Traffic Markings on French Streets
 

Hi all,

We'll be driving through France this Fall.

While watching the Tour de France, I have noticed occasional traffic markings in the curb lane that look like white V's - sort of like this V^V^V^V.

Can anyone tell me what they mean?

Thanks,

Ira

ira, I thought I'd figured out most of the French traffic signs, but that one has me stumped.

Oh, wait a minute ... I think there are marks on the pavement for bus stops. I've noriced them in both cities and on country roads, but I can't recollect exactly what they look like. I wonder if that's what you saw?

Anselm

Hi Ans,

Thanks for responding. I think that the bus lanes are marked with diamonds - elongated XXXXXX.

These look like V's --- VVVVVV with alternating ones upside down.

((I))

This is a better reproduction

|/\/\/\|

Isn't that similar to the squiggly lines I've seen in the streets of London?

I don't know, Sandy.

What did the squiggly lines look like? :)


((I))

Zigzag yellow lines in the lane closest to the curb mark bus stops; other vehicles are not permitted to park or stop in those zones.

I am also pretty sure that they are bus stops also. The last time I drove in France I did some research and found a lot of information at this website:
http://www.expat-stuff.com/driving/

Have a fun time!

I'm always looking for an excuse to go to France. Perhaps I could suggest to Mrs Adorne that we pop over to study French lane markings?

Somehow I don't think it's going to fly. Unfortunately.

Anselm

Hi A,

Thank you for the clue.

>Zigzag yellow lines in the lane closest to the curb mark bus stops; other vehicles are not permitted to park or stop in those zones.

If the zigzags are white, would that be a "No Standing" zone?

((I))

In Britain, those zigzags mean an absolute ban on any stopping under any circumstances by any but authorised vehicles, and not just parking.

They're used, for example, for emergency access to barred roads, for the 20 or so yards either side of a pedestrian crossing and immediately outside schools (to designate the area it's not allowed to stop even to drop children off). When I once stopped on one of them to investigate a flat tyre, the policeman told me to drive on that flat (normally an offence) the half mile or so to the nearest legal stopping place.

Normally markings like this tend to be used in the same way throughout western Europe.

Thank you, Flann.

"No Stopping or Standing" it is.

((I))

these are the squiggly lines I'm referring to:

http://webhome.idirect.com/~faab/AbbeyRoad/cam.htm

Hi Sandy, I don't think we have that sort of signs in France. sorry! :-)

Hi sandi,

Thanks for the link.

The markings along the curb are similar to those in France but the French ones fill the whole lane.

Do you know what the markings on Abbey Road mean?

((I))

No! That's why I'm asking.

Those are the ones that flanner was describing. But it sounds as though the ones ira was describing may be different. Sounds like we need to know the French equivalent of the Highway Code.

This looks like a useful site for any visitor driving in France:

http://www.preventionroutiere.asso.fr

There's a downloadable advice booklet in English, but it's fairly elementary.

There seem to be a number of sites offering tests on the "Code de la Route", but no easy access to an English language version.

sandi I've just noticed that your link is a webcam, and I'm glad to have one more in my favorite links to see what the weather likes is London, thank you!:-d

Hi ira. At long last, I found a link to a site that illustrates French traffic rules. If you look at this page, I think you'll see a photograph of the lane markings you were wondering about.

www.code-route.com/panneau_lignes.htm

Look at the 17th picture. Those look like the markings you described, except they're yellow rather than white.

Anselm