Motorways (autoroutes) bear the prefix ‘A', national roads ‘N' and minor roads (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) 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) (website: www.asf.fr) is responsible for the southern France motorway network. The Centre National d'Information Routière (tel: 0826 022 022; website: www.bison-fute.equipement.gouv.fr) provides information on traffic conditions and driving regulations in the region. Information is also available from L'Association des Sociétés Françaises d'Autoroutes (ASFA) (tel: 0892 681 077; website: www.autoroutes.fr). 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 Vauclusien (tel: (04) 9086 2871) is the local automobile association.

Emergency breakdown service: Garage CATTO (tel: (04) 9082 1611).

Routes to the city: The motorways A7 (direction Paris, Lyon, Marseille, Nice and Italy) and A9 (direction Nîmes, Perpignan and Barcelona) are located 7km and 10km (4 and 6 miles) from central Avignon, north and southwest respectively.

Approximate driving times to Avignon: From Marseille is 1 hour; from Barcelona is 3 hours 45 minutes and from Paris is 6 hours.

Coach services: The coach station, Gare Routière, next to the Central Station, avenue Monclar (tel: (04) 9027 3857) serves the Vaucluse department, including Aix, l'Isle/Sorgue, Nîmes, Carpentras and Cavaillon. International services, operated by Linebus (tel: (04) 9086 8867; website: www.linebus.com) and Eurolines (tel: (04) 9085 2760; website: www.eurolines.com), with connections to Brussels, Morocco, London, Prague, Italy and Spain, also depart from here. The Avignon Tourist Office (see Sightseeing) can provide information on the independent companies operating from the coach station. Tickets are available for purchase from the driver.