Speeding in France
Discussion
Think of it like the UK; sometimes they care, sometimes they don't.
What I will say is that you are driving a reasonably flash car, on GB plates, through a country well known for pulling people and issuing on-the-spot cash fines.
Any one of those things on their own would see me careful with my speed.
What I will say is that you are driving a reasonably flash car, on GB plates, through a country well known for pulling people and issuing on-the-spot cash fines.
Any one of those things on their own would see me careful with my speed.
crashrepairman said:
Taking my DB9 to Spain next week, I have updated my Garmin for the "danger areas" in France.
Intend to avoid the boring toll roads and leave from Dieppe.
Can you exceed the speed limits or are they strictly enforced?
Only thinking of 10 or 20 km over the top.
Provided you have 90 Euros cash on you (not dealing with it in cash starts to make it a pain in the arse) then you'll get an on-the-spot-fine at the roadside if stopped by the Gendarmes. If a fixed camera gets you you'll never hear anything (at least I haven't on numerous occasions). I returned yesterday from France and coughed up my latest 90 Euros for 163kph in a 130. There is a point where it gets more serious but for what you are suggesting you've got no worries.Intend to avoid the boring toll roads and leave from Dieppe.
Can you exceed the speed limits or are they strictly enforced?
Only thinking of 10 or 20 km over the top.
cmaguire said:
Provided you have 90 Euros cash on you (not dealing with it in cash starts to make it a pain in the arse) then you'll get an on-the-spot-fine at the roadside if stopped by the Gendarmes. If a fixed camera gets you you'll never hear anything (at least I haven't on numerous occasions). I returned yesterday from France and coughed up my latest 90 Euros for 163kph in a 130. There is a point where it gets more serious but for what you are suggesting you've got no worries.
You were lucky to get away with €90 for 30kph over the limit - I had to go collect a mate a couple of months ago who got a €750 fine and immediate ban for 30 over - although that was for 30+ on a normal road, not motorway.I also received a €45 fine in the post a couple of weeks back for 97kph in a 90 - 92kph after correction - on the motorway strech from Calais up to the Belgian border. (I'm in Belgium and we do get the fines sent through from our neighbours).
given the size of the country there are an amazing number of cameras on all roads, and they come in different shapes too.
if in open countryside you can be pretty safe, but beware of the boulevard sections (long straight tree-lined) along the old roman roads as there are often cameras hidden in both 90km and 70km sections. if done by Gendarmes be sure you have cash on you. 90 euro would be 20km i think. Autoroute cameras are helpfully signposted! Still a great country to enjoy a blat in, but it's far from a speeding heaven nowadays.
if in open countryside you can be pretty safe, but beware of the boulevard sections (long straight tree-lined) along the old roman roads as there are often cameras hidden in both 90km and 70km sections. if done by Gendarmes be sure you have cash on you. 90 euro would be 20km i think. Autoroute cameras are helpfully signposted! Still a great country to enjoy a blat in, but it's far from a speeding heaven nowadays.
sunbeam alpine said:
You were lucky to get away with €90 for 30kph over the limit - I had to go collect a mate a couple of months ago who got a €750 fine and immediate ban for 30 over - although that was for 30+ on a normal road, not motorway.
I also received a €45 fine in the post a couple of weeks back for 97kph in a 90 - 92kph after correction - on the motorway strech from Calais up to the Belgian border. (I'm in Belgium and we do get the fines sent through from our neighbours).
I drive several thousand miles a year in France but from Calais to Limoges it's all done on main roads/Autoroute. Once at Limoges the driving around is mostly on minor roads. Nearly all the Gendarmes waiting to catch you for something are on the main routes for speed, I rarely ever come across any waiting/hiding on the minor roads (I've been caught crossing solid white lines once in 12 years when I had some old fossil pull out of a junction in front of me then proceed to do 30 in a 60). That got me the magic 90 Euros as well.I also received a €45 fine in the post a couple of weeks back for 97kph in a 90 - 92kph after correction - on the motorway strech from Calais up to the Belgian border. (I'm in Belgium and we do get the fines sent through from our neighbours).
The whole speed con is very depressing. I'm old enough to remember when getting off the ferry (no tunnel then) was the cue for the fun to start. 100mph was the starting point, not the end, the Gendarmes would be doing 100mph themselves and if you passed them without taking the piss too much it was no worries.
sunbeam alpine said:
You were lucky to get away with €90 for 30kph over the limit - I had to go collect a mate a couple of months ago who got a €750 fine and immediate ban for 30 over - although that was for 30+ on a normal road, not motorway.
30 over what though? a 50 limit in a village?90 euro is a magic number. it's quick & easy for both parties. something normally provokes a higher offence. i caught caught taking a sharp corner on an autoroute at 90 in a 50 section (Chamonix downhill mountain sector of A40). i was probably over 90 but that was the easiest paperwork and although it was a short 50 section it wasn't in a village. Off course, they'll check driving licence, V5 and Green card (still easier than arguing over standard insurance cert).
Find some Belgians to follow (red number plates). They drive like loons, and have a 6th sense for plod.
I remember following 5 Belgian cars in a convoy last year. We were doing so many leptons that I was starting to feel uncomfortable, not in a safety sense (the road was clear) but in the sense of "if we get nicked, I'm probably phoning work from a French prison on Monday". I was keeping them about half a mile ahead, when suddenly they dropped to 120, honestly it felt like we were walking.... 1/2 mile ahead, plod, guns bikes, every thing.
We crawled past the plod, 1 mile later on the lead Belgian telegraphed the engine room and warp drive was engaged again.
Covered about 150 miles with them, then they turned off for Belgium and we did the last miles to Calais at a sedate 150....
I remember following 5 Belgian cars in a convoy last year. We were doing so many leptons that I was starting to feel uncomfortable, not in a safety sense (the road was clear) but in the sense of "if we get nicked, I'm probably phoning work from a French prison on Monday". I was keeping them about half a mile ahead, when suddenly they dropped to 120, honestly it felt like we were walking.... 1/2 mile ahead, plod, guns bikes, every thing.
We crawled past the plod, 1 mile later on the lead Belgian telegraphed the engine room and warp drive was engaged again.
Covered about 150 miles with them, then they turned off for Belgium and we did the last miles to Calais at a sedate 150....
rxe said:
Find some Belgians to follow (red number plates). They drive like loons, and have a 6th sense for plod.
I remember following 5 Belgian cars in a convoy last year. We were doing so many leptons that I was starting to feel uncomfortable, not in a safety sense (the road was clear) but in the sense of "if we get nicked, I'm probably phoning work from a French prison on Monday". I was keeping them about half a mile ahead, when suddenly they dropped to 120, honestly it felt like we were walking.... 1/2 mile ahead, plod, guns bikes, every thing.
We crawled past the plod, 1 mile later on the lead Belgian telegraphed the engine room and warp drive was engaged again.
Covered about 150 miles with them, then they turned off for Belgium and we did the last miles to Calais at a sedate 150....
Are we talking MPH here?I remember following 5 Belgian cars in a convoy last year. We were doing so many leptons that I was starting to feel uncomfortable, not in a safety sense (the road was clear) but in the sense of "if we get nicked, I'm probably phoning work from a French prison on Monday". I was keeping them about half a mile ahead, when suddenly they dropped to 120, honestly it felt like we were walking.... 1/2 mile ahead, plod, guns bikes, every thing.
We crawled past the plod, 1 mile later on the lead Belgian telegraphed the engine room and warp drive was engaged again.
Covered about 150 miles with them, then they turned off for Belgium and we did the last miles to Calais at a sedate 150....
Never saw any plod when there recently. Saw quite a few virtually hidden speed cams at the side of the motorway - knee high, grey! But then there is no need to take the p with speed just cos you are Brit - you get a reasonable 81mph allowance on the motorway there (in the dry) so if you set cruise at 90mph you are getting a decent pace and likely zero grief.
One thing is unclear in that the people who say they get tickets through the post is that they get these if they are resident in France or if they have hired a car? If you are an UK citizen you do not get a ticket through your door in the UK as they do not have access to DVLA for private cars registered owners - non? This info sharing is scheduled to start May 2017 I believe - but will check with Le Farrage (if he is still doing business)
One thing is unclear in that the people who say they get tickets through the post is that they get these if they are resident in France or if they have hired a car? If you are an UK citizen you do not get a ticket through your door in the UK as they do not have access to DVLA for private cars registered owners - non? This info sharing is scheduled to start May 2017 I believe - but will check with Le Farrage (if he is still doing business)
I've done about 400km in France this year on two trips, one in the Aston at Easter and one in the X5 this summer. I drove mostly at around 150, with some higher speed bursts and had no trouble with the Gendarmes. I got flashed by a camera a couple of weeks ago when I left a roadworks area with an 80 km/h restriction. The limit before the roadworks was 130. At the end of the roadworks was the usual NSL/end of restriction sign, so I accelerated back to 130+, saw a camera, so moderated to 130, then saw a 110 sign, but was not below 100 when I came up to the camera, so I was flashed. I expect a fine in the post.
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