Discussion
Back in 2018 I got a speeding ticket in France. After that I swore I would never take another driving holiday in France again and I never have. Macron's ridiculous speed limits of 48mph on route national and D roads make a mockery of driving enjoyment never mind covering any distance. Or am I wrong? Do Les flics still hang about behind the bushes waiting for the unsuspecting Brit? Oui ou Non.
Puggit said:
Many departments have already reversed the 80kmph back to 90kmph on selected routes.
We own a house in France, I think I've seen a manned speed trap twice in 16 years.
I don’t get this - I see at least one several every single time I go. I used to live in Amiens and weekends they were everywhere on the RNs. We own a house in France, I think I've seen a manned speed trap twice in 16 years.
Ten years ago we had a surreal day - we were on our way to Spain to see my parents and were taking the more scenic route, so down via Rouen, Chartres etc and the number of speed traps (hiding behind low walls and in depressions at the side of the road with the laser on a tripod for example) and police cars parked up in side roads - several of who pulled out and followed us was doing our head in. The final straw was when a pair of gendarmes on BMW bikes on one of those 3 lane stretches (overtaking lane shared in the middle) going the other way did a U turn and followed us. We gave up at that point - we were near Tours - and got on the autoroute. It was grim.
We go over quite a lot to see friends and I don’t think I have ever been and not seen a manned speed trap. In fact I actually got banned after getting pulled by - semi obscured until it was too late on the A1 near Bapaume.
Dog Star said:
The final straw was when a pair of gendarmes on BMW bikes on one of those 3 lane stretches (overtaking lane shared in the middle) going the other way did a U turn and followed us. We gave up at that point - we were near Tours - and got on the autoroute. It was grim.
Maybe you should have done what they say is a good ploy in Wales. Slow right down. With the coppers behind you, try 35mph, see how they like that.
Edited by Zed 44 on Thursday 4th April 14:28
I drive to the Alps and back at least 4 times a year and have never had a problem. If anything I find it easier than the UK - they put a sign up saying speed camera, you slow down until past and then speed back up. Same as everyone else.
Having said that I dont push it too much normally and I also use waze which helps. If you do decide to push harder and get caught then you just pay the fine although it has never happened to me. I dont really see the problem.
Having said that I do all of the long journeys on autoroutes.
Having said that I dont push it too much normally and I also use waze which helps. If you do decide to push harder and get caught then you just pay the fine although it has never happened to me. I dont really see the problem.
Having said that I do all of the long journeys on autoroutes.
NorthDave said:
Having said that I do all of the long journeys on autoroutes.
Which is why you have no problems. Route Nationals, entrances to town/villages etc are where they like to stick them.
They’re much rarer on autoroutes and to be fair you have to be getting a crack on to get pulled - in the dry up to a genuine GPS 90mph you shouldn’t attract much attention.
Autoroutes - hidden behind a sign I think I’ve only spotted once (it got me and I got a resultant 2 month ban), and I’ve seen several with what appears to be a broken down vehicle on the shoulder. It’s a speed trap with all the gear set up.
My Parents used to have a house near Ruffec and the N10 between there and Angouleme had regular speed traps - multiple times a week in various different locations. The road is a divided dual carriageway with (I think) a 110KMH speed limit. However, whenever there are crossroads the limit drops to 90KMH. The Gendarmes would set up camp just after one of these speed reduction signs and it was like shooting fish in a barrel for them.
I have been caught once on the Autoroute, by a Camera that didn't show up on Waze. This led to me being flagged down at the next Toll Station by 2 female gendarmes in an unmarked Golf R. They were extremely pleasant and as it was my first offence they "only" fined me €90, which they took using their mobile card reader. No points on my UK licence either. I was doing about 140MPH, so I was ok with the outcome.
I have been caught once on the Autoroute, by a Camera that didn't show up on Waze. This led to me being flagged down at the next Toll Station by 2 female gendarmes in an unmarked Golf R. They were extremely pleasant and as it was my first offence they "only" fined me €90, which they took using their mobile card reader. No points on my UK licence either. I was doing about 140MPH, so I was ok with the outcome.
Edited by omniflow on Thursday 4th April 17:02
French drivers are pretty hot reporting anything suspicious by the roadside.
Sure its not a 100% a perfect solution, sometimes you can just be unlucky, but the probabilities are small for the duration of a holiday.
There is also the drastic solution of keeping to speed limits. If you are in a genuine hurry the Autoroutes are your friend.
Sure its not a 100% a perfect solution, sometimes you can just be unlucky, but the probabilities are small for the duration of a holiday.
There is also the drastic solution of keeping to speed limits. If you are in a genuine hurry the Autoroutes are your friend.
On a slightly different slant, are the French farmers still revolting?
On our way south at the end of January we had to divert several times to avoid roadblocks and we are currently just east of Seville on the way back!
We have been stuck here nearly a week as the camper has broken an obscure part of the DPF thingy that is only available from the factory in Italy...retirement is really tough, being forced to spend an extra week in the sun!
On our way south at the end of January we had to divert several times to avoid roadblocks and we are currently just east of Seville on the way back!
We have been stuck here nearly a week as the camper has broken an obscure part of the DPF thingy that is only available from the factory in Italy...retirement is really tough, being forced to spend an extra week in the sun!
Dog Star said:
Which is why you have no problems.
Route Nationals, entrances to town/villages etc are where they like to stick them.
They’re much rarer on autoroutes and to be fair you have to be getting a crack on to get pulled - in the dry up to a genuine GPS 90mph you shouldn’t attract much attention.
Autoroutes - hidden behind a sign I think I’ve only spotted once (it got me and I got a resultant 2 month ban), and I’ve seen several with what appears to be a broken down vehicle on the shoulder. It’s a speed trap with all the gear set up.
Maybe don’t speed on the entrances to villages then. There really is no excuse for speeding on your way into a village by enough to get fined.Route Nationals, entrances to town/villages etc are where they like to stick them.
They’re much rarer on autoroutes and to be fair you have to be getting a crack on to get pulled - in the dry up to a genuine GPS 90mph you shouldn’t attract much attention.
Autoroutes - hidden behind a sign I think I’ve only spotted once (it got me and I got a resultant 2 month ban), and I’ve seen several with what appears to be a broken down vehicle on the shoulder. It’s a speed trap with all the gear set up.
Zed 44 said:
I used to enjoy the RNs and D roads in France. That was the reason for my enquiry. From the answers above, it would seem that a return to France for the pleasure of driving on these roads would be best avoided.
I generally do around 2,000 miles in France every year - and have done for 30 years I should think.It has changed. 30 years ago I could drive on the peage at 150mph knowing that the fine was a very affordable sum... Now, you could have your car seized at those speeds.
But is it that bad now? Not really. I get to where I want to get to on the peage at 90mph and then pootle around at the destination observing the limits.
France is a superb country to drive through, despite the speed limits on rural roads.
NDA said:
I generally do around 2,000 miles in France every year - and have done for 30 years I should think.
It has changed. 30 years ago I could drive on the peage at 150mph knowing that the fine was a very affordable sum... Now, you could have your car seized at those speeds.
But is it that bad now? Not really. I get to where I want to get to on the peage at 90mph and then pootle around at the destination observing the limits.
France is a superb country to drive through, despite the speed limits on rural roads.
How old are you now? Maybe that explains why you're happy driving it 48 mphIt has changed. 30 years ago I could drive on the peage at 150mph knowing that the fine was a very affordable sum... Now, you could have your car seized at those speeds.
But is it that bad now? Not really. I get to where I want to get to on the peage at 90mph and then pootle around at the destination observing the limits.
France is a superb country to drive through, despite the speed limits on rural roads.
Most Departments have rescinded the 80kph and are 90kph as before. That’s not too different from UK limits so what’s the problem. I’m in the Sarthe and there’s lots of times it’s safe to exceed 90kph.
As a tourist I assume you are on the tourist routes with well know hot spots, near Calais for example. One of the N roads between Le Mans and Tours is known as the “Route des Anglais” for good reason, it’s practically a convoy of UK reg cars at weekends especially, don’t speed on there.
Generally the N roads used to avoid the motorways are policed for good reason.
30 years driving in France never been caught with hand held only fixed on motorways or ring roads where I didn’t see them.
As a tourist I assume you are on the tourist routes with well know hot spots, near Calais for example. One of the N roads between Le Mans and Tours is known as the “Route des Anglais” for good reason, it’s practically a convoy of UK reg cars at weekends especially, don’t speed on there.
Generally the N roads used to avoid the motorways are policed for good reason.
30 years driving in France never been caught with hand held only fixed on motorways or ring roads where I didn’t see them.
omniflow said:
My Parents used to have a house near Ruffec and the N10 between there and Angouleme had regular speed traps - multiple times a week in various different locations. The road is a divided dual carriageway with (I think) a 110KMH speed limit. However, whenever there are crossroads the limit drops to 90KMH. The Gendarmes would set up camp just after one of these speed reduction signs and it was like shooting fish in a barrel for them.
I have been caught once on the Autoroute, by a Camera that didn't show up on Waze. This led to me being flagged down at the next Toll Station by 2 female gendarmes in an unmarked Golf R. They were extremely pleasant and as it was my first offence they "only" fined me €90, which they took using their mobile card reader. No points on my UK licence either. I was doing about 140MPH, so I was ok with the outcome.
Those constant 90/110's are a real pain. I have been caught once on the Autoroute, by a Camera that didn't show up on Waze. This led to me being flagged down at the next Toll Station by 2 female gendarmes in an unmarked Golf R. They were extremely pleasant and as it was my first offence they "only" fined me €90, which they took using their mobile card reader. No points on my UK licence either. I was doing about 140MPH, so I was ok with the outcome.
Edited by omniflow on Thursday 4th April 17:02
I got flashed a couple of times last year on holiday despite making reasonable efforts to stay at the speed limit. Not sure what the threshold for a flash is but mustn't be much above 8kph over.
Edited by ChocolateFrog on Sunday 7th April 20:17
leyorkie said:
Most Departments have rescinded the 80kph and are 90kph as before. That’s not too different from UK limits so what’s the problem. I’m in the Sarthe and there’s lots of times it’s safe to exceed 90kph.
As a tourist I assume you are on the tourist routes with well know hot spots, near Calais for example. One of the N roads between Le Mans and Tours is known as the “Route des Anglais” for good reason, it’s practically a convoy of UK reg cars at weekends especially, don’t speed on there.
Generally the N roads used to avoid the motorways are policed for good reason.
30 years driving in France never been caught with hand held only fixed on motorways or ring roads where I didn’t see them.
I am ALWAYS the slowest on the D938 between Chateau du Loir and Tours with cruise set to 95kmph.As a tourist I assume you are on the tourist routes with well know hot spots, near Calais for example. One of the N roads between Le Mans and Tours is known as the “Route des Anglais” for good reason, it’s practically a convoy of UK reg cars at weekends especially, don’t speed on there.
Generally the N roads used to avoid the motorways are policed for good reason.
30 years driving in France never been caught with hand held only fixed on motorways or ring roads where I didn’t see them.
Did you see that some do-gooders challenged (and won) the validity of how Sarthe implemented the 90kmph limits? However a technicality allowed Sarthe to continue using the 90s while they sorted out the legal bits.
Pointless process.
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