Another speeding in France thread........
Discussion
I'd be careful if it's your own car and your in-country for some time.
I was stopped at the border between france and switzerland - they noted by car reg and took my passport and dissappeared for about 20mins... now I was driving a car with a rollcage etc and what looked to them like timing equipment.
I'm pretty sure they where checking to see if there where any 'outstanding items' with the local rozzers...
Eventually came back and I was sent on my way - they never asked to search the car or asked anything about where I had come from or where I was going.
I was stopped at the border between france and switzerland - they noted by car reg and took my passport and dissappeared for about 20mins... now I was driving a car with a rollcage etc and what looked to them like timing equipment.
I'm pretty sure they where checking to see if there where any 'outstanding items' with the local rozzers...
Eventually came back and I was sent on my way - they never asked to search the car or asked anything about where I had come from or where I was going.
But if you do get stopped you're marched off to a cashpoint and have to pay the fine there and then.
Add in the fact that the French police love stopping British cars (because many forget you must have a warning triangle, enough reflective vests for driver and passengers and that at least one of these vests has to be inside the car with you) is it really worth the risk?
Add in the fact that the French police love stopping British cars (because many forget you must have a warning triangle, enough reflective vests for driver and passengers and that at least one of these vests has to be inside the car with you) is it really worth the risk?
kambites said:
Europe-wide points system. Did it ever happen?
Currently implemented to varying degrees in continental Europe. UK opted out.The Europe-wide "frog-march-speeding-Brits-to-the-nearest-cash-machine" system remains in full effect.
Be careful in France this summer. Even if you're immune to fixed cameras, with your fancy UK plates, traffic plod are enforcing heavily at the moment.
The fine will be anything but.
'punt
Stoofa said:
enough reflective vests for driver and passengers and that at least one of these vests has to be inside the car with you)
The requirement is for one vest only but yes, it must be in the car.http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/touring_tips/...
Stoofa said:
But if you do get stopped you're marched off to a cashpoint and have to pay the fine there and then.
Add in the fact that the French police love stopping British cars (because many forget you must have a warning triangle, enough reflective vests for driver and passengers and that at least one of these vests has to be inside the car with you) is it really worth the risk?
Its only one vest per car, should be visible from outside the car.Add in the fact that the French police love stopping British cars (because many forget you must have a warning triangle, enough reflective vests for driver and passengers and that at least one of these vests has to be inside the car with you) is it really worth the risk?
Although there are loads of regulations about the car, if you get stopped, and you haven't been taking the p..s, only a copy of your licence, a copy of the car's V5 ,and valid insurance, the vest and a GB Badge seem to be important.
If they are really peeved then they can ask for a first aid kit,a tool kit, a triangle, the vest, and that your number plate is bolted on (Not taped)
Bulbs are not compulsory (But if any of your lights are not working you cannot drive the car) headlight deflectors are not compulsory.
If you get flashed nothing happens, even when you are in the country for a while and I'm certain they do not stop you for infringements when crossing borders.
Carry at least 100 euros with you in cash at all times and DONT do more than 50kph above the limit EVER.
The reason they want you to have the V5 is that its important for them to establish who owns the car in the event you are being prosecuted for more than 50kph above the limit.Their law allows them to confiscate your car in that event, but only if they can prove you are the owner.
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
Cunning Punt said:
Be careful in France this summer. Even if you're immune to fixed cameras, with your fancy UK plates, traffic plod are enforcing heavily at the moment.
They are everywhere, seemingly omnipresent, and nicking anyone and everyone.Diamond blue said:
Carry at least 100 euros with you in cash at all times and DONT do more than 50kph above the limit EVER.
I would say DONT do more than 1kph above the limit EVER.It has been changing in France year on year, to the point where you just cannot make progress anymore, anywhere, whether you are a local, or a tourist. Almost everyone now complies, and drives below the limit, regardless of what sort of road, or the conditions. Overtaking on an Autoroute is now like truck elephant racing in the UK, nobody will dare to pass quickly and cleanly, in case there's a Gendarme hiding up the road. So an overtake can take miles to complete, and will often be abandoned if the car being overtaken edges its speed up a couple of kph to near the speed limit, you can't risk passing it. Everything now has to be planned, miles in advance, weighing up the speed of the car you want to overtake, the space available, and if you can do it with the 4 or 5 kph increment you have available to you.
It's beyond a joke.
The French Autoruotes used to be safe and fast, now they are slow and dangerous. Lane discipline has gone, as there's no point returning to the nearside, as there's no one going faster to get out of the way of. Cars now travel alongside each other at the same speed in all lanes, so vehicles are now in each others blind spots for minutes on end, instead of just for a second or two. I've never seen so many near misses when someone does decide to change lane, despite having checked their mirrors.
Saturday 23rd, on the way to Italy, I got pulled at 160kph, honest collar, I was speeding, not that it was any big deal on an almost empty Autoroute, but there you go. My own stupid fault.
Saturday 6th, on the way back from Italy, cruise control set at 125kph. I still got pulled, I drifted over a viaduct that was reduced to 110kph for 300m.
Decided to get off the Autoroute, if I can only do 70-80mph, and I will be s
t scared of a pull and over focused on my speedo, I aint paying the tolls for the privilege.Went through a villlage with a 50kph limit, came out the other side, huge big empty road, what little traffic there was, a motorhome towing a trailor with a RIB on it, and a Prius, and me, gently accelerated up the road to about 70kph, which is what we all thought the limit was, and we all got pulled. The side road was full of folks who had been pulled. The Gendarmes had run out of tickets and were waiting for a car to arrive with some new books.
All nice normal people, all had been driving at nice normal speeds, seemingly within the limit, all nice safe responsible people.
Even if if you make the effort, you're screwed. I can't believe how much it's changed. Driving in France is no longer a pleasure, it's a pain in the arse. I was speaking to some French in the hotel bar, they don't like it either. Seemingly the entire population has been nicked on multiple occassions over the last year.
That fantastic Autoroute network, easily the best in Europe, rendered useless.
OK, I might be bleating, I got nicked three times. The first was my own stupid fault, the warning taken and heeded. But the other two I was making an effort to comply, I thought I was complying, and I still got nicked. God knows what they'll do to you if you actually go fast!
For the first time ever, it was actually a pleasure to get back to British motorways, with our middle lane morons and outside lane hogs. But at least you can sit at 80-90mph with everyone else, and the bib will have no interest in you at all.
I've been going to France once or twice a year for twenty years, but they can f
k right off now. I'm not going back for a very long time, and won't be driving through on the way to somewhere else either.
Scary. I'm going from the Chunnel to the Atlantic coast (about half way down) on Saturday. Last year I got flashed twice on the way home. This year I will be more circumspect but, here's the thing, I quickly get lulled into a false sense of security and my speed creeps up.
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.
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.
I must be lucky then.
Last summer I drove from Surrey to Nice. Took it relatively easy for the 1st 100k's, but after that temptation and the superb roads got to me I was cruising at 100mph+ most of the way. Saw a couple of speed traps north of Lyon, but at the time I'd had to slow down for locals driving right on the limit. On the way back I was absolutely hammering it to make an early Eurostar and never saw any police at all except for a few clearing an accident.
Both my Brother-in-law and Father-in-law did get stopped on the way down though, but the the fines were relatively minor c.€45ish for 20kmh over the limit.
Last summer I drove from Surrey to Nice. Took it relatively easy for the 1st 100k's, but after that temptation and the superb roads got to me I was cruising at 100mph+ most of the way. Saw a couple of speed traps north of Lyon, but at the time I'd had to slow down for locals driving right on the limit. On the way back I was absolutely hammering it to make an early Eurostar and never saw any police at all except for a few clearing an accident.
Both my Brother-in-law and Father-in-law did get stopped on the way down though, but the the fines were relatively minor c.€45ish for 20kmh over the limit.
Balmoral Green said:
said some good stuff
fk 'em, having lived amongst them for a decade I was sick to the back teeth of their arrogance, officiousness and incompetency. I wouldn't return to their country if they paid me let alone drive through it. Vote with your tourism money and leave france and the frogs to steam in their own s
t.Balmoral Green said:
times have changed
. It sounds as bad as Australia.What a shame. I have been looking forward to my French jaunt in a couple of weeks.
Mars said:
I'm going from the Chunnel to the Atlantic coast (about half way down) on Saturday.
Seriously, don't even think about going over the limit. Sods law, if you do drift over, even just for a short while, they'll be hiding in the bushes and the blues will come on.Those who know me, know that I can be prone to embellishment and exaggeration, but not on this. It was just as I posted. It's bloody ridiculous.
I've never had a problem up until about 2008, which is when I first noticed this new speed management culture, and it's been getting noticeably worse on each subsequent visit.
As for those who are still monstering it across France. I really don't know how you're getting away with it.
It ain't observance, because they are properly hidden, and I mean properly hidden.
My two pulls this last weekend, at first I didn't even realise it was me they wanted to stop, my reaction was "Me? WTF? I'm not even doing anything! I've been nicked once already and I've been good boy and been complying ever since!"
The elderly French couple in the Prius were properly pee'd off, and as for a bloody great motorhome towing a rib? Although one of the three Gendarmes, a younger bloke, did not look at all comfortable. I think it was a fluke location which they know will be good pickings where they could nick everyone, even those going really very very slowly.
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.Cunning Punt said:
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.
'punt
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.
Their camera's are not diago yellow on top of a pole but grey posts on the ground. Speed enforcement on the autoroute is common with a good chance of passing an unmarked car with radar/laser gun every few hundred miles.
Gassing Station | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff