New regulations in France

[Druk]

Posted over on the Owners forum. Be aware if you're going to France this summer.

Speeders, drinkers and bikers targeted in new road safety crack-down – The Connexion

 

[wemorgan]

High visibility jackets for motorcyclists seems like a very good idea.

 

[snoop51]

Posted over on the Owners forum. Be aware if you're going to France this summer.

Speeders, drinkers and bikers targeted in new road safety crack-down – The Connexion

Some seriously hefty fines and penalties there. Will definitely be sticking to the speed limit this year.

 

[davidjpowell]

Some of these do seem harsh. Given the french ability to not like authority I do wonder whether they have pushed a step too far?

Taking the warning signs away does smack more than a little of revenue raising, especially give the locations of some of the camera's.

 

[verytalldave]

I am going to France in September and will be driving a hire car for a week or so.
What do I need to be aware of and do I need to take anything not required in the UK ? ?
I presume the hire company will supply reflective jackets and warning triangles.
Thanks in advance.

 

[Druk]

If you wear prescription glasses to drive you need to carry a spare set in the car. (Recommended)

Ensure hire car has spare bulb set.






.

 

[st13phil]

Bearing in mind the protests that the proposal to ban motorcycles from lane splitting caused (and that the proposal was subsequently dropped), I would suspect that some of this will get modified before it comes into force.

Regarding other rules and reg's, the AA has a series of regularly updated guides for driving in other European countries. The one for France can be found here.

 

[Brian WH]

I wonder what their tolerance on speeding is?

UK is + 10%+2mph, so at French motorway speed of 81mph that makes it 91mph.

I usually drive at 85-90 on French Motorway so in theory I should be OK???

Anyone know their tolerances?

 

[st13phil]

I don't know whether they apply a tolerance or not, but certainly Spain has just embarked on a zero tolerance enforcement regime

I was quite surprised a couple of years ago to have a cop in an unmarked Peugeot pull alongside me on the A26 near Reims a couple of years ago and wag his finger at me then point at his speedo: I was on cruise at an indicated 85mph in a 130kph zone so I suspect that the tolerance is smaller than we may think. I'll drop a French friend of mine a note and see if he knows what current enforcement policy is.

Update: Looked through my links and found this dating from 2009. It would appear that the official position as of June 2009 was:

For fixed traps

• Speed limit < 100kph: 3kph tolerance
• Speed limit 100kph and above: 3% tolerance

For mobile traps

• Speed limit < 100kph: 7kph tolerance
• Speed limit 100kph and above: 7% tolerance

So that goes a long way to explaining why I received the finger wagging

 

[neilrr]

Some of these do seem harsh. Given the french dispencity to not like authority I do wonder whether they have pushed a step too far?

Taking the warning signs away does smack more than a little of revenue raising, especially give the locations of some of the camera's.

Is that a word? Should be if it's not!

 

[Frankie]

I thought you were meant to have a spare pair of glasses in the UK ?
I drive through France,Spain and Portugal every year. I would say the UK is most risky for getting caught,then France,Spain and Portugal in that order. The further I get from the UK,the less Police there seem to be on the roads. Play safe and there's no problem.

 

[A210AMG]

When ever we drive down to Annecy the toll roads feel very safe, costs about £50 in tolls all the way but very few heavies and to be honest not that many cars.

I have noticed more and more police though and speed cameras over the past few years so that 'max out' run may not be on this time round.

 

[Brian WH]

Update: Looked through my links and found this dating from 2009. It would appear that the official position as of June 2009 was:

For fixed traps

• Speed limit < 100kph: 3kph tolerance
• Speed limit 100kph and above: 3% tolerance

For mobile traps

• Speed limit < 100kph: 7kph tolerance
• Speed limit 100kph and above: 7% tolerance

So that goes a long way to explaining why I received the finger wagging

So based on that and the fact that our speedo's are 5% innaccurate, driving at 85mph should be OK, at 90mph you need to keep an eye out for the fuzz.

 

[AMG-Al]

Bit off topic I guess but can any of you guys give me an estimate of toll charges through France for quickest route from tunnel to Spain?

 

[wemorgan]

ViaMichelin itinerary of Calais to Toulouse

Calais to Toulouse is £35

 

[jpwilliams]

Bit off topic I guess but can any of you guys give me an estimate of toll charges through France for quickest route from tunnel to Spain?

Approx 70 euros but you can get exact figure from VIA-MICHELIN by putting in "fastest route and tolls"
Regards
John

 

[st13phil]

So based on that and the fact that our speedo's are 5% innaccurate, driving at 85mph should be OK, at 90mph you need to keep an eye out for the fuzz.

I haven't checked my W212 yet, but my W204's speedo was only 2mph fast at an indicated 80mph against a GPS so 5% may be a bit optimistic. I calculate 130kph +3% as a shade under 84mph, so an indicated 86 in my C-Class would have put me on the threshold of a nick from a fixed radar, or at an indicated 89mph (130kph +7% +speedo error) I'd be on the threshold for a mobile radar.

 

[GP801]

I drive through France a lot Calais - lyons- Modane for the Frejus tunnel to Italy. Cant remember the last time I saw a patrol or mobile camera. The fixed ones are quite well concealed and I understand many get you as you approach rather than afterwards. I dont drive that fast in any case. Just out of interest has anyone ever been stopped for doing over 110kph when its wet? How do they define wet? Is it the road surface or does it actually have to be raining?

 

[IBN]

Hi

I live in France and wasn't aware of the new regulations ..... so thanks.
With regards to speeding tolerances, I don't think there are any. Last year, I was caught by a mobile radar doing 119 kph in a 110 kph limit and was fined 69 Euros.

 

[W4SIM]

If you get caught by a speed camera then how do you get done when you dont live in the country? Or the same if you decide not to stop for the police coz they cant keep up with your AMG Kompressor???

Just asking out of curiosity.