Built-up areaFrance
Traffic rules
France
1. Built-up area
A built-up area is an area containing concentrated buildings, streets and regular local activity. Drivers should expect more pedestrians, cyclists, intersections, parked vehicles, public transport and vehicles entering or leaving properties.
Many countries apply special traffic rules and lower default speed limits within built-up areas. The area may be identified by entrance and exit signs, street lighting or other legal criteria, so drivers must follow local signs and regulations.
How do people refer to a built-up area in France?
The official French term is agglomération. It is an area of closely grouped buildings whose entrance and exit are indicated by the prescribed roadside signs.
🔗 legifrance.gouv.fr • French Road Code — R110-2, R413-3, R416-1; 1967 order articles 5 and 9
Start of a built-up area.
English • Traffic sign EB10 • Beginning of a built-up area. The sign is rectangular, with a white background, a red border, a thin white outer border and black lettering.
Français • Panneau EB10 • Entrée d'agglomération : il est de forme rectangulaire, à fond blanc avec une bordure rouge et un listel blanc ; les inscriptions sont de couleur noire.
Sources
🔗 Commons.wikimedia.org
🔗 Equipementsdelaroute.cerema.fr • Arrêté du 24 novembre 1967
🔗 Equipementsdelaroute.cerema.fr • Arrêté du 24 novembre 1967, annexe Source : Davidbt2000 • CC0 1.0 • SVG original non modifié.
Image via Commons.wikimedia.org
Davidbt2000 • CC0 • Source revision 2025-12-14. Wikimedia original unmodified.
End of the built-up area.
English • Traffic sign EB20 • End of a built-up area. The sign is rectangular, with a white background, a thin black border, a red diagonal bar and black lettering.
Français • Panneau EB20 • Sortie d'agglomération : il est de forme rectangulaire, à fond blanc avec un listel noir et une barre oblique rouge ; les inscriptions sont de couleur noire.
Sources
🔗 Commons.wikimedia.org
🔗 Equipementsdelaroute.cerema.fr • Arrêté du 24 novembre 1967
🔗 Equipementsdelaroute.cerema.fr • Arrêté du 24 novembre 1967, annexe
© Kilyann Le Hen et les contributeurs Wikimedia • CC BY-SA 4.0 • SVG original non modifié.
Image via Commons.wikimedia.org
Kilyann Le Hen • CC BY-SA 4.0 • Source revision 2022-04-30. Wikimedia original unmodified.
How can you recognise a built-up area in France?
The official entrance sign displays the place name on a white panel with a red border. The corresponding exit sign has a diagonal red line across the name. Observe any accompanying speed restrictions.
What speed limit applies to cars in a built-up area in France?
For an ordinary passenger car, the general maximum is 50 km/h unless signs establish another limit. A lower signed limit or zone still applies, and you must slow further when conditions require it.
🔗 legifrance.gouv.fr • French Road Code — R110-2, R413-3, R416-1; 1967 order articles 5 and 9
May I sound the horn to announce an overtake in a French built-up area?
Within a built-up area, the horn is permitted only in a case of immediate danger. Do not use it merely to announce an overtake or express impatience.
🔗 legifrance.gouv.fr • French Road Code — R110-2, R413-3, R416-1; 1967 order articles 5 and 9
