SETTLING IN - CultureShock! A Survival Guide to Customs and Etiquette - page 173

résidentiel , a parking permit that allows reduced-rate parking
in their arrondissement (tel: [phone]). The office is
open on weekdays until 4:00 pm. Application forms can be
picked up at the mairie and mailed in.
Tickets are issued for overtime parking or for parking in
an illegal spot. To pay the fine, purchase a timbre fiscal from
a tabac and follow the instructions on the ticket for affixing
Obeying the Laws
Obey all laws, even if it looks as though other drivers
are not.
Wear a seat belt, whether in the front or back seat.
Seat children under 10 in the back seat; babies must
sit in buckled car seats.
Give priority to cars entering your street from the right,
no matter how small the street. If it does not apply at
traffic-roundabouts, it will be indicated. The priorité
à droite is one of the most important driving laws.
Do not use the klaxon (horn) except in emergencies.
Do not drive or park in the bus lanes or the AXE Rouge
express lanes.
Do not park where it says parking interdit or
stationnement interdit . Although many people double
park, park at corners or edge up onto the sidewalk,
this is illegal.
Do not dash through a traffic light just as it is turning
red; many traffic lights are placed not at the corner but
instead just before a crosswalk, and pedestrians begin
to cross immediately upon the change of the light. Do
not make U-turns or cross a solid white line. Stay to the
right on multi-lane roads, unless passing a car.
Use high beam headlights only on unlit roads. Cars
behind you that flash their headlights are indicating
they will not slow down.
Obey the speed limits: 130 kph on highways, 110 kph
on wet highways, 90 kph on rural roads, 50 kph in the
city, 80 kph on the périphérique .