Top 25 Traffic Offences in France

Whilst the roads in France are often much quieter than those in the UK, there are still a large number of offences committed by French (& European) drivers every year from speeding to illegal parking. The total number of traffic violations runs into many millions every year but obviously some offences are much more prevalent than others. The latest survey of traffic violations in mainland France has revealed which offences are the most common. The list of the top 25 offences together with the total number of each violation/ annum is shown below:

1 - Excess speed of between 5 to 20 km /hr in 50 - 130 km /hr zones (Fixed radars): 11,727,686 offences

2 - Illegal parking in paid parking zone (Paris): 4,108,199 offences

3 - Excess speed of between 5 to 20 km /hr in 30 - 50 km /hr zones (Fixed radars): 3,052,271 offences

4 - Illegal stopping or parking: 1,122,467 offences

5 - Illegal stopping or parking in a reserved passage or space: 630,036 offences

6 - Jumping red light (Fixed cameras): 588,790 offences

7 - Excess speeds of between 20 and 29 km /hr in all zones (Fixed radars): 549,314 offences

8 - Insurance offences : 519,159 offences

9 - Excess speeds of between 20 and 29 km /hr in all zones (observed by the police): 365,498 offences

10 - Non-presentation (immediate or within 5 days) of papers: 354,763 offences

11 - Use of a hand-held mobile phone by the driver: 328,059 offences

12 - Driving a car without an MOT: 241,444 offences

13 - Hit and run : 168,440 offences

14 - Offences regarding registration documents: 157,745 offences

15 - Stopping or parking in prohibited area: 142,641 offences

16 - Excess speeds of between 30 to 39 km /hr in all zones (observed by the police): 129,597 offences

17 - Miscellaneous offences while stopping or parking: 125,156 offences

18 – Driver not wearing seat belt: 124,116 offences

19 - Drunk at the wheel : 123,850 offences

20 - Speeding not measured by radar (manual or automatic): 122,256 offences

21 - Excess speeds of between 30 to 39 km /hr in all zones (Fixed radars): 116,248 offences

22 - Non-compliance with road signs: 109,352 offences

23 - Failure to observe a ‘Stop sign’: 100,762 offences

24 - Stopping or parking on disabled space: 95,120 offences

25 - Failure to stop at a temporary flashing red light: 95,109 offences