Earphones Banned While Driving in France

At a glance

From 01/07/2015: wearing earphones, earpieces or headphones while driving is banned in France.

New rules in France from 01/07/2015 (also applying to drivers of foreign vehicles):

Ban on wearing earphones, earpieces or headphones while driving

From 01/07/2015, French traffic law introduced the following new provisions:

Drivers are banned from wearing any device that can produce sound in their ear (earpieces, headphones, earphones).
The measure applies to all road users driving a vehicle with a steering wheel (cars, lorries) or handlebars (motorbike, scooter, moped, bicycle), and adds to the existing ban on making phone calls while driving with a phone in hand.
The ban doesn't just cover phone calls but also music and radio, as soon as they are played through a device in contact with the ears.
Fine: €135 (and 3 points deducted from a French driving licence)
This measure doesn't apply to "hands-free" systems built into vehicles or into motorcycle helmets — in other words, systems that aren't worn in the ear or held in the hand.

These measures aim to reduce accidents linked to the use of such listening devices.

Blood alcohol limit for new drivers

In addition, the permitted blood alcohol level while driving has been lowered for new drivers (during the first 3 years after obtaining their licence) from 0.5 g/l to 0.2 g/l — the equivalent of zero (0) alcoholic drinks.