French Road Signs

The French love their road signs, they have over 400 different signs. Most of the signs are designed as variations or simple copies of other European signs and are intended to cut across language barriers. The speed limit sign is a red circle with a number in the center. When the speed limit zone ends the sign is a round white sign with a slash across the number. There are no signs posting the speed limit when you are not in one of the speed limit zones. You're supposed to know the speed limit when it is not posted. On two lane roads the limit is 90 kph except when it is raining, in which case it is 80 kph. On roads with a median it is 110 kph or 100 kph when wet. On highways it is 130 kph or 110 kph when raining. The speed limit is 50 kph in town. In case you forget these rules of the road, there are cameras that will take your picture and send you an expensive reminder in the mail (a ticket).

Some of the signs are pretty cute, like the little train and the car dancing on the slick road.

And then there are signs that really grab your attention, like the two above.

Some of the signs are very quaint, like the watch out for horse drawn wagons. I have never personally seen a horse drawn wagon on the open road, but there must be some out there somewhere, they have their own sign.

There are also temporary signs, to let you know there is an accident ahead. Just like anywhere else in the world, when there is an accident, everything comes to a stop, especially on the narrow roads over here.

The "do not enter" sign has got to be France's most popular sign. They are everywhere, since there are so many one way streets and they are a favorite target of street artists.

The Thief

The Bird

The Bar

Other signs get targeted as well:the Smile

 And just one more road sign to emphasize the importance of keeping your eyes on the road, and always heeding all motorway signs, because you never know when the road might end.