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Speed limitFrance

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

6. Speed limit

A speed limit is the maximum legal speed permitted on a road, lane or within a designated area. It may be established by general traffic law or indicated by fixed, variable or temporary traffic signs.

A speed limit is a maximum, not a target speed. Drivers must travel more slowly whenever traffic, visibility, weather, road conditions, vulnerable road users or the condition of the vehicle make the maximum permitted speed unsafe.

30 km/h speed-limit sign on Boulevard du Maréchal Franchet d'Esperey. (Vichy, France)
Wikimedia.org • Tabl-trai • CC BY-SA
Which general speed limits should car drivers know in France?

For an ordinary car, the general maxima are 50 km/h in built-up areas, 80 km/h on ordinary two-way roads without a central separator, 110 km/h on divided roads and 130 km/h on motorways. Certain qualifying ordinary-road sections may permit 90 km/h. Signed restrictions, precipitation, poor visibility and probationary-licence rules can reduce these maxima.

🔗 legifrance.gouv.fr • French Road Code — R413-1–5, R413-17–19; 1967 order article 5 C4a/C4b

🔗 service-public.gouv.fr • Service Public — car speed limits, rain, visibility and probationary drivers

How does rain change the French speed limit?

During rain or other precipitation, the general maximum is 110 km/h on motorway sections normally limited to 130 km/h, but 100 km/h on motorway sections whose normal limit is lower than 130 km/h, as well as on roads with carriageways separated by a central reservation. On other roads outside built-up areas, the general maximum is 80 km/h. A lower applicable restriction still governs, and grip or visibility can require an even lower speed.

🔗 legifrance.gouv.fr • French Road Code — R413-1–5, R413-17–19; 1967 order article 5 C4a/C4b

🔗 service-public.gouv.fr • Service Public — car speed limits, rain, visibility and probationary drivers

What is the French limit when visibility is below 50 metres?

The maximum is 50 km/h on every road, including motorways, when visibility is below 50 metres. That is still a ceiling: dense fog or another hazard may require an even lower speed.

🔗 legifrance.gouv.fr • French Road Code — R413-1–5, R413-17–19; 1967 order article 5 C4a/C4b

🔗 service-public.gouv.fr • Service Public — car speed limits, rain, visibility and probationary drivers

Do French probationary drivers have lower high-speed limits?

Yes. Drivers subject to probationary-licence limits must not exceed 110 km/h on motorway sections normally limited to 130 km/h, 100 km/h on motorway sections whose normal limit is lower than 130 km/h and on divided roads, and 80 km/h on other roads outside built-up areas. A lower road or weather limit still applies.

🔗 legifrance.gouv.fr • French Road Code — R413-1–5, R413-17–19; 1967 order article 5 C4a/C4b

🔗 service-public.gouv.fr • Service Public — car speed limits, rain, visibility and probationary drivers

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 ...