Direction signage
When driving in France, you will more than likely need to use direction signage to help you reach your destination. This is traditionally the preferred method of navigation, using place names rather than compass points or road numbers.
In 1982, the system was revised to make such navigation easier. A new law was enacted that introduced the concept of the green signs: major destinations would appear on these signs, acting as long distance reference points. In France, these reference points are known as poles, as a point may be something other than a settlement (for example, an airport).
Meanwhile, local destinations would continue to appear on white signage. These would only be signposted closer to their location. Additionally, "green" destinations may appear on white panels when signed on less important roads.
The idea behind this would be that, on a long journey, a motorist would follow the green signs from pole to pole. As larger cities would be signed from a much greater distance, this ought to mean that a motorist would only need to remember a handful of poles, rather than a long list of poles or road numbers - the latter especially so due to the frequent change of number at department boundaries.
How are places chosen?
The French have a tiered system, which prioritises poles based on their importance. It doesn't just take population into account, although this is usually the biggest factor.
Population is usually the deciding factor, however a town can be bumped up to a higher category if it has particular importance. This could be because it is a departmental prefecture, or the main town in a vastly rural region.
It could also be if the town has some other feature that attracts a lot of traffic: examples include Rungis (home the country's main wholesale produce market) and Calais (as gateway to the UK).
Additionally, selected transport hubs are also assigned a green classification: major airports, ferry ports and the Channel Tunnel terminal.
| Category | Typical population | Importance of a destination |
| Classe V | 400,000 + | national or European importance |
| Classe IV | 80,000 - 400,000 | national or
regional importance also includes: Channel Tunnel Terminal, Charles de Gaulle Airport |
| Classe III | 21,000 - 80,000 | regional
importance also includes: main airports, Rungis Market, Calais ferry port, Mont St Michel |
| Classe II | 3,200 - 21,000 | departmental importance |
| Classe I | 640 - 3,200 | local importance |
| Classe L | less than 640 | other small villages in close proximity |
From how far are places displayed?
This is where category is the determining factor. To put it simply, the higher the class, the further from which it is signposted - this is similar to the UK's use of regional and "super" destinations, although regions are not favoured in French navigation. This is why somewhere like Lyon is signed from as much as 650 kilometres away!
Exacly how far is even set out in an equation, but is worked out according to distance and travel time.
However, where two poles are in the same category, the nearest point is chosen as it is deemed that it would be a suitable reference point from where someone can navigate on to the next.
For example, a person travelling from Calais to the town of Vendôme in the Centre-Val de Loire region would navigate thusly:
| Calais | - |
| Rouen | Classe V |
| (A13) Elbeuf | Classe III |
| Evreux | Classe III |
| Dreux | Classe III |
| Chartres | Classe III |
| Châteaudun | Classe II |
| Vendôme | Classe II |
Map of green sign poles
| ● Class V | ● Class IV | ● Class III |
Autres or toutes?
A common confusion amongst non-locals is what "autres directions" and "toutes directions" mean, and which one to follow - especially if they both appear together!
Toutes directions - all directions - is what you follow to head out of town; you can get to all other destinations this way, as it is normally leading you towards a ring road or major traffic route.
Autres directions - other directions - leads you towards other parts of the same town, a sort-of recirculation route; follow it, and you may end up down some narrow streets!
If you're heading into town, centre ville is what you need to follow in order to reach the main shopping area.