British motorists face £100 fine for failing to wear fluorescent vests when driving i

[Dragon]

Two, for starters.

My daughter is 18 and she told me she can't wait to, "get out of this mad house of a country of ours",will a Hi Viz vest stop you from getting stabbed or will it attract the stabbers ?

A well thought out comment. Relevance...**** all.

Oh yeah, Britain again bows to the EEC God again, I will not be going to France now..!

- JohnR,


Doing the French a favour. Shame really as it means we have to put up with this idiot for longer.

Wrong not just in France, applicable in Spain and Germany too.

 

[Dieselman]

Wrong not just in France, applicable in Spain and Germany too.

Did you read the post.? Not my comments...They are drivel from Daily Mail readers.

 

[MBManInKen]

Belgium has had this rule for a while now: you are obliged to carry a high visibility jacket with you in the car in case of breakdown.

Sounds like a sensible safety measure to me. I have a jacket permanently in the boot.

As for all the ranting about how unfair this is and the twaddle about soft targets etc: surely if you go and visit another sovereign country, it is not exactly unreasonable to be expected to obey that country's laws?

Imagine the Daily Wail's outrage if French motorists would object to one or other British motoring law while driving here .

Brighten up, chaps, life is too short to get all wound up about tabloid twaddle.

 

[jimti]

‘I steer ferries between England and France for a living and I didn’t know about this law change, so what chance has anyone else got?’

This comment made me laugh, it infers that I should know about law changes involving ferries as I drive to Dover quite often. How on earth would sailing a boat somewhere give you knowledge of it's traffic regs. Maybe if he went to the on-board shop on his boat he would have seen all the safety equipment for sale warning of the requirement to have them in Europe.

All the relevant information about requirements when driving over seas is readily available from lots of places for example THE AA
As for the French picking on us poor Brits, I have never heard such tosh in my life, I make my living driving in excess of 100000 mile every year across Europe, and I can honestly say I have only been stopped about 5 times in France in the last 12 years, They stop vehicles from any nation including their own fairly indiscriminately and from my experience their own drivers seem to be the ones you see being controlled most often at the peage's.

I keep reading complaints about the lack of police in the Uk and over use of Cameras, so we should love driving in France.

 

[Dieselman]

Maybe if he went to the on-board shop on his boat he would have seen all the safety equipment for sale warning of the requirement to have them in Europe.

Too busy gleaning learned information from the Daily Mail to go to the shop.

I keep reading complaints about the lack of police in the Uk and over use of Cameras, so we should love driving in France.

 

[recycled]

Wrong, you also need one for the passengers in Spain. This is new to me. Yet to learn more requirement in Germany and other Euro countries. Please tell me more, the last time I ventured there was in 1999.

what is wrong? some people really need to brush up on their reading skills.
if you do not like their laws, then do not travel to their country instead of being the resident fiona bruce

 

[Dieselman]

Don't worry about it recycled..

 

[Dieselman]

How will english coaches cope?

Good point, they will need a vest per occupant unless not allowing them off the coach is permitted.

Some of the trip party definately need these things anyway, they are a danger to themselves and others.

In reality it's like providing life jackets on boats, a sensible idea.

 

[crockers]

I think you may find that this law -- due to come in July may have been deferred to Oct due the lack of supply in French stores..

It has been law in Spain for a few years and we always carry a vest in each car....just makes sense..

 

[marcos]

I just don't get peoples attitude towards all this
If your going to another coutry then read up first and simply abide by their rules, we all expect everyone else to do it when they come over here so why should we get away with it. Everytime I have driven across Europe I always carry all the stuff you have to, it's not difficult
Everyone bleats on about the new tougher speeding fines in France and how they use to be able to always speed in France, and now cant and it's unfair etc etc etc. It's that countrys laws so just abide by them and if it bothers you that much then spend a week driving round Birmingham without your bloody fluorescent jacket.
Rant over

 

[glojo]

Being a lazy bigot, I didn't know that there was a law requiring you to carry a high vis vest about on the continent - the last time I drove there was 3 years ago mind...

All I was aware of was carrying a spare bulb kit in Spain..

Will look into it.


Ade

Looks like you need to thank the Daily mail for bringing this to our attention

regards
John

 

[st13phil]

Being a lazy bigot, I didn't know that there was a law requiring you to carry a high vis vest about on the continent - the last time I drove there was 3 years ago mind...

All I was aware of was carrying a spare bulb kit in Spain..

Will look into it.


Ade

Bikes are exempt from the requirement to carry a warning triangle in all the countries that mandate one for cars. New this year is that Spain and Italy now require bike rider and pillion to wear hi-viz jacket or waistcoat if broken down and off the bike (but not while riding). Note that the new requirement in France to carry hi-viz vest or jacket does not apply to bikes at all.

Good source of Hi-Viz clothing here.

 

[barryj]

I think the criticism is slightly unfair. Just look at the headlines of most tabloid newspapers and then think about this one.

Yes it is distorted, but here we are debating it and now we all know we have to take these jackets with us when we go abroad! Well done the Daily Mail, but as drivers the responsibility rests with us to know the traffic laws of any countries we intend to drive in?(question)

regards
John

Well done the daily mail? what for? just more bloody scare mongering, it is the obvious responsibility of all the continental vehicle carriers to provide this information. Do you really believe that the Mail printed this twisted and initially misleading story to help people out?

 

[Dieselman]

Sorry gang, it had to be done..

After reading this thread and the comments from the newspaper respondants I had to see whether a high vis was a good idea if stranded on the side of a motorway.
I placed the two triangles from my car in the garage and took some shots.

Shot 1: Triangles and Hi-viz lit by daylight.
Shot 2: triangles and Hi-viz in darkened garage, no illumination.
Shot 3: Triangles and Hi-viz illuminated by flash to simulate headlamps at night.

What do you think.?
Money grabbing Tax or reasonable safety aid.?

This thread reminded me to dig out another triangle/first aid/fire extinguisher kit and install it in Mrs Dm's car.
Just got to find her Hi-viz now.

 

[Carrotchomper]

You do love your illustrative pictures Will. I look forward to the Haynes-style "Dieselman's Pictorial Guide To Life", released soon in hardback, £5.99 where stocked

Fair comment though, it's a sensible safety aid and I for one do not fall out with the law here.

 

[recycled]

I think it is a good safety idea. Thanks for posting it up DM.
just teaches us all to do your home work before travelling.
Just had to say this but one of our colleagues friends, (i did not know him personally), had a head on with a 607 near lyon in a yaris as he forgot to go round the roundabout, the french way.
Sad to say he did not make it back.

even when i go to london, i still do my homework, like possible bus lanes on my route, parking times e.t.c red routes and congestion zones

 

[Dieselman]

You do love your illustrative pictures Will. I look forward to the Haynes-style "Dieselman's Pictorial Guide To Life", released soon in hardback, £5.99 where stocked

£25.99..
I just though it was a case of a picture says a thousand words.

Note how the cheapo triangle beats the Mercedes one in the daylight shot.
I'm also pleasently surprised how well the Hi-viz can be seen without the flash compared to surrounding junk.

 

[gina2201]

When is an idea designed to improve safety not a good idea?

Whether the Daily Mail were highlighting it for motorists benefit or not doesn't really matter, it has reached quite a few people I would imagine so that's got to be a good thing.

 

[Dieselman]

.
Just had to say this but one of our colleagues friends, (i did not know him personally), had a head on with a 607 near lyon in a yaris as he forgot to go round the roundabout, the french way.

I met a French girl in a Peugeot going the wrong way round a roundabout in Wiltshire. I realised what she was going to do and stopped short and laughed.
Also worth remembering that in town side roads have priority and when on a roundabout to give way to traffic entering from your right. Very strange.

 

[gina2201]

£25.99..
I just though it was a case of a picture says a thousand words.

Note how the cheapo triangle beats the Mercedes one in the daylight shot.
I'm also pleasently surprised how well the Hi-viz can be seen without the flash compared to surrounding junk.

Slightly OT but the hi viz gives motorists an extra 3 + seconds to spot you (as a rider) as opposed to not wearing it, so better safe than sorry! Would assume it would apply to pedestrians aswell.