'Legal' speeding in France?

'Legal' speeding in France?

Author
Discussion

A900ss

Original Poster:

3,245 posts

151 months

Monday 22nd October 2012
quotequote all
Off to Paris shortly and I do very little driving abroad.

We have a speed limit of 70mph on our motorways but you'll be very unlucky if you get caught doing less than 85MPH.

France has a 130kph limit so what can you do with little chance of getting caught? 150kph?

Fully aware that if you annoy the boys in blue 131kph would be enough but what is the norm?

Thanks.

Amateurish

7,697 posts

221 months

Monday 22nd October 2012
quotequote all
Keep under 160 (for a 130 limit) and you will be fine.

AC43

11,436 posts

207 months

Monday 22nd October 2012
quotequote all
I was done at less than that in August on a motorway about an hour south of Le Mans. I was done for 152 km/h IIRC. 40 Euro fine. A few more km/h would have cost 80 Euros.

Empty motorway, dry, clear, 10am. They are seriously clamping down....

PS it would have been a cop with a radar hidden away behind a bridge or whatever. First thing I knew was the main beam of the police bike approaching at speed a mile or so back.......game over...

robinessex

11,046 posts

180 months

Monday 22nd October 2012
quotequote all
Try putting French number plates on !!!!!!!!!!!!! Just Joking.........maybe !!!!

andyps

7,817 posts

281 months

Monday 22nd October 2012
quotequote all
Stick to the speed limit, the French have got very serious about enforcement recently. I have heard of some getting caught and fined for just over the limit. Problem is, the way they set the traps on any road by the time you have seen them it is too late. Just sit back and relax, enjoying the view with cruise control on!

NateWM

1,684 posts

178 months

Monday 22nd October 2012
quotequote all
Just curious but....If you just so happened to be speeding and you know that a radar gun copped you, what would happen if you got away? Is it an on the spot fine?

siwil1

1,022 posts

230 months

Monday 22nd October 2012
quotequote all
Just sit at 85mph your only going to Paris so will be there in well under 3hrs and extra 10/15mph really wont make a lot of difference time wise but could eat up some spending money!

French roads are great to drive on and Lane discipline is much better than over here.

As an aside have you checked to make sure you have all the required items for Driving ie high viz vests bulbs triangle etc etc Not sure of date Breath test kits comes into force?

HTH

threesixty

2,068 posts

202 months

Monday 22nd October 2012
quotequote all
I've always been informed (and researched) that you need to be going 50kph over the posted limit in France before things start getting too serious. Below that and its just a cash fine.

As a general rule I'll cruise the autoroute(130kph limit) at around 160kph and have never had any trouble (*touches wood*).

If you're planning on really putting your foot down you'd be wise to have a passenger. They can and will ban you on the spot and leave you stranded unless of course you have a passenger who's able to take over.

sparkyhx

4,143 posts

203 months

Monday 22nd October 2012
quotequote all
siwil1 said:
French roads are great to drive on and Lane discipline is much better than over here.
yep, but boy, do they like to tailgate with avengence

elliotff

174 posts

139 months

Monday 22nd October 2012
quotequote all
does any one know what would happen if you go at a silly speed say 180kph+?

Is it still a fine, do they have the authority to take your car for a short time ?

Can you get points on a UK license for speeding in France or other EU county?


Amateurish

7,697 posts

221 months

Monday 22nd October 2012
quotequote all
Over 180 kmph and they can conficate your car. I would stay below that speed personally.

LaurasOtherHalf

21,429 posts

195 months

Monday 22nd October 2012
quotequote all
one of our eurohoons one of the lads got done & had his license taken off him for a month.

couple of hundred euro fine & they posted it back after the month. it was a full european ban as well apparently

Abbott

2,339 posts

202 months

Monday 22nd October 2012
quotequote all
The number of temporary speed traps has gone through the roof recently. Especially police sat with a camera on the side of the motorway and even in some cases sat in the feild next to the motorway supported by gangs of cops on bikes to administer the pain.

There is a good guide to the penalties on this site.

http://www.french-property.com/guides/france/drivi...

To be clear the penalties apply after they have made and adjustment for equipment calibration etc.

The big break point is +50kph over. This is known as Grand Vitesse. I got done a few years ago and lost my licence for 2 month, 600 Euro fine, court appearance and could not drive the car away from the point of capture. I am still suffering to this day from the Mrs remebering the time she had to come out and pick me up.

The focus on speeding is enormous so I would say do not do it. I usually now set my cruise control to 140kph on the dial which is a little over 130 real speed checked on GPS. That does not seem to interest plod or the cameras.
Dont forget if it is raining the limit on a motorway is 110kph.

Johno

8,401 posts

281 months

Monday 22nd October 2012
quotequote all
Drove from Calais to Paris via Boulogne yesterday, sat at 150 on cruise control, was quicker than pretty much every other car, but not by a lot, most traffic is doing 135-145.

Cue large Mercedes estate on Hungarian plates who comes past me, probably doing 170ish, she got another 3km before 2 bike cops picked her up and took her off the autoroute for a word.

I've been pinged twice in Paris on new statics, it's worse here than the UK.

140 cruise control will keep you out of bother, last month in a queue of traffic with adequate spacing in the rain we all passed the Police at 140-150 kph and they weren't interested. Don't make yourself stand out, you do already on UK plates, I'm on French plates.

magooagain

9,910 posts

169 months

Monday 22nd October 2012
quotequote all
Stick to the speed limits. Its simple really. High speed is for the track only (if your man enough)tongue out

Rosun

141 posts

151 months

Monday 22nd October 2012
quotequote all
Be extra careful in the last 5 miles (and 500 yards) on your way back to the ferry / Eurotunnel terminal.
I think the cops there consider it as one last go at extracting folding from your wallet, especially if you're in a hurry to make the boat / train.

A900ss

Original Poster:

3,245 posts

151 months

Tuesday 23rd October 2012
quotequote all
Well I'm now in Paris and I decided to just stick the car on cruise control at 85mph.

I was the fastest car on the road but saw no police.

Thanks all

andyps

7,817 posts

281 months

Tuesday 23rd October 2012
quotequote all
A900ss said:
Well I'm now in Paris and I decided to just stick the car on cruise control at 85mph.

I was the fastest car on the road but saw no police.

Thanks all
Glad you got there safely. I have noticed how much slower most cars are driven in France now. Whether it is safer or not I don't know, but the increased numbers of speed traps are meaning less people driving above the limit I'm sure.

Marcellus

7,111 posts

218 months

Tuesday 23rd October 2012
quotequote all
tbh I'm not convinced les Flics have an anti Brit approach...... In my French registered car I got done for 141kmh and 145kmh, both times dry empty autoroutes.

In my GB plate car I often cruise at 145/150kmh and gone through speed traps without an eye brow being raised.

Perik Omo

1,883 posts

147 months

Wednesday 24th October 2012
quotequote all
As above, was going to say that I got done for 142km/h on dry and clear autoroute in French reg'd car.