French autoroutes
(indicated by blue signs) are fast, limited-access toll roads (motorway,
autobahn, autostrada, snelweg). Autoroute speed limit is 130 km/hr
in good weather; 110 km/hr in rain or other bad weather. By law,
and convention, you should stay in the right-hand lane except when
passing.
Tolls can be
paid by cash, cheque, or credit card, including Carte Bleue, Visa,
Eurocard, Mastercard, and most private credit cards (Total, DKV,
UTA, etc.). Your account will be debited in the currency in which
it is held. You can use a pre-printed cheque made out in euros;
the cheque must be endorsed "payable in France". You can
pay in Euro Traveller's Cheques, except on the Escota network (the
A8 Aix-Nice; A50-A52-A57 Toulon area; A51 Sisteron).
Petrol/Gas-station
rest stops are located an average of every 40 km. Petrol/Gas prices
are more expensive on the autoroutes than at stations on the "surface"
roads. A new (summer 2001) law in France allows stations located
within 10 km driving distance from the autoroute to post their prices
on the autoroute.
Driving
Times
Autoroute - speed limit is 130 km/hr. Your average trip speed
could be about 110 km/hr, or roughly a half-minute per km.
Highways and open roads - speed limit is 90 km/hr. Your average
trip speed could be 70-80 km/hr depending on area and traffic. You
should often travel at 70 km/hr on small roads with light traffic
and good scenery.
Towns - speed limit is 50 km/hr.
Coastal Areas - roads are very, very packed in the summertime.
Go early. Coast roads between Saint Tropez and Fréjus, for
example, is more of a single-file parking lot than a road.
Motorway
Information
3 Rue Edmond Valentin - 75007 Paris
Phone: 08 92 68 10 77
Phone: +33(0)147 05 90 01
Fax: +33(0)147 53 36 32
Audiotel: 08 36 681 077 (2.21 F/mn)
Minitel: 3615 AUTOROUTE (2.21 F/mn)
Traffic Radio: FM 107.7
Website
Click
here to visit the South French Railways Website
Click
here to visit the Côte d'Azur Railways Website
