We often see this road sign and yet we don’t know what to do when we see it.
Our roads are full of complex traffic signs, sometimes making you wonder if road safety is putting itself in the shoes of motorists. Driving a vehicle already requires enough attention, if only we could spare ourselves from having to guess the meaning of a diagram when we pass by, sometimes at more than 100 kilometers per hour. Fortunately, many signs have simple and precise indications. Not to mention those whose meaning drivers know by heart because they see them almost all the time.
This is the case of the no entry sign, one of the most common on the roads of France. It is round, red, and has a flattened white rectangle in its center. It indicates that the road is one-way and that entry is prohibited in the direction where the sign is placed. It is quite often placed above a sign, in particular one where it is written “Except residents”. It is impossible for anyone who drives regularly not to have already seen it. The problem is that the vast majority of those who come across it do not know how to behave when faced with it.
This sign is most often located at the entrance to a residential area. As indicated, it indicates that access is prohibited to all vehicles except those of local residents. However, when you see it, as you approach the house of Aunt Monique and Uncle Jean-Louis, where you have been invited to spend the afternoon, your instinct is not to turn around and park several hundred meters further. No, for most drivers, continuing on the street to reach the destination address seems logical. However, this is against the law, and can result in a ticket.
The “No entry except for residents” road signs are most often the result of municipal decisions. They aim to reduce traffic in certain residential areas, protect the environment and improve the quality of life of residents. In addition to residents, other people may receive special authorization to use these streets. This is the case for priority vehicles (firefighters, police, emergency services, etc.), public service vehicles and delivery vehicles.
But it is clearly forbidden for the average citizen, even if he comes to visit family or friends. Arguing in front of the police once caught in the act has very little chance of success, unless you land it well. Otherwise it will cost you 35 euros, a fine that is rather difficult to swallow.