Another speeding in France thread........
Discussion
Cunning Punt said:
Diamond blue said:
should be visible from outside the car
No, that's not a requirement, though many people do it. Just has to be accessible from inside the cabin.Diamond blue said:
If they are really peeved then they can ask for a first aid kit,a tool kit
I don't believe first aid or tool kits are requirements in France either.Happy to be proved wrong.
I agree with the rest.
'punt
First aid kit IS required - along with a warning triangle, fire extinguisher AND spare bulb kit - one spare for every bulb including interior light! Tool kit is up to you.
It is part of the French "Good Samaritan" laws, which REQUIRE you to stop and render help to a person in trouble. People who do not stop to help may face prosecution - seriously!
Blown bulbs could get you a instant fine and prolonged stay at the side of the road while your new one arrives if you get lippy about it!
Mars said:
Might have to ask the wife to drive.
Actually, having the bikes on the towbar carrier, and a mahoosive roof box on top might curb my enthusiasm.
Make sure that if the number plate is obscured by the bikes that you have a second plate clearly displayed. €60 fine if not visible.Actually, having the bikes on the towbar carrier, and a mahoosive roof box on top might curb my enthusiasm.
Also check car tyre pressures - if your tyres look soft they will check for you and fine you €60 on the spot if not up to the manufacturers specs. Sometimes overlooked when loaded up with cheap wine or luggage.
ALWAYS have ALL documents with you. They have to be produced right away, not a 5 day producer!
Last two years, my ferry has been full of Brit drivers whinging that they were being picked upon... they don't.
Tell that to the Swedish motorcyclist in Ploermel, central Brittany, who was stopped on his BMW and did not have his registration documents with him.
he spent 5 days in a hotel waiting for the documents to arrive after his relatives posted them from Sweden - and all the while, his BMW was in the impound lot!
I have seen Belgians and Germans stopped at the roadside - but the reason so many Brits get pulled is that they are more often caught racing to the Ferry because they failed to set off in good time.
The reason they get stopped is because they were speeding, not because they are Brits.
At least the Belgians, Dutch, Swiss and Germans don't usually have ferries to catch, and so take it a little bit easier!
Finally, take an UP TO DATE map, sat nav or atlas with you - the French have a habit of re-numbering roads that have been upgraded, or bypassed by new roads, so an old map is likely to lead you astray!
Mill Wheel said:
Make sure that if the number plate is obscured by the bikes that you have a second plate clearly displayed. €60 fine if not visible.
Thanks - you're absolutely right about that. I was so paranoid about using an old strap-on (ooer) bike carrier that I bought one of these:
To attach to one of these:
On the back of this (with that roofbox):
He liked it:
Mill Wheel said:
Also check car tyre pressures - if your tyres look soft they will check for you and fine you €60 on the spot if not up to the manufacturers specs. Sometimes overlooked when loaded up with cheap wine or luggage.
I check them often anyway but they'll get a bit extra for the holiday. We put these on for the winter, and just left them on. They were expensive so I'm quite cautious with them:
Mill Wheel said:
ALWAYS have ALL documents with you. They have to be produced right away, not a 5 day producer!
We go every year, so I have "ze list" upon which we start ticking off our items as they get from their normal home, to the conservatory, and then packed into the car. We're in the "loading up the conservatory" mode at the moment. Finding it difficult to believe it'll all go in to that monster, even with that roof box (which is 2m long x 1m wide).Mill Wheel said:
At least the Belgians, Dutch, Swiss and Germans don't usually have ferries to catch, and so take it a little bit easier!
This is what always kills me - we always think we leave plenty of time but my wife worries (rightly) about our kids needing time out of the car so each time we stop we seem to do so for far too long.bluepolarbear said:
Correct, it is advised to carry.
As stated France is getting very tough on speeders. Following a sharp increase in road deaths in May they passed laws to remove the warning signs before their camera's and banning GPS camera detectors. They are also increasing points for many "every day" offences such as phone use etc.
This is true but its an exaggeration to say things are quite as bad as all that. I've just got back from 2400 miles all over the country and I dont think I saw more than 1 trap. I am sympathetic about the overall campaign making it less enjoyable to drive in France but dont be terrified. The limit on a dry autoroute is 130kph which is over 80mph and you will be fine at a steady 140-145kph indicated unless its raining which they take seriously. Watch out for limit reductions on viaducts etc and be careful in villages and on long, straight N roads.As stated France is getting very tough on speeders. Following a sharp increase in road deaths in May they passed laws to remove the warning signs before their camera's and banning GPS camera detectors. They are also increasing points for many "every day" offences such as phone use etc.
On the 3 occasions I have been stopped , they have not been interested in the minutiae of the traffic regs. Docs in order and be polite and carry enough cash.
Diamond blue said:
This is true but its an exaggeration to say things are quite as bad as all that. I've just got back from 2400 miles all over the country and I dont think I saw more than 1 trap. I am sympathetic about the overall campaign making it less enjoyable to drive in France but dont be terrified. The limit on a dry autoroute is 130kph which is over 80mph and you will be fine at a steady 140-145kph indicated unless its raining which they take seriously. Watch out for limit reductions on viaducts etc and be careful in villages and on long, straight N roads.
On the 3 occasions I have been stopped , they have not been interested in the minutiae of the traffic regs. Docs in order and be polite and carry enough cash.
This^^^. On the 3 occasions I have been stopped , they have not been interested in the minutiae of the traffic regs. Docs in order and be polite and carry enough cash.
Le Mans run this year was as per normal. Don't take the piss, pay attention and you'll be fine. Two gendarme traps en route. Les Francais flashing lights to give heads up and keeping, generally, to close to the posted limts and no worries.
Blinkin 'eck! Bit of doom-mongering on here.
As a member of the Forces based in Germany upto May this year, I have done the trip to and from the UK about 10 times a year for the past 4 years. Now perhaps I've been lucky, but I also have 50 guys and girls that I am responsible for. Each of them do similar amounts of trips and in the 4 years I have had 1 reported stop. Certainly on the main routes to the coast the French were as happy to break the speed limit as we were. As for the break down kit, some of the tax free cars sold have the equipment as standard, as for the rest, very few actually bother to buy the equipment never mind have it in the cabin.
Now don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that there is no enforcement or that you won't ever get pulled and get penalised for not having the required kit. I'm just saying that in the North of France certainly, it has not gone to a police state on the roads. I would go as far as to say that there is no noticable difference from when I first arrived in 2007. So before everyone gets worked into a frenzy about how bad it is to drive accross France, take a chill pill and relax, enjoy your trip, if you speed and get caught by a copper, you'll pay. If you get flashed then carry on as normal.
As a member of the Forces based in Germany upto May this year, I have done the trip to and from the UK about 10 times a year for the past 4 years. Now perhaps I've been lucky, but I also have 50 guys and girls that I am responsible for. Each of them do similar amounts of trips and in the 4 years I have had 1 reported stop. Certainly on the main routes to the coast the French were as happy to break the speed limit as we were. As for the break down kit, some of the tax free cars sold have the equipment as standard, as for the rest, very few actually bother to buy the equipment never mind have it in the cabin.
Now don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that there is no enforcement or that you won't ever get pulled and get penalised for not having the required kit. I'm just saying that in the North of France certainly, it has not gone to a police state on the roads. I would go as far as to say that there is no noticable difference from when I first arrived in 2007. So before everyone gets worked into a frenzy about how bad it is to drive accross France, take a chill pill and relax, enjoy your trip, if you speed and get caught by a copper, you'll pay. If you get flashed then carry on as normal.
zx10ben said:
Blinkin 'eck! Bit of doom-mongering on here.
As a member of the Forces based in Germany upto May this year, I have done the trip to and from the UK about 10 times a year for the past 4 years. Now perhaps I've been lucky, but I also have 50 guys and girls that I am responsible for. Each of them do similar amounts of trips and in the 4 years I have had 1 reported stop. Certainly on the main routes to the coast the French were as happy to break the speed limit as we were. As for the break down kit, some of the tax free cars sold have the equipment as standard, as for the rest, very few actually bother to buy the equipment never mind have it in the cabin.
Now don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that there is no enforcement or that you won't ever get pulled and get penalised for not having the required kit. I'm just saying that in the North of France certainly, it has not gone to a police state on the roads. I would go as far as to say that there is no noticable difference from when I first arrived in 2007. So before everyone gets worked into a frenzy about how bad it is to drive accross France, take a chill pill and relax, enjoy your trip, if you speed and get caught by a copper, you'll pay. If you get flashed then carry on as normal.
I agree with what you say - stops like here are mainly dependent on driver behaviour - but when they do stop you, it would be wise to be compliant with the law - as the Swedish motorcyclist found out to his cost.As a member of the Forces based in Germany upto May this year, I have done the trip to and from the UK about 10 times a year for the past 4 years. Now perhaps I've been lucky, but I also have 50 guys and girls that I am responsible for. Each of them do similar amounts of trips and in the 4 years I have had 1 reported stop. Certainly on the main routes to the coast the French were as happy to break the speed limit as we were. As for the break down kit, some of the tax free cars sold have the equipment as standard, as for the rest, very few actually bother to buy the equipment never mind have it in the cabin.
Now don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that there is no enforcement or that you won't ever get pulled and get penalised for not having the required kit. I'm just saying that in the North of France certainly, it has not gone to a police state on the roads. I would go as far as to say that there is no noticable difference from when I first arrived in 2007. So before everyone gets worked into a frenzy about how bad it is to drive accross France, take a chill pill and relax, enjoy your trip, if you speed and get caught by a copper, you'll pay. If you get flashed then carry on as normal.
IMHO the principle cause of officiousness is the divide between Gendarmes and civil police.
They will pointlessly enforce the law to boost their own feelings of importance - no guesses as to which is the main offending force!
One Christmas I was stopped in St.Lo for allegedly jumping a red light - despite I was in between two French cars as we swept through on green, and they were allowed to pass on!
All that saved me from having to pay up was that I didn't have any cash on me - so I offered the Gendarme a big bar of Toblerone instead!
Once he realised I was stopping with parents who lived in France, and knew the "rules", his demeanor changed and he was happy to let me go as "it was a misunderstanding".
All this scare-mongering !!
Drive at more than 150kph and you run the risk of being stopped by the police. A friend was recently stopped for 152 and they readily admitted that they apply a 15% rule on top of the limit (i.e. in a 130 then 150 won't give rise to a ticket).
They v often set themselves up before an exit that has a gendarmerie (so they can take you in, relieve you of cash and book you). So if a gendarmerie is indicated - take extra caution.
Sunday is a notorious day for getting stopped when driving back to the tunnel so always take it easy approaching Calais.
That said - as a general rule keep to 150 or below in a 130 limit
Drive at more than 150kph and you run the risk of being stopped by the police. A friend was recently stopped for 152 and they readily admitted that they apply a 15% rule on top of the limit (i.e. in a 130 then 150 won't give rise to a ticket).
They v often set themselves up before an exit that has a gendarmerie (so they can take you in, relieve you of cash and book you). So if a gendarmerie is indicated - take extra caution.
Sunday is a notorious day for getting stopped when driving back to the tunnel so always take it easy approaching Calais.
That said - as a general rule keep to 150 or below in a 130 limit
Another voice on the reasonability of French police to help balance the discussion....
I'm a Brit living in Germany, and have done for over five years this time around. I've driven from Frankfurt to Suffolk well over 30 times and have never been stopped.
I absolutely hammer it through Germany - because it's fun - but am very respectful of the speed limits where they exist.
Throughout the rest of the journey I'm never more than 30km/h outside of the posted speed limit and always make sure the speed difference between me and the rest of the traffic is "sensible".
Common sense is good. Don't go there assuming that you're totally immune, because you're not (except to the cameras)! Don't take the piss and you'll be just fine.
I'll bore you with a salutory lesson I had earlier this year to illustrate my point.
Driving through Belgium at about 140kmh, passing two lanes of traffic with a sensible speed difference between me and them and the next car about 300m in front of me at a similar speed, an anonymous 3-series coupe joined from a slip road.
He booted it and cut across two lanes of traffic to barge in front of me. Not close enough to make me brake, but close enough for me to back off the throttle to keep a gap.
He sat there doing a firm 120kmh for about 3km and then took off with a puff of smoke. I didn't take the "bait" and just carried on as I had been, back to 140kmh.
As he approached the car in front, quite a distance ahead by now, little blue lights started twinkling in his back window and he pulled them over....
I'm a Brit living in Germany, and have done for over five years this time around. I've driven from Frankfurt to Suffolk well over 30 times and have never been stopped.
I absolutely hammer it through Germany - because it's fun - but am very respectful of the speed limits where they exist.
Throughout the rest of the journey I'm never more than 30km/h outside of the posted speed limit and always make sure the speed difference between me and the rest of the traffic is "sensible".
Common sense is good. Don't go there assuming that you're totally immune, because you're not (except to the cameras)! Don't take the piss and you'll be just fine.
I'll bore you with a salutory lesson I had earlier this year to illustrate my point.
Driving through Belgium at about 140kmh, passing two lanes of traffic with a sensible speed difference between me and them and the next car about 300m in front of me at a similar speed, an anonymous 3-series coupe joined from a slip road.
He booted it and cut across two lanes of traffic to barge in front of me. Not close enough to make me brake, but close enough for me to back off the throttle to keep a gap.
He sat there doing a firm 120kmh for about 3km and then took off with a puff of smoke. I didn't take the "bait" and just carried on as I had been, back to 140kmh.
As he approached the car in front, quite a distance ahead by now, little blue lights started twinkling in his back window and he pulled them over....
Edited by Scelto on Tuesday 9th August 10:21
^^^ It's this speed differential concept that I've been explaining to anyone who'll listen to me for the past few years. I drive very fast in non-residential areas but I glide past other traffic gently, so as to NOT point out my speed. I try to drive without drawing attention to myself, and apart from a stupid mistake I made last year where I was tired, had a headache and rushed home ignoring my own "rules" (and got pulled but let off - this was in the UK by the way), I have not been pulled for years. I have a clean licence.
Last year I drove home from France towards the ferry and got flashed twice. I was driving much faster than everyone else but still passing them gently. Where my rules let me down was the fact that the French roads are far less populated than ours so my speeds were high for long periods of time, without the moderation of slowing-to-pass that you get over here.
I still think my driving style keeps me away from the attentions of Les Flik (however it's spelt) out and about in their cars but if they're waiting behind a road-sign and are prepared to give chase, I concede that I may be an easy target.
That said, I drive mainly NE to western France. I don't think there's quite the same problem with the numbers of Police as there are in the south and SE.
Last year I drove home from France towards the ferry and got flashed twice. I was driving much faster than everyone else but still passing them gently. Where my rules let me down was the fact that the French roads are far less populated than ours so my speeds were high for long periods of time, without the moderation of slowing-to-pass that you get over here.
I still think my driving style keeps me away from the attentions of Les Flik (however it's spelt) out and about in their cars but if they're waiting behind a road-sign and are prepared to give chase, I concede that I may be an easy target.
That said, I drive mainly NE to western France. I don't think there's quite the same problem with the numbers of Police as there are in the south and SE.
Mars said:
Last year I drove home from France towards the ferry and got flashed twice. I was driving much faster than everyone else but still passing them gently.
^^ This is the approach I use when I want to make decent progress through France... don't fly past people with a 50kmh+ difference, along with easing off to 140ish in the few miles leading up to service areas and also observing the reduced limits as you appraoch toll booths.Just returned from a week in France in the car. Did 1500 miles, respected all speed limits most of the time with the exception of the autoroute where at times I touched 150kmh when overtaking. Got back to UK, just off the boat, dual carriageway outside Dover, sat behind an old duffer in outside lane who was doing 71mph past a few cars doing 69 mph. Duffer eventually gets past, I boot it past him, just about to slow and pull in to nearside lane when unmarked Skoda behind me suddenly lights up. FFS!
Pulled over and given a lecture, I apologised alot and said I had been driving all day and tired, not thinking etc and the wife would drive now for rest of way home. Let off.
My own fault really, but wasn't like I was hacking along at silly speeds, just overtook as quick as possible, unfortunately according to plod that was too quick, but appreciated the warning and no ticket.
Pulled over and given a lecture, I apologised alot and said I had been driving all day and tired, not thinking etc and the wife would drive now for rest of way home. Let off.
My own fault really, but wasn't like I was hacking along at silly speeds, just overtook as quick as possible, unfortunately according to plod that was too quick, but appreciated the warning and no ticket.
162 in a 130 (fair cop).
128 in a 110 (thought it was 130, but over a viaduct which was 110, cruise was set at 125).
68 in a 50 (everyone, but everyone, thought it was at least a 70 minimum, if not a 90).
270 Euros....Ouch!
Still can't get over the Motorhome getting pulled, towing a RIB, and genuinely driving quite slowly, poor sods!
128 in a 110 (thought it was 130, but over a viaduct which was 110, cruise was set at 125).
68 in a 50 (everyone, but everyone, thought it was at least a 70 minimum, if not a 90).
270 Euros....Ouch!
Still can't get over the Motorhome getting pulled, towing a RIB, and genuinely driving quite slowly, poor sods!
Saturday 11am at Folkestone chunnel park. I have put a PH sticker on the back of the bike carrier.Stoofa said:
First aid kit & fire extinguisher is not required for France.
????Yes they are - under their "Good Samaritan" laws!
http://www.go-to-france.co.uk/pages/Driving.htm
Scroll down to "Items you should carry in France"
[quote]First Aid kit and fire extinguisher: The European Good Samaritan Law requires every driver to stop and provide assistance when an accident is encountered, providing it is safe to do so. This may require a first aid kit and fire extinguisher and it is advisable to have these items when driving in France.
More here
http://www.abrittanycottage.co.uk/driving.asp
As obvious as it may sound you have to choose carefully which moment of the day/week you will be traveling on the autoroutes.
Speeding on sundays or during usually loaded weekends (summer holidays) is playing russian roulette.
Being on the road when the popular mass is moving south for the summer transhumance is not going to expose you to the most capable/responsible road users, and the authorities just react accordingly.
I deliberately never do long trips on weekends to avoid the masses, and it has always paid off. IMO the lack of stress conveyed by using relatively empty, numpty-less roads certainly offsets the frustration of not being able to speed copiously.
Speeding on sundays or during usually loaded weekends (summer holidays) is playing russian roulette.
Being on the road when the popular mass is moving south for the summer transhumance is not going to expose you to the most capable/responsible road users, and the authorities just react accordingly.
I deliberately never do long trips on weekends to avoid the masses, and it has always paid off. IMO the lack of stress conveyed by using relatively empty, numpty-less roads certainly offsets the frustration of not being able to speed copiously.
I've driven in France the last three summers on the trot. I do still believe that the grass is greener on the other side, and it's much easier to make progress to the far South on the autoroutes. To be honest, you don't really need to do much over 130kph as the roads are clear enough to allow you to sit at that speed for ages and any faster just means more autoroute fuel (aka: re mortgaging).
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