Driving on the French Riviera

The flexibility and convenience of car travel can make it worthwhile to rent a car on the French Riviera. Plus, there are some incredibly scenic drives where the splendour of the coastline can just take your breath away. On the down side, traffic can be a nightmare, especially along the coast. One reason traffic is so bad is because there are a lot of accidents. Cote d'Azur drivers are known for their agressive, sometimes demented driving. If you do rent a car, drive defensively and consider the following:

Road Rules

Drive on the right side of the road.

Seatbelts are compulsory for all passengers.

Children must be over ten years old to sit in the front.

Alcohol is limited to 0.5 g/l (one to two glasses of wine).

Priorité a Droite means that priority goes to the driver on the right no matter that a side street is entering a main thoroughfare.

Emergency

In case of accident, dial 17. All parties fill out a constat à l'amiable; these blue papers are provided with your car rental and must be kept in your car.

Foreign Drivers

An international driving license is not required to drive in France. A valid driving license from your home country is enough.

Speed Limits

Along the autoroutes the maximum speed ranges from 110 to 130km/hr. In built-up areas the limit is 50km/hr. The French government has recently implemented a crackdown on speed-driving with spot controls and stationary radars hidden everywhere. Here's a list of stationary radars in the Alpes-Maritimes. Spot controls are more frequent on weekends. Check the Friday editions of local newspapers to find out where they are.

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