Tourists urged to learn French driving law or face fines of up to £1,300

The ferry group DFDS has warned tourists who are travelling to France this summer to brush up on local driving laws or face fines of up to £1,300.

According to their latest study, 83 percent of motorists in the UK do not confidently understand French driving laws, meaning they could cause significant risks to themselves and other road users if they visit the country.

Out of the different driving laws enforced in the country, 90 percent of UK drivers did not know that their vehicle needs to display a “Crit’Air” sticker on the windscreen if they want to visit certain areas.

The ecological zones that require a sticker include cities such as Paris, Strasbourg and Marseille, and were introduced to minimise carbon dioxide emissions.

Whilst a sticker costs 4.61€ (£4.00) per vehicle, it is important to remember as, if a driver is spotted in one of the zones without a “Crit’Air” sticker they can be issued a 68€ (£58) fine. 

Olivia Bennett advised drivers planning on visiting France this summer to prepare for local laws before setting off.

She said: “The great news is that obtaining the stickers is a relatively simple and affordable process. UK drivers can visit the official website Certificat-air.gouv.fr to complete their application.

“However, caution is advised, as there are fraudulent websites that may attempt to overcharge unsuspecting users.”

DFDS also warned that drivers from the UK could get fined even more in France if they have use a speed camera detector whilst driving.

Many satellite navigation systems, including those built into car infotainment systems, feature these detectors, meaning it is important to make sure this function is turned off in the settings before crossing the channel.

If a motorist is spotted using a speed camera detector in their car, the authorities could issue a fine of 1,500€ (£1,290), making it a costly mistake.

Motorists should also be aware that French law bans drivers from wearing headphones or earphones when they are at the wheel, which could lead to a 135€ (£115) fine.

In addition, tourists who are unlucky to break down during their trip in France must put on hi-vis safety vests whilst they are at the road side and display a warning triangle behind the vehicle to alert oncoming drivers.

If a driver forgets to bring or display either the jackets or a warning triangle, they could face a fine of 135€ (£115) per item.