Which Side of the Road Do Cars Drive on in France?
2 Answers
In France, cars drive on the right side of the road. Here is some information about driving in France: 1. Origin: The custom of driving on the right side of the road originated in 18th-century France. The reason for this was the country's well-developed postal coach and freight wagon businesses. When encountering oncoming traffic, the coachman could lean to the left to avoid the wheels or hubs of the two vehicles colliding. If driving on the left, a co-driver would need to be seated next to the coachman, leading to unnecessary labor waste. 2. Driving Regulations: When two vehicles arrive at an intersection simultaneously from different roads, the vehicle on the left must yield. Additionally, vehicles entering public roads from parks, private properties, parking lots, etc., must yield to all vehicles on the road. Furthermore, vehicles approaching an intersection must yield to vehicles already crossing the intersection. At unmarked intersections, the right-hand rule applies when it is safe to proceed. Overtaking must be done on the left side.
That self-drive trip in France was quite an eye-opener! Just like in China, they drive on the right side with the steering wheel on the left. When I first picked up the rented Renault at Charles de Gaulle Airport, I was a bit nervous holding the wheel, especially since French highways often have speed limits of 130 km/h. But the Paris ring road signs were quite clear, with blue backgrounds and white lettering. It wasn't until driving to the Alps that I realized even their mountain tunnels follow right-hand traffic. The most interesting part was crossing into Andorra - suddenly it switched to left-hand driving, which nearly threw me off completely.
