Aix en Provence Getting There By Road

Motorways (autoroutes) bear the prefix ‘A', national roads (routes nationales) ‘N' and minor roads (routes départementales) are classed as ‘D' roads. Traffic drives on the right and drivers must give way to the right, unless the route is marked with 'passage protégé' signs (a broad arrow, a yellow diamond or an ‘X' on a triangular background) or if the driver is at a roundabout indicating ‘Vous n'avez pas la priorité'. Tolls (péages) are enforced.

Speed limits are 130kph (81mph) on motorways (110kph (68mph) when raining), 110kph (68mph) on dual carriageways separated by a central reservation, 90kph (56mph) outside built-up areas and 50kph (31mph) in built-up areas. The minimum age for driving is 18 years. Seat belts must be worn by all passengers (front and rear). Children under 10 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. All headlamp beams must be adjusted for right-side driving, by use of beam deflectors or by tilting the headlamp bulb-holder. The French police fine motorists on the spot for driving offences. The maximum legal alcohol-to-blood ratio for driving is 0.05%.

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.

Autoroutes du Sud de la France - ASF (tel: (04) 9032 9005; www.asf.fr) is responsible for the southern France motorway network and produces free maps with information in English. The motorway network number (tel: (04) 9178 7878) provides information on traffic conditions and driving regulations in southeastern France. Information is also available from Autoroutel (tel: 0892 707 001). Traffic conditions are broadcast on Radio Trafic 107.7FM. Emergency telephones linked up to the police are located every 2km (1.2 miles) on each side of the motorway.

Automobile Club d'Aix-en-Provence et du Pays d'Aix (tel: (04) 4223 3373; www.autoclubaix.com) can provide further information on driving in Provence.

Emergency breakdown services: Garage Mavel (tel: (04) 4224 0580).
 
If you need an ambulance, use the orange SOS phones which are situated every 2km (1.2 miles) on motorways and every 4km (2.5 miles) on dual carriageways and other major roads. Or dial 15 from a normal phone. You must also call the police (dial 17).

Routes to the city: Motorway A7 goes to the north, towards Lyon and Paris, and south towards Marseille. Motorways A54 and A9 go west towards Arles, Nîmes and Montpellier. The A8 goes east towards Nice.

Coach services: Aix-en-Provence coach station is located on the avenue de l'Europe (tel: 0891 024 025). RDT 13 (tel: (04) 4293 5900; www.rdt13.fr) operates coaches to most destinations in the département (county).