This new rule included in the Highway Code from January 11 is absolutely essential to avoid risking a fine.
Be careful if you take the road! From January 11, 2025, a new rule which concerns several million drivers will come into force on many roads in France. Published Friday January 10 in the Official Journal, a government decree definitively authorizes a practice very often observed on our roads. But this new regulation also imposes conditions to be respected. Otherwise, the fine for violators is already provided.
What is this change to the Highway Code? This is a novelty which targets drivers of two and three-wheelers, who are very numerous in the region. After three and a half years of experimentation, in 21 French departments, inter-line traffic (CIF) for bikers is now authorized in France.
While the experiment was initially extended until July 31, 2025, the government decided to perpetuate this authorization on all roads and highways with at least 2×2 lanes, necessarily separated by a central reservation, and on which the limitation speed is greater than or equal to 70 km/h. The decree specifies that inter-lane traffic is exceptionally permitted on the Paris ring road although the authorized speed has no longer exceeded 50km/h since last October.
If it is now included in the Highway Code, this practice is therefore governed by rules to be respected. To be able to circulate between two lines of cars, the two or three-wheeled vehicle cannot be more than one meter wide. Traffic must be heavy and motorcyclists can only overtake between the two lines of vehicles furthest to the left of the road. The speed of motorcyclists is also regulated. It cannot exceed 50 km/h and even 30 km/h if one of the lanes is stopped, understand during a traffic jam.
While owners of two and three-wheelers should welcome this rule, they will no longer be able to benefit from the vagueness that previously surrounded this common practice. The creation of an offense was enacted to punish drivers who break the rules newly included in the Highway Code. Failure to comply with the conditions mentioned above will be punishable by a 4th class fine, i.e. a fixed fine of 135 euros, and by the withdrawal of 3 points on the driving license.