Motorways bear the prefix ‘A', national roads ‘N' and minor roads are classed as ‘D' roads. Traffic drives on the right and speed limits are 130kph (81mph) on motorways, 110kph (68mph) on dual carriageways separated by a central reservation, 90kph (46mph) outside built-up areas and 50kph (31mph) in built-up areas. Visitors who have held a driving licence for less than two years face tighter speed restrictions. The French police fine motorists on the spot for driving offences such as speeding.

The minimum age for driving is 18 years. All front- and rear-seat passengers must wear seat belts and children under 10 years may not travel in the front seat. A national driving licence, the car's registration document and a red warning triangle must be carried at all times or the driver may be fined. EU nationals taking their own cars to France are strongly advised to obtain a Green Card, without which insurance cover is limited to the minimum legal cover in France. The Green Card tops this up to the level of cover provided by the car owner's domestic policy.

Emergency breakdown service:
Inter-Mutuelles Assistance  (tel: 0800 757 575).
Free emergency telephones are situated every 1km (0.6 miles) along the motorways.

Routes to the city: The Côte d'Azur is linked to the European network of motorways. The A8 Estérel motorway links Paris to Cannes. From Nice, Exit 42 leads to Cannes.

Approximate driving times to the city: From Paris - 8 hours; from Nice - 30 minutes.

Coach services: The Gare Routière de Nice (tel: (04) 9345 2008) is Nice's international coach station, located at 5 boulevard Jean Jaures. Eurolines (tel: (04) 7881 4398; website: www.eurolines.fr) provide regular services to major European centres.

There are two domestic gares routières (coach stations) in Cannes. The main one, at place Cornut-Gentille (tel: 0825 825 599), serves coastal destinations, while the other, located at Place de l'Hôtel de Ville, provides an inland service. Companies operating from both stations include Rapides Côte d'Azur (tel: 0820 481 111; website: www.rca.tm.fr), which links Cannes to Nice (city centre and airport), and CTM Cannes La Bocca (tel: (04) 9390 9292), which links Cannes to Grasse and Mandelieu.