What does the French road marking “ligne continue” prohibit a driver from crossing?

The French road marking “ligne continue” identifies a continuous line that drivers must not cross.

On a road, a continuous center line separates opposing or otherwise controlled streams of traffic. Crossing it can place a vehicle in the path of oncoming traffic, so the marking is used where overtaking or lateral movement would be unsafe. The exact legal treatment can depend on the road layout, adjacent markings, and applicable French rules.

A continuous line differs from a broken line, which generally permits crossing when it is safe and lawful. France can also use combinations of continuous and broken lines, where the line nearest the vehicle determines the relevant instruction. Drivers must read the complete marking rather than relying only on the line visible farther across the road.

The French term is useful for travelers because “ligne continue” may appear in driving manuals and official explanations even though the road surface itself uses no words. It refers to the marking, not to a separate roadside sign or a general no-parking restriction.