls, and the first exhibition in France for French Renault offshoot brand, Alpine.

Snooze off motorway blues with robot driver

Dreary hours of motorway driving could be a thing of the past once autonomous vehicles start to be widely used but a group of friends are developing a solution for before that – with a robot car transporter.

New speed limit cut just doesn’t add up

I have just read the July edition of Connexion , where there is comment about the reduction of the speed limit on ordinary roads outside town from 90kph to 80kph.

Uber car drives Britons into Riviera harbour

Two British tourists have described the moment their Uber car plunged off a jetty into the harbour in Cannes – and later discovered they were still charged €20 for the trip.

Heavy May snowfall surprises south Massif Central

Snow has fallen in the Ardèche, Cantal, Haute-Loire and Lozère, with Météo France calling it “heavy and settled, notable and late” in the season.

Funny gendarme post warns of ‘disappearing indicators’

Gendarmerie in the Pyrénées-Orientales have warned of the “worrying disappearance” of car indicators and have called for witnesses, in a novel approach to getting drivers to remember to indicate.

Driver caught doing 202kph was ‘just testing his car’

A driver who was caught “testing” his car’s speed on a departmental road in the Vendée is risking a fine of up to €1,500 after police stopped him at 202kph.

Phone use illegal in cars even when vehicle is stopped

The Court of Appeal has ruled that it is illegal to speak on or use your smartphone in your hand while in your car, even if you are stopped, pulled over, and with your hazard lights on.

Government unveils 18 new road safety measures

Bid to clamp down on speed, alcohol and phone use - in a bid to “act on drivers’ behaviour”.

Drivers warned on safety as 90% plan to drink on NYE

Almost 90% of French people expect to drink alcohol this New Year’s Eve (NYE), but only a fraction of them have plans in place to avoid a drink-driving accident, according to a new study.

Record traffic jams on French roads ahead of Christmas

Record traffic jams have been spotted across France in recent days as travellers gear up for Christmas.

Millas train-bus crash ‘barrier’ inquiry still ongoing

Investigations are still underway to establish the details of the train-bus crash in Millas, in which six people died.

French departmental speed limit could drop to 80 km/h

The speed limit on departmental roads in France could be reduced from 90 km/h to 80 km/h, according to reports today.

Know when to fit snow chains

Law obliges drivers to fit chains on signed roads

Record ban for young driver

Some drivers are proud that they have gone their whole lives without a driving offence… but others fall foul very quickly

Drivers and passengers warned over no-seat belt fines

The French Road Safety Agency ( la Sécurité routière ) has warned road users that adult passengers are liable for their own fines, should they travel without seat belts.

Speeding Toulouse driver 'was desperate for toilet'

A Toulouse man who was caught driving at over 100km/h in a 50km/h zone has defended his speeding by saying he “was desperate for the toilet”.

Wooden Citroën 2CV drives on road for first time

A Citroën 2CV constructed nearly entirely from wood has been driven on a real road for the first time.

Marseille jokes at “best French city to drive in” win

Marseille residents have reacted with disbelief and humour after a new study named their city as the “best in France to drive in”.

Car stopped on A7 for luggage 400kg over legal limit

A holidaymaker travelling to the south of France has been stopped by police for carrying 400kg worth of excess baggage strapped to his car.

Drivers can now find cheapest petrol on their phone

Drivers in France can now use their smartphone to find the cheapest petrol in the area, thanks to the a new French government mobile site.

Calais Brits could drive on left

Off-the-cuff remark starts mairie thinking about a novel ‘welcome to France’

Tougher penalties for drivers using phones

Drivers could face tougher penalties for using phones as a study found 7% of them used phones while driving and 42% had them in their hands and were not using hands-free.