Crossing animalsFrance

An introduction to the traffic rules and road signs of France. Learn about driving, road safety and much more in our illustrated book, with answers to frequently asked questions.

For informational purposes only. Always follow official regulations. Some content and images were created with AI assistance.


38. Crossing animals

An animals-crossing warning indicates a place or road section where wild animals, livestock or ridden animals may enter or cross the road. Animals may appear suddenly, move unpredictably or be difficult to see in darkness, vegetation or poor weather.

Drivers should reduce speed, scan both sides of the road and remain prepared to stop. The warning sign does not itself give animals priority or impose a numerical speed limit, but drivers must avoid frightening, endangering or colliding with them.

Wild-animal crossing warning sign with a supplementary distance panel on the A411. (Gaillard, Haute-Savoie, France)
Wikimedia.org • Marc Mongenet • CC BY-SA
Which animals might drivers encounter on roads in France?

Depending on the locality, drivers may meet deer, wild boar and livestock in rural or wooded areas. Roadside animal-warning signs and local hazard information indicate where extra care may be needed; do not assume the hazard ends immediately after a sign.

🔗 legifrance.gouv.fr • French Road Code — R413-17, R414-1–4, R414-11; 1967 order article 3

Warning for cattle on the road. Warning for cattle on the road.

English • Traffic sign A15a1 • Domestic animals crossing.

Français • Panneau A15a1 • Passage d'animaux domestiques.

Sources

🔗 Commons.wikimedia.org
🔗 Equipementsdelaroute.cerema.fr • Arrêté du 24 novembre 1967

© Roulex 45 et les contributeurs Wikimedia • CC BY-SA 3.0 • SVG original non modifié.

Image via Commons.wikimedia.org
Roulex_45 • CC BY-SA 3.0 • Source revision 2013-07-05. Wikimedia original unmodified.

Warning for crossing deer. Warning for crossing deer.

English • Traffic sign A15b • Wild animals crossing.

Français • Panneau A15b • Passage d'animaux sauvages.

Sources

🔗 Commons.wikimedia.org
🔗 Equipementsdelaroute.cerema.fr • Arrêté du 24 novembre 1967

© Roulex 45 et les contributeurs Wikimedia • CC BY-SA 3.0 • SVG original non modifié.

Image via Commons.wikimedia.org
Roulex_45 • CC BY-SA 3.0 • Source revision 2013-07-05. Wikimedia original unmodified.

Does an animal-crossing warning sign in France set a new speed limit?

A warning of animals is not, by itself, a numerical speed-limit sign. Continue to obey the applicable speed limit, but slow down whenever animals could enter the road or visibility is poor. A separate regulatory speed sign must also be obeyed.

🔗 legifrance.gouv.fr • French Road Code — R413-17, R414-1–4, R414-11; 1967 order article 3

What should you do if an animal enters the road in France?

Ease off the accelerator, assess the traffic behind and brake smoothly if necessary. Avoid abrupt swerving into opposing traffic or off the road. Give farm animals and ridden animals room, avoid frightening them with unnecessary horn use, and be alert for more animals following.

🔗 legifrance.gouv.fr • French Road Code — R413-17, R414-1–4, R414-11; 1967 order article 3

1 France 2 Motorway 3 Expressway 4 Residential area 5 Zone 6 Speed limit 7 Minimum speed 8 Advisory speed 9 Footpath 10 Bike path 11 Pedestrian warning 12 Tunnel 13 Bridge 14 Cycling street 15 Pedestrian zone 16 Speed bump 17 Toll road 18 Customs 19 One-way traffic 20 Quay 21 Slope 22 Bus lane 23 Bus stop 24 Dead end 25 Stop sign 26 Give way 27 Roundabout 28 Priority road 29 Road narrowing 30 Priority over oncoming traffic 31 Give way to oncoming traffic 32 Pedestrian crossing 33 Railway crossing 34 Mandatory direction 35 Turn prohibition 36 School area 37 Overtaking 38 Crossing animals 39 Slippery road 40 Rockfall 41 Aircraft 42 Curve 43 Chevron 44 Wrong-way driving 45 Roadworks 46 Crosswind 47 Height limit 48 Width limit 49 Length limit 50 Weight limit 51 Radar speed sign 52 Selective barriers 53 Low-emission zone 54 Priority at the next junction 55 Traffic lights 56 Traffic lights warning 57 Pedestrian lights 58 Road markings 59 Junction layout 60 Bike box 61 Speed feedback 62 Driving licence 63 Location marker 64 Road number 65 Countdown markers 66 Public toilet 67 Rest area 68 Traffic mirror 69 Emergency telephone 70 International border 71 Cycling route 72 End of restriction 73 Parking 74 No parking 75 No stopping 76 Parallel parking 77 Alternate-side parking 78 Parking meter 79 Parking disc 80 Disabled parking 81 Traffic management 82 Merging 83 Reversing 84 U-turn 85 Carpool 86 Traffic jam 87 Uncontrolled crossroad 88 Road surface 89 Ring road 90 Exit 91 Information point 92 Horse riding 93 Provisional licence 94 Hazardous cargo 95 Emergency exit 96 Runaway truck ramp 97 Radio service 98 Oversize load 99 Lane 100 Tyre inflation station ...