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| Home > City Guide - Quebec City - Getting There By Road | ||
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Getting There By Road Quebec City is well served by a network of autoroutes (motorways), which are normally two-digit numbers identified by red and blue signs and main (100-199) and secondary (200-399) highways, which have green signs. Traffic drives on the right. Road signs are international but usually in French. Maximum speed limits are 100kph (62mph) on motorways, 80kph (50mph) on rural highways and 50kph (31mph) in built-up areas. It is illegal to turn right at a red light. The minimum driving age is 16 years. An International Driving Permit is recommended, although it is not legally required. Visitors to Quebec may drive on their national driving licences for up to six months. Proof of insurance (minimum C$50,000 third-party liability) must be carried. Non-residents may be covered for compensation under the province’s no-fault insurance if driving a vehicle registered in Quebec or a province or US state with a reciprocal arrangement; the Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec (tel: (418) 643 7620; website: www.saaq.gouv.qc.ca) can provide further information. There are often road checks for intoxicated drivers; the maximum legal alcohol to blood ratio for driving is 0.08%. Seatbelts are compulsory for all passengers. Radar detection devices are strictly prohibited and may not be carried in automobiles. Snow tyres are a necessity in winter. Information on road conditions is available from the Ministère des Transports (tel: (418) 684 2363; website: www.mtq.gouv.qc.ca) and Environment Canada (tel: (418) 648 7766). CAA-Québec (part of the Canadian Automobile Association) offers travel planning, insurance and other services to motorists (tel: (418) 624 0708 or 8222; website: www.caaquebec.com). Emergency breakdown services: CAA-Québec (418) 624 4000 (Quebec City area only) CAA/AAA (800) 222 4357 Routes to the city: The main routes from the west are Highway 40 on the St Lawrence north shore and Highway 20, which bypasses the city on the south shore. Access to the city from Highway 20 is via Highway 73 arriving from the south and the US border. Highway 73’s northern half meets with Highway 175 from Chicoutimi. From the east, Highway 138 from Charlevoix becomes Highway 440, leading directly into the centre of the city. Many of these routes jump around – it is often necessary to exit the highway, follow another one for a couple of kilometres, then rejoin the original one. Driving times to Quebec City: From Montreal – 2 hours 35 minutes; Ottawa – 4 hours 20 minutes; Toronto – 8 hours. Coach services: All buses depart from the main bus terminal, 320 rue Abraham-Martin (tel: (418) 525 3000), which is directly adjacent to the railway station. Facilities include ATMs, bars and restaurants, left-luggage and coach passes. Most buses arriving from the west also stop at the bus terminal in Ste-Foy, 3001 chemin des Quatre-Bourgeois (tel: (418) 650 0087). Orléans Express (website: www.orleansexpress.com) is the main coach company within the province of Quebec, serving areas to the west and all along the south shore of the St Lawrence. Intercar (website: www.intercar.qc.ca) serves the Lac St-Jean, Charlevoix and Côte Nord regions to the north and east of the city. |
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