Survival Guide - Discover France: Experience the Best of France - page 788

When you arrive at a roundabout at which you do not have the right-of-way (ie the cars
already in the roundabout do), you'll often see signs reading vous n'avez pas la priorité
(you do not have right of way) or cédez le passage (give way).

INSURANCE
Third-party liability insurance (assurance au tiers) is compulsory for all vehicles in
France, including cars brought in from abroad.
If you get into a minor accident with no injuries, the easiest way for drivers to sort
things out with their insurance companies is to fill out a Constat Aimable d'Accident
Automobile (European Accident Statement), a standardised way of recording im-
portant details about what happened. In rental cars it's usually in the packet of doc-
uments in the glove compartment. Make sure the report includes any information
that will help you prove that the accident was not your fault. Remember, if it was
your fault you may be liable for a hefty insurance deductible/excess. Don't sign any-
thing you don't fully understand. If problems crop up, call the police ( 17).

PARKING
In city centres, most on-the-street parking places are payant (metered) from about
9am to 7pm (sometimes with a break from noon to 2pm) from Monday to Saturday,
except bank holidays.

ROAD RULES
Speed limits outside built-up areas (except where signposted otherwise):

Undivided N and D highways 90km/h (80km/h when raining)

Non-autoroute divided highways 110km/h (100km/h when raining)

Autoroutes 130km/h (110km/h when raining, 60km/h in icy conditions)
Unless otherwise signposted, a limit of 50km/h applies in all areas designated as
built up, no matter how rural they may appear. You must slow to 50km/h the mo-
ment you come to a white sign with a red border and a place name written on it; the
speed limit applies until you pass an identical sign with a horizontal bar through it.
You can be fined for going as little as 10km over the speed limit.