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Give way to oncoming trafficFrance

An introduction to the traffic rules and road signs of France. Learn about driving, road safety and much more in our illustrated book, with answers to frequently asked questions.

For informational purposes only. Always follow official regulations. Some content and images were created with AI assistance.

Traffic signs
Traffic rules
France

31. Give way to oncoming traffic

Give way to oncoming traffic means that drivers must allow vehicles approaching from the opposite direction to pass first through a narrow section of road. The rule is normally indicated by a sign facing the direction that must yield and a corresponding priority sign facing oncoming traffic.

Drivers must reduce speed and stop when necessary before entering the narrow passage. They may continue only when they can do so safely and without obstructing oncoming traffic that has priority.

Give way to oncoming traffic
Give-way-to-oncoming-traffic sign near Moulin Gaillard Bridge. (Pont-de-Veyle, France)
Wikimedia.org • Chabe01 • CC BY-SA
When must I give way to oncoming traffic in France?

A French cédez le passage à la circulation venant en sens inverse sign assigns priority to the opposing direction at the narrowed part. Do not confuse it with a simple road-narrows warning.

🔗 legifrance.gouv.fr • French Road Code — R414-1–3, R411-25; 1967 order B15/C18

Road narrowing, give way to oncoming drivers. Road narrowing, give way to oncoming drivers.

English • Traffic sign B15 • Give way to oncoming traffic.

Français • Panneau B15 • Cédez le passage à la circulation venant en sens inverse.

Sources

🔗 Commons.wikimedia.org
🔗 Equipementsdelaroute.cerema.fr • Arrêté du 24 novembre 1967

© Roulex 45 et les contributeurs Wikimedia • CC BY-SA 4.0 • SVG original non modifié.

Image via Commons.wikimedia.org
Roulex 45 • CC BY-SA 4.0 • Source revision 2009-04-24. Wikimedia original unmodified.

Does a road-narrows warning automatically give oncoming traffic priority in France?

Not necessarily. A warning of a narrow carriageway is not itself the same as an instruction to give way. Check whether there is a separate priority sign, signal or temporary traffic control, and take account of any rules for an obstruction on your side.

🔗 legifrance.gouv.fr • French Road Code — R414-1–3, R411-25; 1967 order B15/C18

What if an oncoming vehicle is already entering a narrow passage in France?

Reduce speed and wait where you can do so safely rather than forcing two vehicles into insufficient space. Even if a sign gives your approach priority, that does not justify a collision or endangering another road user.

🔗 legifrance.gouv.fr • French Road Code — R414-1–3, R411-25; 1967 order B15/C18

1 France 2 Motorway 3 Expressway 4 Residential area 5 Zone 6 Speed limit 7 Minimum speed 8 Advisory speed 9 Footpath 10 Bike path 11 Pedestrian warning 12 Tunnel 13 Bridge 14 Cycling street 15 Pedestrian zone 16 Speed bump 17 Toll road 18 Customs 19 One-way traffic 20 Quay 21 Slope 22 Bus lane 23 Bus stop 24 Dead end 25 Stop sign 26 Give way 27 Roundabout 28 Priority road 29 Road narrowing 30 Priority over oncoming traffic 31 Give way to oncoming traffic 32 Pedestrian crossing 33 Railway crossing 34 Mandatory direction 35 Turn prohibition 36 School area 37 Overtaking 38 Crossing animals 39 Slippery road 40 Rockfall 41 Aircraft 42 Curve 43 Chevron 44 Wrong-way driving 45 Roadworks 46 Crosswind 47 Height limit 48 Width limit 49 Length limit 50 Weight limit 51 Radar speed sign 52 Selective barriers 53 Low-emission zone 54 Priority at the next junction 55 Traffic lights 56 Traffic lights warning 57 Pedestrian lights 58 Road markings 59 Junction layout 60 Bike box 61 Speed feedback 62 Driving licence 63 Location marker 64 Road number 65 Countdown markers 66 Public toilet 67 Rest area 68 Traffic mirror 69 Emergency telephone 70 International border 71 Cycling route 72 End of restriction 73 Parking 74 No parking 75 No stopping 76 Parallel parking 77 Alternate-side parking 78 Parking meter 79 Parking disc 80 Disabled parking 81 Traffic management 82 Merging 83 Reversing 84 U-turn 85 Carpool 86 Traffic jam 87 Uncontrolled crossroad 88 Road surface 89 Ring road 90 Exit 91 Information point 92 Horse riding 93 Provisional licence 94 Hazardous cargo 95 Emergency exit 96 Runaway truck ramp 97 Radio service 98 Oversize load 99 Lane 100 Tyre inflation station ...