Speeding in France

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WelshBentleyBoy

Original Poster:

339 posts

199 months

Wednesday 25th June 2014
quotequote all
There was a great article in the Sunday Times on the French crackdown on speeding

http://www.driving.co.uk/news/british-holidaymaker...

I also read somewhere else that it is a myth that they time you on your Peage tickets. It appears that they may stop you at the Peage but they have clocked you somewhere else.

Looks like the good old days have come to an end.

Paul

dkatwa

570 posts

245 months

Wednesday 25th June 2014
quotequote all
so we liberated the French and this is how they repay us....oh, and the willingness to give asylum seekers easy access to the UK....


WelshBentleyBoy

Original Poster:

339 posts

199 months

Wednesday 25th June 2014
quotequote all
I did like the story of the D Day veteran who was refused admission to France because he did not have a passport.

He said "In 1944 nobody asked for one"

graemel

7,031 posts

217 months

Wednesday 25th June 2014
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They have been pretty hot on speeding for a few years. Thankfully I still have memories of the glory days when as long as you respected the speed limits through the villages you were fine elsewhere. Last time I was caught for speeding in France we missed the sign if there was one that reduced the motorway speed limit to 110kph.
It was quite a nice convoy of cars and we were held up for an hour whilst various groups of police turned up to take pictures and chat about the cars.
A few years back we had been invited to a big shin dig held by the ACO for the LeMans weekend. I was driving a mates Diablo SV that we had been asked to display at the do. I was not speeding and spotted the police Focus diesel estate a mile back. For a couple of miles he proceeded to drive right up my chuff. A bit of a problem in the SV as all I could see was his radiator grille. In the end I pulled over as a) I could not see if he had put the blues on and b) I could not hear if he had the two's on as the SV had a rather loud exhaust.
Young cop old cop. Young cop went f'ing mad at me for stopping on the motorway. Took me off at the next peage where we had a heated discussion over by inadvertant misdermeanor. Long story short we sorted it out, I explained were we where going and they said it was a pig to find. Follow us they said. Blue lights. No just follow us. Top bloaks in the end smile

WelshBentleyBoy

Original Poster:

339 posts

199 months

Thursday 26th June 2014
quotequote all
The Swiss are also very hot and fines are income related. A Swede was fined $290,000 for being 57kph over the limit.

A few years ago I was in Switzerland in a convoy of 6 Ferraris and a Lamborghini when a helicopter appeared about 100 feet above us and followed us 50k all the way to the border.

The following year ( I was not with them ) they were all done for overtaking on double white lines which was filmed by a Swiss motorist. They were given a deposit fine of about £200 and subsequently received a notice that they had been fined a further £1100.

I am off to Switzerland in a couple of weeks. I think I may moderate my driving!

Zod

35,295 posts

258 months

Thursday 26th June 2014
quotequote all
dkatwa said:
so we liberated the French and this is how they repay us....
Find a Frenchman who will admit that! According to them, it was the Americans, but they didn't need liberating anyway. De Gaulle and a few Frenchies teamed up with the Resistance and retook Paris.

dkatwa

570 posts

245 months

Thursday 26th June 2014
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I think they should be made to donate the money to charities. Then we will see how zealous they are to 'do their job'......

tonys

1,080 posts

223 months

Thursday 26th June 2014
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This is nothing new; they've been cracking down for quite a few years. They do tend to hide, and certainly don't stand by the side of the road in Health & Safety High Vis. jackets smile

Small radar units mounted behind crash barriers, with nobody in sight, Gendarmes hiding behind the large green 'bollards' they have at the commencement of slip roads, standing behind bushes/trees are not uncommon. Radars are often set up a few kms before the péages, hence how you get pulled over at the toll booth.

Most new fixed cameras don't seem to have advance warning signs, and some of the older signs have now been taken down. However, if you see an electronic speed monitoring sign an a main road, it's almost certain there'll be an unmarked camera ahead.

dkatwa

570 posts

245 months

Thursday 26th June 2014
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Best to put on cruise control at the speed limit and enjoy the freedom of the roads. I am sure a trek to Germany would cure the itch to max the car

matt5791

381 posts

126 months

Thursday 26th June 2014
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A few years ago I was spotted by police parked at the side of the autoroute and then stopped as I come through the toll paege - only 20 miles from Le Harve port. I think they concentrate on the roads leading to the ports as there are always people rushing to catch ferries.

I still have the ticket somewhere - they claimed I was doing 176kph / 110mph. Fine was 90 Euro, cash on the spot. I didn't bother trying the old "I thought the speed limit was 130mph, not kph" excuse.

WelshBentleyBoy

Original Poster:

339 posts

199 months

Friday 27th June 2014
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They seem to concentrate on the A16 and A26 leading to the Tunnel and channel ports and also the roads to Caen and Le Havre during Le Mans week. On the Route Napoleon (N85) There is a 20mile stretch of motorway from Gap To Sisterone. I must confess to having a few blasts there.
A few years ago a bunch of us had a sweep where we all put 20 euros in and drew a car. The one holding the first car to be done for speeding scooped the pool. I was lucky enough to pick the winner but they did not give me the 200 euro prize but stuck it in the kitty and we drank it!

V8 FOU

2,974 posts

147 months

Friday 27th June 2014
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Shirley, the best answer is to avoid the Autoroutes? The old N roads, now deregulated to D are nearly empty these days and a whole lot more pleasant than the autoroutes.

Or am I missing something?

XXXAngelXXX

1,711 posts

228 months

Wednesday 2nd July 2014
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this my first post in the Bentley (about to buy a GTC) section - i was more of an Aston boy the last years evil


i just received a fine from France for *speeding* - lousy 4 kms to fast and they want 45.-- Euros for it !

WelshBentleyBoy

Original Poster:

339 posts

199 months

Wednesday 2nd July 2014
quotequote all
Did they do you on the spot or follow you home?

XXXAngelXXX

1,711 posts

228 months

Thursday 3rd July 2014
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received the*amende* at home...

WelshBentleyBoy

Original Poster:

339 posts

199 months

Thursday 3rd July 2014
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I only asked because I thought that if they did not catch you there and then they did not have the power at present to follow up in the UK, so the fixed cameras were not a worry unless of course you live in France!!

XXXAngelXXX

1,711 posts

228 months

Thursday 3rd July 2014
quotequote all
well we return often to France and i don't want to pay the triple of the original fine in a control wink - so i paid the 45.-- Euros.......