Driving in france

[markjay]

I use my mobile-phone-based sat nav when driving in France, never had an issue. This in itself is obviously not a guarantee, but just to say that the probability of getting in trouble over this is not very high.

 

[lfckeeper]

Doing the same thing at the end of the month (driving to Milan). Drove to Berlin 18 monrhs ago and it was plain sailing... the tolls in France Switzerland and Italy should be fun for my wallet this time!

 

[clk320x]

Cheers guys, trips been postponed... till next weekend hopefully

 

[Darrell]

Google maps was spot on. It found my mums place in rural somewhere in France without a hitch.

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

Printed Insurance forms / Vigipirate / idiots

Your insurance company will give you pro-forma insurance claim forms which must be filled out at the site of an accident. These should be carried in the car, together with your V5 and your insurance document and you Drivers licence.

As has been discussed, spare bulbs are not a legal requirement BUT if stopped with a light out, you will not be allowed to proceed.

You need as many high viz jackets as passengers. I have one pukka excellent quality ex-police jacket (price £10 from eBay) and a cycling jacket (it does the job)

The breathalyser thing is a bit of a red herring. It's not really enforced.

Be aware that the police pull cars over at roadside stops, typically near roundabouts. They're looking for coffee coloured chaps answering to the name of Mohammed. (Sorry if that sounds racist, but they're being racist.) It's all part of France's 20 year "state of emergency" called Vigipirate, an overtime creation scheme for tubby policemen. You won't see many traffic cops patrolling in cars.

The most important advice is to be aware that the French drive like idiots and are especially fond of overtaking on blind bends, usually in underpowered Citroens and Peugeots. So expect idiots to create a collision, and take avoiding action. To put some numbers on it, something like 4,000 people die unnecessarily on French roads every year. Eighty a week. But what can you do?

 

[Darrell]

And not forgetting the bloke in a 1litre fart box flashing you to go faster on the motorway.

 

[Peter103]

Good tip, drive on the right.

 

[Deleted member 6183]

be aware that the police pull cars over at roadside stops, typically near roundabouts. They're looking for coffee coloured chaps answering to the name of mohammed. (sorry if that sounds racist, but they're being racist.) it's all part of france's 20 year "state of emergency" called vigipirate, an overtime creation scheme for tubby policemen. You won't see many traffic cops patrolling in cars.

wtf?

 

[clk320x]

So what would happen if I was pulled over with a xenon out? They'd remove my car? How would I get back to the UK?

 

[Stratman]

So what would happen if I was pulled over with a xenon out? They'd remove my car? How would I get back to the UK?

"Pas mon problème monsieur"

 

[Peter103]

So what would happen if I was pulled over with a xenon out? They'd remove my car? How would I get back to the UK?

Good tip No. 2 Only drive between Sunrise and Sunset.

 

[Huw 800S]

I went through this entire experience in August last year. Every is available in a kit from Halfords. I didn't use the headlamp deflectors cos I didn't drive at night. Didn't see a single copper in 3 weeks.

I do believe that if its raining enough to put your wipers on, you must also put headlights on

 

[Darrell]

I do believe that if its raining enough to put your wipers on, you must also put headlights on

It didn't rain!!!

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

NB You can't use earphones for music / phone / satnav

It was news to me to discover that you can't now use earphones / iPhone earpieces at all. Not for Satnav, Music, or Phone usage.

£135 fine and 3 French points.

You can only use a phone if it means you keep your hands on the steering wheel and/or use voice-activated controls.

Here's a source:

https://www.thelocal.fr/20150618/french-drivers-banned-from-using-earphones

 

[clk320x]

Glad I live in England

 

[Huw 800S]

Glad I live in England

What, where every other person is driving on the phone

 

[markjay]

While there is no specific law prohibiting the wearing of headphones while driving, if spotted by police you are likely to be prosecuted for driving without due care and attention.

Hearing is one of the senses and intentionally impairing it means not being fully aware of the surroundings while driving.

This is similar to how police used to prosecute drivers holding a mobile phone before it became a specific offence.

The 'plus' side from the offender's perspective is that one could try and put-up a defence saying that the action did not amount to driving without due care and attention, as opposed to when there is a specific law prohibiting it.

But ultimately - no, you should not be wearing earphones while driving in the UK, and you can be prosecuted if caught. And in the event that you are involved in a collision... the police will definitely take it into account when preparing their report.

 

[markjay]

To clarify, the above reffers to the UK, not France (so it's actually Off Topic....)

 

[rf065]

I do believe that if its raining enough to put your wipers on, you must also put headlights on

And the speed limit is reduced on m/ways if it's raining too.

Russ

 

[Petrol Pete]

Re the sat nav in the windscreen.
In the age of built in sat navs etc do people still have a big Garmin suckered to the screen.
I used my iPhone with Google maps. Simply plonked it in the dash, propped up against the instrument binnacle or put it up against the ashtray and my wife told me where to go.

This is the one that brings up the 'use of mobile phone when driving' question.
Simply touching your phone when driving can get you in deep trouble but we can all seem to touch our sat nav units whether dash or windscreen mounted without fear of prosecution. How does that work ?

Dedicated sat nav units are superior to smartphone navigation.