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Vehicle CodeRules Part 2
Entering Towns
Town entrance signs are rectangular, have white backgrounds and red borders. Unless otherwise posted, town speed limits are 50 km/hr. Honking is not allowed except in case of immediate danger. Priority roads lose their priority when they enter a town. There may or may not be a sign to that effect (shown in the example to the right) with the town entrance sign. |
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If there are any other signs on the same sign post as the town entrance sign, it means they apply to the whole town. For example, a speed limit sign on the same pole changes the town's default speed limit. If a priority road doesn't lose it's priority, there will a priority road sign with the town entrance sign. |
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Leaving Towns
When leaving a town, you'll see a sign that looks like the entrance sign, but with a red diagonal line across it. As mentioned elsewhere in this site, the 45° red diagonal line means "end of". Leaving the town also means leaving whatever limits applied to the town (e.g., speed, no parking, etc.). There may or may not be a sign indicating that the road keeps or becomes priority. |
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Lanes
On two-way roads of more than 2 lanes each way, traffic could end up backing up. When this happens, You must stay in your lane. If you are the last in a lane that stops or slows quickly, you should turn on your hazard lights to warn the car behind you. Once you're buried in traffic, you turn off your hazard lights ("feux de détresse" in French). |
On two-way roads of more than 3 lanes each way, trucks of > 3.5 t can only use the right two lanes. The same is true for vehicles > 7 m long (including trailers), campers, etc. |
Turning Around
For some reason, France spells out the four allowed ways to do a U-turn in the middle of a road. |
In one lane |
In an intersection |
Using a street on the left |
Using a street on the right |
Driving Backwards
Allowed only when parking, when turning around (see above) or in the case of an accident. If you have an accident while going backwards, you are 100% responsible. |
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