Don't Drink and Drive!
Key facts
Any amount of alcohol affects your ability to drive safely as your reaction times are impaired and you're unable to judge speed and distances accurately. The only safe option is not to drink if you plan to drive. And never offer a drink to someone who is driving.
 
   
 
0,5 g max in France:
France has strict drink driving laws, blood alcohol levels being stricter than in the UK (0.5 mg/ml) . Rather than present you with meaningless figures relating to blood/breath alcohol levels, our advice is if you're driving, don't drink.
 
Blood alcohol concentration (BAC):
Your BAC is a measure of the amount of alcohol you have in your blood. The measurement is the number of grams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood.
For example, a BAC of 0.05 means 0.05 grams or 50 milligrams of alcohol in every 100 millilitres of blood.
 
Any amount of alcohol increases risk:
As a driver's BAC rises, so does the risk of being involved in a crash.
0.05 = double the risk
0.08 = 7 times the risk
0.15 = 25 times the risk
Keep your BAC under .05
To help you avoid going over the limit try the following:
• start with a soft drink or water
• drink light alcoholic drinks
• only have one type of drink
• alternate between alcohol and non-alcoholic drinks
• avoid drinking in ‘shouts’
• don’t let people top up your glass
 
How to avoid drink and drug driving
- Plan ahead and arrange alternative transport.
- Share a taxi with friends.
- Catch public transport.
- Stay overnight at a friend's place.
- Ride with a driver who hasn't been drinking or taking drugs.
- Arrange for a friend or relative to give you a lift.
 
 
In France, make sure you drive alive, drive on the right!
• Be especially careful when setting off from service stations or restaurants on the left side of the road.
• Take care when overtaking - allow more space between you and the car in front so you can see further down the road ahead.
• France has strict drink driving laws, blood alcohol levels being stricter than in the UK (0.5 mg/ml).
Rather than present you with meaningless figures relating to blood/breath alcohol levels, our advice is if you're driving, don't drink.
• Seat belts front and rear are obligatory everywhere.
• Speed limits, shown below, are implemented rigorously. Radar traps are frequent. In France, anyone caught travelling at more than 25km/h above the speed limit can have their licence confiscated on the spot.
• Remember - Speeding and other traffic offences are subject to on-the-spot fines.
• Be aware that urban speed limits begin at the town or city sign (not always where the first 50km/h sign is situated), usually denoted by a white name panel with a red border, and the limit ends where the name panel has a diagonal black bar through it.
A full UK driving licence is required. As in the UK, seat belts should be worn front and rear. Below are motoring regulations relating to France.
Take care in built-up areas where the old rule giving priority to traffic coming from the right (Priorité à droite) still applies unless a yellow diamond indicates you have priority. On roundabouts you generally give priority to traffic already on the roundabout, in other words, coming from your left as you enter the roundabout.
 
Speed Limits Motorway Open Road Dual Carriageway Town Alcohol mg/ml
France 130 km/h
(110 when wet)		 90 km/h
(80 when wet)		 110 km/h
(100 when wet)		 50 km/h
(30km/h zones)		 0.5
Vehicles towing trailers
with combination gross
weight over 3.5t		 110 km/h 50 km/h 100 km/h 50 km/h  
Visiting motorists holding
a licence for
less than 2 years		 110 km/h 80 km/h 100 km/h 50 km/h  
 
Children in cars: children under 10 are not allowed in the front. In the rear they must use a proper restraint system appropriate to their weight, which means a child seat if they weigh between 9 and 15 kg. Over this weight they can use seat belts with a booster cushion.

Documentation: always carry your driving licence, vehicle registration document (V5), and certificate of motor insurance. If your licence does not incorporate a photograph ensure you carry your passport to validate the licence. If the vehicle is not registered in your name, carry a letter from the registered owner giving you permission to drive.

Drinking and driving: Don't do it. Over 0.05 per cent and you could face anything up to imprisonment.

Fines: On the spot fines are issued. Ensure an official receipt is issued by the officer collecting the fine.

First-aid kit is advised, but not compulsory.

Fuel: All grades of unleaded petrol, diesel and LPG are available as well as lead substitute additive. Leaded no longer exists. It is allowed to carry petrol in a can. Credit and debit cards are widely accepted, although they probably won't work at automatic pumps, which are often the only pumps in rural areas open out-of-hours, which also means lunch-time form noon to 3pm. It's a good idea to let your card issuer know you will be travelling abroad. This ensures they don't suspend your card if they spot it being used in unfamiliar places, which they sometimes do as an anti-fraud measure.

GB sticker: UK registered vehicles displaying Euro-plates (circle of 12 stars above the national identifier on blue background) no longer need a GB sticker when driving in European Union countries.

Headlamp converters are compulsory.

Lights: dipped headlights must be used in poor daytime visibility. Motorcycles over 125cc must use dipped headlights during the day at all times.

Minimum age for driving, provided you hold a full UK licence, is 18 for a car and a motorcycle over 125cc and 15 for a motorcycle under 125cc.

Motorcycle drivers and passengers must wear crash helmets.

Motor insurance: third-party insurance is compulsory. A green card is not required but your insurer should be advised of your trip.

Seat belts are compulsory for front and rear seat occupants, if fitted.

Visibility Vests are now compulsory in Italy, Austria and Spain (and likely to become compulsory throughout the EU) if you need to walk on a motorway. In Spain we've been told you need a vest for every potential occupant of the car, and that they must be carried inside the car, rather than in the boot. Other sources have said you don't have to carry one, but if you breakdown on the motorway you will be breaking the law if you walk to an emergency phone without one. We're trying to clarify the position.

Warning triangle is highly recommended, although hazard flashers can be used. One or the other is compulsory.

Replacement bulb set recommended.