If you're road tripping to Paris this summer, heads up: there's a new road rule on the city’s massive ring road and ignoring it could land you a fine of €135 (about £117.50).
The Boulevard Périphérique, the eight lane motorway that circles Paris, is used by around 1.1 million vehicles every day. But under Mayor Anne Hidalgo, the city has been clamping down hard on car use, and this latest change could catch out tourists not in the know.
The new sign you need to know
A new road sign featuring a white diamond on a blue background marks a carpool only lane on the far left side of the carriageway. If you're driving alone and use that lane during weekday rush hours (7am to 10:30am and 4pm to 8pm, Monday to Friday), you’ll be automatically fined thanks to some serious camera tech.
The system uses AI powered cameras to count how many people are in each car. If it flags your vehicle, footage goes to a human reviewer who checks the number of occupants before any fines are issued.
What if you're on holiday?
If you're driving to Paris with mates or family, you’re probably fine. The carpool lane only penalises solo drivers during peak hours. On weekends and public holidays, the lanes are open to everyone. Emergency vehicles, taxis, buses and cars for people with reduced mobility can use them anytime.
Where are the lanes?
These carpool lanes are on both sides of the ring road and were first introduced during the 2024 Paris Olympics to give priority access to athletes and staff. Now, they’re here to stay and designed to cut traffic and pollution by encouraging people to share rides.
A broader crackdown on cars
This is just one part of Mayor Hidalgo’s bigger plan to make Paris less car friendly. Last year, she dropped the ring road speed limit to 50km/h (31mph) and banned several petrol stations from selling diesel.
She’s also banned through traffic in central Paris with the introduction of a “Limited Traffic Zone” (ZTL), covering iconic areas like the Louvre and the Tuileries. That rule came into effect last November with a grace period, but from September it’ll also be enforced with €135 fines.
Could London be next?
Some Brits are worried this could be a glimpse of London’s future. Mayor Sadiq Khan has praised Hidalgo’s policies before, especially her crackdown on SUVs and steep parking charges. Time will tell if similar changes come to the UK.
In the meantime, if you're hitting the road in Paris, keep an eye out for that diamond sign. It might just save you over 100 quid.
