Black Saturday – Every summer the major routes into and out of Paris get very congested as many Parisians head to the countyside, mountains or coast AND almost as many head back from their “vacances” into the capital and other major cities.
The 2 worst weekends in 2025 are 12 – 13 July 2025 (from Paris) and 23 – 24 August 2025 (returning to Paris) which include a day designated as Black Saturday . These weekends mark the end of the July holiday for many French families and the beginning of the August one for others.
1 June and 2 August 2025 are also forecast as heavy traffic days!
www.autoroutes.fr is a useful site for French autoroutes, providing links to all the autoroute networks and real-time maps of congestion points, service areas etc
… or the Bison Futé (wise Bison) website which suggests alternative routes
From the AA:
the AA
The latest rules:
The drink drive limit for new drivers (less than 3 years) has gone down from 0.05% to 0.02%, the same as for bus and coach drivers.
Drivers and riders mustn’t use headphones and headsets (any device attached to your ear). This covers devices used for phone calls as well as for listening to music, but you’re allowed to use a Bluetooth or integrated systems in a motorcycle helmet.
Low Emission Zones in Paris, Lyon and Grenoble affect UK-registered vehicles too and ban access for older vehicles. (Full details)
Speed limits on single carriageway roads without a separating guard rail were reduced from 90km/h to 80km/h (50 mph) across France in 2018
From the AA:
The drink drive limit for novice drivers (less than three years driving experience) has been reduced to 0.02%, the same level as that applied to bus/coach drivers.
Drivers are prohibited from using headphones and headsets (any device attached to the ear) when driving. This regulation applies to all drivers and riders and covers devices used for phone calls as well as for listening to music/radio etc. Bluetooth or integrated systems in a motorcycle helmet are still permitted.
From January 2016 it will be compulsory for all motorcyclists (two or three wheels) to carry reflective jackets and wear them in the event of an emergency/breakdown.
A Low Emission Zone has been introduced in Paris, initially affecting only older (Euro 1) trucks and buses. Restrictions will be extended to all older vehicles from 1 July 2016 and tightened progressively between 2017 and 2020. More information can be found on www.urbanaccessregulations.eu
Eating at the wheel
There have been reports of a new law specifically prohibiting drivers from eating or applying make-up at the wheel. In fact this is not new, and there is no specific law to this effect. Eating/drinking etc. at the wheel is already covered under the more general French equivalent of our ‘Driving without due care and attention’ (article R.412-6 of the Code de la Route).
[July 2015] The AA
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