Driving in France - Hi viz vests

[Funk]

It would also seem to be a really sensible idea ANYWHERE you travel. For a few quid why wouldn't you have hi-vis jackets in the car for an emergency? Could literally be a lifesaver.




Yes, I have a couple in my car.

[mph1977]

not having light deflectors / adjusting your lights for LHD is tttishness of the first order ...

triangle / cones and hi vis are simple and cheap things that coould save your life

[megapixels83]

Off to France again next week with the car so purchased an AA european driving kit that comes with all you need.


Came in at £13 in a decent bag, I keep one vest in each door bin and the bag in the boot. For the sake of £13 I take the view that I would rather not have to try to explain myself in a language I speak poorly.

[lukefreeman]

DBSV8 said:

lukefreeman said:

Been to N ring for the past 5 years, and never been pulled. Don't carry a vest, warning triangle, UK badge, light deflectors or anything.

Last year one of our pary got pulled for speeding in France and they never checked his car for the above bits......

then you were lucky , it all depends on the gendarme at the time if you get pulled by one who sticks by the book ,and you don't tick everything in his box you are looking at fines

equipment is cheap enough , why take the risk ?

When we go there's usually a core of lads, who've been going to various places, (Modball, Alps, Monaco, Spa, Monza) and they've been pulled for speeding, deported from countries (!) and other various police issues, and they've never been asked for the "legal requirement bits"......because it's all scaremongering, getting people worried and making them buy the AA travel kit of whatever people buy.

I can't be bothered to carry extra kit in a stripped out car or the other car where space is at a premium.

[DBSV8]

lukefreeman said:

DBSV8 said:

lukefreeman said:

Been to N ring for the past 5 years, and never been pulled. Don't carry a vest, warning triangle, UK badge, light deflectors or anything.

Last year one of our pary got pulled for speeding in France and they never checked his car for the above bits......

then you were lucky , it all depends on the gendarme at the time if you get pulled by one who sticks by the book ,and you don't tick everything in his box you are looking at fines

equipment is cheap enough , why take the risk ?

When we go there's usually a core of lads, who've been going to various places, (Modball, Alps, Monaco, Spa, Monza) and they've been pulled for speeding, deported from countries (!) and other various police issues, and they've never been asked for the "legal requirement bits"......because it's all scaremongering, getting people worried and making them buy the AA travel kit of whatever people buy.

I can't be bothered to carry extra kit in a stripped out car or the other car where space is at a premium.

its your choice

as you say you pays your money and take your chance , All i can say with experience , had a holiday cottage In Brittany for 12 years , so know quite a few local brits who have been fined for being asked to show kit , its rare but it does happen

its law in France , their country their rules , now whether you chance it is up to you ,

[anonymous-user]

lukefreeman said:

When we go there's usually a core of lads, who've been going to various places, (Modball, Alps, Monaco, Spa, Monza) and they've been pulled for speeding, deported from countries (!) and other various police issues, and they've never been asked for the "legal requirement bits"......because it's all scaremongering, getting people worried and making them buy the AA travel kit of whatever people buy.

That's the first time I've heard French motoring laws referred to as scaremongering.
I guess seat belts are just are cunning marketing ploy by nylon webbing manufacturers too?

[lukefreeman]

Crossflow Kid said:

lukefreeman said:

When we go there's usually a core of lads, who've been going to various places, (Modball, Alps, Monaco, Spa, Monza) and they've been pulled for speeding, deported from countries (!) and other various police issues, and they've never been asked for the "legal requirement bits"......because it's all scaremongering, getting people worried and making them buy the AA travel kit of whatever people buy.

That's the first time I've heard French motoring laws referred to as scaremongering.
I guess seat belts are just are cunning marketing ploy by nylon webbing manufacturers too?

You've got it wrong........Not the French laws, but companies like AA, and the ones who sell the kit on the ferrys.

Seatbelts are for losers anyway. Allah will protect me.

[lukefreeman]

Oh I'm driving Lemans this Thurday, in a convoy of st cars. None of us got any of the kit, will let you know how we get on.

All but one of the cars hasn't got an exhaust

[anonymous-user]

lukefreeman said:

Crossflow Kid said:

lukefreeman said:

When we go there's usually a core of lads, who've been going to various places, (Modball, Alps, Monaco, Spa, Monza) and they've been pulled for speeding, deported from countries (!) and other various police issues, and they've never been asked for the "legal requirement bits"......because it's all scaremongering, getting people worried and making them buy the AA travel kit of whatever people buy.

That's the first time I've heard French motoring laws referred to as scaremongering.
I guess seat belts are just are cunning marketing ploy by nylon webbing manufacturers too?

You've got it wrong........Not the French laws, but companies like AA, and the ones who sell the kit on the ferrys.

Seatbelts are for losers anyway. Allah will protect me.

So even though they're selling items required (?) by French law, it's still scaremongering?
Ok, got it, thanks.

[lukefreeman]

Well.....after being pulled over MULTIPLE times in France due to the cars we were in, not one of us got asked about warning triangles, breathalysers, spare bulbs, etc......

Got breathalysed, told off multiple times, fines but nothing for the kit you're "supposed" to carry.

Think it's safe to say they don't care.

[anonymous-user]

Well ok, so Les Garçons Dans Bleu are ambivalent, but considering the minimal cost and low volume when packed, aren't things like a hi-viz vest and a reflective triangle worth it purely on the basis it just might stop you being run over by a Latvian milk tanker?
Probably doesn't quite fit with the Rebel Without a Clue persona though does it?

Edited by anonymous-user on Tuesday 16th June 22:23

[Halmyre]

Just a wild theory, but in the event of a prang your insurance company might be delighted to hear that you weren't conforming to the laws of the land.

[DBSV8]

lukefreeman said:

Seatbelts are for losers anyway. Allah will protect me.

99.9% time I would disagree with this statement ..................however when I joined the lotus forum , I got a nice email from an old boy in Australia . The conversation went something like this.

Ozzie : I see you have Seatbelts fitted in your "22 "

Me : yes they were installed during the renovation

Ozzie: well , let me give you some advice , I used to race these cars in the 60's , never fitted with seatbelts , your sat with a 2 gallon tank of gas right behind your Arse , I've seen a fair few accidents and the front suspension on these cars has a tendency to wrap around your ankles in a crash trapping you..........not good if your inverted with petrol seeping out ???
Your best chance is to be thrown clear in a crash ...........my advice is don't fasten your belts !!

Me Cheers thanks for the advice

Edited by DBSV8 on Wednesday 17th June 11:19

[anonymous-user]

C, not S.