City Guides
Toulouse
Getting There By Road
Getting There By Road
Toulouse
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, or 68mph, when raining),
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. Seatbelts 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) (tel: (04) 9032 9005; website: www.asf.fr) is responsible for the southern France motorway network and produces free maps with information in English. The motorway network number (tel: (04) 9178 7878) provides information on traffic conditions and driving regulations in southeastern France. Information is also available from Autoroutel (tel: 0892 707 001). Traffic conditions are broadcast on RadioTrafic 107.7FM. Emergency telephones linked up to the police are located every 2km (1.2 miles) on each side of the motorway.
Emergency breakdown service: Dépann'Auto 31 (tel: (05) 6187 8204)
If you need an ambulance, use the orange SOS phones that are situated every 2km (1.2 miles) on motorways and every 4km (2.5 miles) on dual carriageways and other major roads. Or dial 15 from a normal phone. You must also call the police (dial 17).
Routes to the city: Four motorways converge on Toulouse: the A62 from the north, the A68 from the northeast, the A64 from the southwest, and the A61 from the southeast. Toulouse is circled by a péripherique (ring road), will you will join upon leaving the motorway. The following exits are particularly useful: Pont des Demoiselles (for Gare Matabiau) and exit 30: Ponts Jumeaux (for the city centre).
Approximate driving times to Toulouse: From Marseille - 3 hours; Barcelona - 4 hours; Bordeaux - 2 hours; Paris – 8 hours.
Coach services: The coach station (tel: (05) 6161 6767) is located next to the Gare Matabiau on boulevard Pierre Semard. Coaches and buses depart from here for a number of destinations in Midi-Pyrénées and further afield.
Autoroutes du Sud de la France (ASF) (tel: (04) 9032 9005; website: www.asf.fr) is responsible for the southern France motorway network and produces free maps with information in English. The motorway network number (tel: (04) 9178 7878) provides information on traffic conditions and driving regulations in southeastern France. Information is also available from Autoroutel (tel: 0892 707 001). Traffic conditions are broadcast on RadioTrafic 107.7FM. Emergency telephones linked up to the police are located every 2km (1.2 miles) on each side of the motorway.
Emergency breakdown service: Dépann'Auto 31 (tel: (05) 6187 8204)
If you need an ambulance, use the orange SOS phones that are situated every 2km (1.2 miles) on motorways and every 4km (2.5 miles) on dual carriageways and other major roads. Or dial 15 from a normal phone. You must also call the police (dial 17).
Routes to the city: Four motorways converge on Toulouse: the A62 from the north, the A68 from the northeast, the A64 from the southwest, and the A61 from the southeast. Toulouse is circled by a péripherique (ring road), will you will join upon leaving the motorway. The following exits are particularly useful: Pont des Demoiselles (for Gare Matabiau) and exit 30: Ponts Jumeaux (for the city centre).
Approximate driving times to Toulouse: From Marseille - 3 hours; Barcelona - 4 hours; Bordeaux - 2 hours; Paris – 8 hours.
Coach services: The coach station (tel: (05) 6161 6767) is located next to the Gare Matabiau on boulevard Pierre Semard. Coaches and buses depart from here for a number of destinations in Midi-Pyrénées and further afield.
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