Travel

Travel by road

Traffic in Paris drives on the right and the minimum driving age is 18 years. Speed limits are 130kph (80mph) on motorways, 110kph (68mph) on dual carriageways, 90kph (56mph) outside built-up areas and 50kph (30mph) in built-up areas.

You must carry a national driving licence, the car's registration document and a red warning triangle at all times, or you are liable for a fine. EU nationals taking their own cars to France are strongly advised to obtain a Green Card, without which insurance cover is limited to the legal minimum.

All headlamp beams must be adjusted for right-side driving by use of beam deflectors or by tilting the headlamp bulb-holder.

Automobile Club Association (tel: +33 9 7040 1111; www.automobile-club.org ) provides information and might offer reciprocal benefits to members of automobile clubs in other countries.

Emergency breakdown service:

Auto Charonne D pannage (tel: +33 1 4024 0329). On motorways, dial 112.

The Eurotunnel shuttle services (tel: +44 8443 353 535, in the UK; www.eurotunnel.com ) allow cars and coaches to cross the Channel Tunnel (journey time - 35 minutes) from Kent in Southern England to Nord-Pas-de-Calais in Northern France. Alternatively, there are numerous daily sea crossings to France .

From Lille - 2 hours 30 minutes; Brussels - 3 hours 30 minutes; London - 5 hours 30 minutes; Bordeaux - 5 hours 30 minutes; Marseille - 7 hours.

Eurolines (tel: 0892 899 091, in France only or +33 1 4186 2421; www.eurolines.fr ) runs coaches to numerous other cities within France and in other European countries.