Busted in France

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I've just come back too. There seemed to be a lot more police presence on the roads (as my friends had told me in advance) and things seemed a lot more sedate this year. I usually cruise at about 75 (120kph) as a good compromise between speed and economy.

The only ones I saw giving it some beans were brit-registered cars on that run back to the ports (we came back via the Vendee, so picked up returning loons going to most ports). Plenty of brit cars parked up at the tolls where they had been escorted off.

This was on a Thursday, so heavens knows what the weekend must be like.
 
I've just come back too. There seemed to be a lot more police presence on the roads (as my friends had told me in advance) and things seemed a lot more sedate this year. I usually cruise at about 75 (120kph) as a good compromise between speed and economy.

The only ones I saw giving it some beans were brit-registered cars on that run back to the ports (we came back via the Vendee, so picked up returning loons going to most ports). Plenty of brit cars parked up at the tolls where they had been escorted off.

This was on a Thursday, so heavens knows what the weekend must be like.

Weekend in August so busy on A8 near Aix de Provence that there was no chance of speeding. Note speedo at zero...
 

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Im off to Germany in a weeks time, really cannot wait! We've just had some family friends who came over from Switzerland and even they said there is a lot of police presence in France, especially around Calais. Switzerland has apparently really cracked down on speeding, so everyone there drives spot on the limit otherwise you get hefty fines.

I'll be sticking to 70-75mph all the way as this is where my car gives me the best mileage on a long run.
 
That not a W210:ban::eek::D
Yes I thought I'd get caught out there. Left the green hearse at home and hired a car in France [a brand new 3 series BMW].

Got home and the first drive convinced me that the 3 series wasn't much of a car compared to my old beast, although the frantic hunting for a clutch pedal felt a bit silly until I readjusted.
 
Weekend in August so busy on A8 near Aix de Provence that there was no chance of speeding. Note speedo at zero...

It seems that you have mistakenly driven a 3 series BMW? ;)

Edit: 12 minutes too late with my Sherlock Holmes skills...
 
'We' (well my wife actually) and I were escorted off the motorway by the police in France just over a week ago. She drove through a camera that flashed and then through a speed trap at one of those 'aire' thingys. She was clocked at 161KPH.

90 euros later we were on our way again.
 
'We' (well my wife actually) and I were escorted off the motorway by the police in France just over a week ago. She drove through a camera that flashed and then through a speed trap at one of those 'aire' thingys. She was clocked at 161KPH.

90 euros later we were on our way again.

Guess I'll be doing all the driving this time then!:rolleyes: My missus drives like she stole the bloody thing, then says she doesn't like it, it's too big.:eek: I think she's still talking about the car.:rolleyes::rolleyes::D
 
Came back from France two weeks ago. Must agree with the view that the roads are so empty it's not really worth it to an extreme.

I sat on cruise control at 145kph, didn't have any issues. In fact went past a police car at the side of the road - they didn't budge.

I think 150 plus they really don't like it - and of course if it's raining they are very strict.
 
My days of blasting down the french autoroutes are over, I'm afraid - too many speed traps. I just set the limiter to about 135kph, and enjoy the ride...especially on the stretch approaching Calais, which is such a well-known spot for pulling over UK registered vehicles.

Strangely, I don't find the speed limit particularly constraining though - that extra permitted 10mph over the UK is sensible and makes a big difference to my mind, and given roads, traffic, cars etc, I find it quite a comfortable cruising speed. I also really like the lower speed limits for rainy weather, and the lower limits for vehicles with trailers down the long hills - speaks to me of a philosophy of allowing people to crack on at a reasonable speed and intervening only where necessary, and then only to limit the bigger risks rather than slow everyone down.
 
Use the speed indication on the satnav to set the cruise control - that way you'll be doing a true 130kph! Also gives you a good indication of how (in)accurate your speedo is. Did this autorouting to Le Mans this year (and main roading back for the 90 limits) and never had a problem with les flics!
 
Use the speed indication on the satnav to set the cruise control - that way you'll be doing a true 130kph! Also gives you a good indication of how (in)accurate your speedo is. Did this autorouting to Le Mans this year (and main roading back for the 90 limits) and never had a problem with les flics!

I don't think that's possible with Command is it? ie showing true speed on it.:dk: I will accept being proved wrong though apparently I always am according to SWMBO.:crazy:
 
Speedo on our Vito matches GPS speed on the TomTom near as dammit. We typically cruise at 125 kph on the continent.
 
Weekend in August so busy on A8 near Aix de Provence that there was no chance of speeding. Note speedo at zero...

Ah yes, I rememer those days well. That's why we've switched to mid-week journeys - bit of a pain with hols from work sometimes but more than made up for by the lack of traffic. Even the Liber-t tag isn't much of a bonus during the week queue-wise.
 
Speedo on our Vito matches GPS speed on the TomTom near as dammit. We typically cruise at 125 kph on the continent.

Likewise. I think we were usually within 1 kph of the speed indicated on Mrs E HTC.
 
Switzerland I suspect is now not much behind France :)
Depends which way you're facing. :D

'We' (well my wife actually) and I were escorted off the motorway by the police in France just over a week ago. She drove through a camera that flashed and then through a speed trap at one of those 'aire' thingys. She was clocked at 161KPH.

90 euros later we were on our way again.

That Smart car certainly does move.

Off to Provence next week. :bannana: usually set speed limiter to 140 kph. Good balance of speed and fuel return.
 
Depends which way you're facing. :D



That Smart car certainly does move.

Off to Provence next week. :bannana: usually set speed limiter to 140 kph. Good balance of speed and fuel return.

We were in her EOS. I have to say its a fantastic car. It pulls like a train and returned an average of just over 50mpg for the 2,250 miles we did!
 
Use the speed indication on the satnav to set the cruise control - that way you'll be doing a true 130kph! Also gives you a good indication of how (in)accurate your speedo is. Did this autorouting to Le Mans this year (and main roading back for the 90 limits) and never had a problem with les flics!


That's what I use (TomTom) along with the pocketgps speed camera database, worth it's weight in gold on roads you are not familiar with.

Russ
 
Sorry to learn that the OP got busted for €90. OTOH his poignant cri de coeur "Predictable, really :)" might have been a clue.

Perhaps it is just me and maybe I should hand my MB card back...

...but I really enjoy driving in France. Great food, nice people and endless empty country roads free of traffic, cctv cameras and with no trucks to sit behind at the weekends. I take a drive in France so that I can relax and remember what driving used to be like in the UK. No traffic jams or road-works lasting for years (often without workers in attendance)

As I said, perhaps it is just me. ;)

I agree with you on all that. I guess my point was that (a) there have been a lot of debates on here and on Pistonheads about the speeding crackdown in France (b) I was nearing Calais and (c) I was speeding. So, predictably, I was caught in a radar trap and fined.

If I had travelled a little slower, I'd have made an earlier train.

So yes, mea culpa.
 

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