Voie Rapide : Traffic Signs

Traffic signs

Wherever you go, traffic signs are generally recognisable even if they look a little different. But there are some you won't know, and some may have slightly different meanings.

Here is a guide to signs that you'll most likely encounter on French roads. A number of signs will be accompanied by supplementary plate to emphasise meaning, or to indicate distance, direction or exceptions.

Priority signs

Crossroads ahead You must give way to traffic from the right	Crossroads ahead You have priority over traffic from side roads	Give way	Prepare to give way 150 metres ahead	Stop and give way	Prepare to stop 150 metres ahead

Priority route You have priority over traffic from side roads	End of priority route You must give way to traffic from the right	Roundabout Give way to vehicles coming from your left

Warning signs

Bend to the right	Bend to the left	Succession of bends, first to the right	Succession of bends, first to the left	Uneven road surface	Speed humps ahead

Road narrows on both sides	Road narrows on the right	Road narrows on the left	Slippery road surface	Lifting bridge	Level crossing with barriers

Level crossing without barriers	Tramway crossing ahead	Children	Pedestrian crossing ahead	Other danger	Risk of cattle on the road

Risk of sheep on the road	Risk of wildlife on the road	Risk of mounted horses on the road	Steep descent	Traffic signals	Two way traffic

Risk of falling rocks	Quayside or river bank	Cyclists crossing	Risk of low flying aircraft	Dangerous crosswinds

Temporary warning signs

Ueven road surface	Road narrows on both sides	Slippery road surface	Roadworks	Other danger	Temporary traffic signals

Loose chippings	Queues likely	Accident	Fog or drifting smoke	Temporary traffic conditions	Road closed

Contraflow (with traffic restriction)	Temporary lane restrictions	Temporary lane merge	Diversion	Diversion ahead	Temporary deviation

Prohibition signs

No vehicles permitted	No entry	No left turn	No right turn	No u-turns	No overtaking

No overtaking by goods vehicles	Stop - customs post	Stop - gendarmerie	Stop - police	Stop - toll booth	No parking

No parking 1st - 15th of the month	No parking 16th - 31st of the month	No stopping	No motor vehicles except mopeds	No motor vehicles	No goods vehicles

No pedestrians	No cyclists	No horse-drawn vehicles	No agricultural vehicles	No handcarts	No buses

No mopeds	No motorcycles	No caravans	Maximum permitted length	Maximum permitted width	Maximum permitted height

Maximum permitted weight	Maximum permitted axle weight	Maximum speed limit	Give way to oncoming vehicles	Use of horns prohibited	Minimum permitted distance between vehicles

No vehicles carrying explosives	No vehicles carrying water pollutants	No vehicles carrying dangerous loads	No vehicles permitted with exception shown	End of all restrictions	End of lower speed limit

End of no overtaking restriction	End of no overtaking by goods vehicles restriction	End of no use of horns prohibition	Start of restricted parking zone	Start of restricted parking zone	Start of maximum speed zone

Start of restricted traffic zone	End of restricted parking zone	End of maximum speed zone	End of restricted traffic zone

Mandatory signs

Turn right	Turn left	Keep right	Keep left	Ahead only	Turn right ahead

Turn left ahead	Turn right or continue ahead	Turn left or continue ahead	Turn left or right	Cycle lane	Pedestrians only

Bridleway	Minimum speed limit	Use of snow chains mandatory	Bus lane	Tram lane	Other mandatory instruction

End of cycle lane	End of pedestrian route	End of bridleway	End of minimum speed limit	End of mandatory use of snow chains	End of bus lane

End of other restriction	Keep left	Keep right

Information signs

Parking	Disc parking zone	Meter parking zone	Risk of wild fires	Advsiory speed limit	End of advisory speed limit

Taxi rank	Bus stop	Emergency layby	Carpool station	One way street	No through road

No through road on side street	No through road except for pedestrians	No through road except cyclists and pedestrians	Road use restrictions	Priority over oncoming vehicles	Pedesrian crossing

Tram crossing	Restricted caravan parking	Use of overtaking lane forbidden by vehicles indicated	Number of lanes available to traffic	Contra-flow cycle lane	Contra-flow bus lane

Left lane leaves onto slip road	Right lane leaves onto slip road	Side road warning	Contra-flow cycle lane	Escape lane	Speed hump

Lane merge	Overtaking lane	Overtaking lane in opposing direction	End of overtaking lane	Pavement parking permitted	Start of variable speed limit

End of variable speed limit	Start of expressway	End of expressway	Tunnel	End of tunnel	Cycle route

End of cycle route	Pedestrian and cycle route	End of pedestrian and cycle route	Start of motorway	End of motoway	Start of home zone

End of home zone	Pedestrian area	End of pedestrian area	Prohibited vehicles must travel in direction shown	Start of reserved lane Multi-occupant or low emission vehicles only	End of reserved lane

Start of built up area Speed limit 50 km/h unless otherwise signed	End of built up area Speed limit 80 km/h unless otherwise signed	Hamlet Speed limit does not change unless signed	Toll booth

Direction signs

Direction sign for large. and local destinations	Direction sign with distances	Direction sign with town reached by motorway	Local direction sign	Direction sign for prohibited traffic	Direction sign for a small settlement

Upcoming exit on a non-motorway route	Upcoming exit on a non-motorway route	Upcoming exit on a motorway	Distance to next exit with junction number	Distance to next exit on a non-motorway route	Distance to a motorway interchange

Overhead sign for a numbered exit	Overhead sign for an exit with lane drop	Overhead sign for an exit with slip road	Overhead sign for lanes continuing ahead	Overhead sign for lanes leaving motorway	Advanced direction sign

Advanced direction sign	Advanced direction sign	Advanced direction sign	Distance to next junction	Distance to next junction with a lane drop	Distance to motorway interchange

Distance to interchange with a lane drop	Route confirmation signs	Distance to next junction with places served	Distance to interchange with places served	Distance to motorway interchange	Distance to numbered junction

Distance to motorway interchange	Junctions that can be used for a destination	Itineraire de substitution Notification of an alternative route	Route bis Alternative long distance route to avoid congestion	End of alternative route	Peripherique / Rocade Ring road

Cyclist signs

Start of cycle route	Start of cycle route with name	Cycle route in direction shown	Cycle route in direction shown	Cycle route in direction shown	Junction ahead showing destinations for cyclists

Junction with cycle route ahead in direction shown	Cyclists permitted to pass red signal in direction shown