The AA

Travelling safely in France
As from 1 July 2008, all drivers must carry a high visibility jacket (inside the car) and a reflective red warning triangle. The jacket must be worn by the driver when outside his vehicle, and the warning triangle must be displayed 30 metres to the rear of the breakdown to warn the following traffic. (The jacket must be carried inside the vehicle, not in the boot). In France it is illegal to stop and obstruct the road. If you must stop, remember to pull right off the road and use hazard warning signs and lights.

10% AA TravelShop Discount for all Matthews Holidays clients. Click Here!

The AA have put together a Euro Travel pack which will fit neatly in to your car whilst driving in France. All Matthews Holidays clients can benefit from a 10% discount off this and any other items bought from the AA Travel Shop online. Simply enter the promotional code of 'MAT10' at the Checkout and you will receive a 10% discount off your purchases.
Take special care about driving on the right hand side of the road after stops for lunch or petrol, and when emerging from 'one way' traffic situations. Remember to always give way to traffic from your right, except at junctions marked 'passage protégé', or on a roundabout. It is compulsory to wear your seat belts (front and rear) in France, and children under 10 must ride in the rear seats.
The French government has considerably increased the severity of on-the-spot fines for road traffic offences, such as speeding or failing to obey obligatory traffic signs (eg STOP or NO ENTRY) and for other traffic offences such as failure to wear a seat belt - passengers as well! Apart from having to pay the fine, you will encounter considerable delay as you will not be allowed to proceed without payment, and your UK driving licence may well be confiscated until you pay the fine. For serious offences you will not be permitted to drive your car away, if your drivers licence has been confiscated. Make sure each driver in your party takes their own licence and is insured to drive, just in case.
DO NOT take a radar warning detector to France - even disconnected and in a box! You can be fined up to 30,000€ just for having one and vehicle seizure can result if you are caught using one.
These measures seem draconian at first sight, but please remember that they are in response to the higher accident rate that exists in France. Don't get stressed about it - you are on holiday! Take 10pmh off your cruising speed and you will enjoy the relatively empty roads. It only takes 81/2 mins longer to cover 80 miles on a motorway at 70mph, (compared to 80mph) and you will save fuel costs as well!