More Possible French Speeding Crack Downs
Discussion
I don't understand the hate.
You can get enough points to be banned on the a50, m42, m25, the list is long.
Put it into perspective. We're effectivley a bunch of foreigners going over for a race - you're arguing that we don't have to abide by local laws or dcustoms and should be able to do whatever we want.
Now imagine that a world of foreign gypsies came over on horse and cart for a orse race. Would you expect them to follow our laws, or to do whatever they want? If they started racing their pony and traps on the dual carriageway you'd all be frothing at the mouth.
Imo it's simple - french roads, french rules. You can chose to ignore their rules, they can choose to punish you for it. No point whining about it calling it unfair - it's pretty obvious that the French road network doesn't exist for the sole purpose of a couple of hundred brits to hoon their cars down once a year.
You can get enough points to be banned on the a50, m42, m25, the list is long.
Put it into perspective. We're effectivley a bunch of foreigners going over for a race - you're arguing that we don't have to abide by local laws or dcustoms and should be able to do whatever we want.
Now imagine that a world of foreign gypsies came over on horse and cart for a orse race. Would you expect them to follow our laws, or to do whatever they want? If they started racing their pony and traps on the dual carriageway you'd all be frothing at the mouth.
Imo it's simple - french roads, french rules. You can chose to ignore their rules, they can choose to punish you for it. No point whining about it calling it unfair - it's pretty obvious that the French road network doesn't exist for the sole purpose of a couple of hundred brits to hoon their cars down once a year.
I see the same threads every year about this subject.
Various people complain that the penalties for getting caught speeding in France are harsh (and increasingly so).
Nobody complains that they were done for speeding whilst not actually speeding, i.e. those that got stung, were speeding. Doesn't matter if it was by a bit or by a lot, we all know what the Gendarmes will say...
The answer is obvious, surely? Don't speed if you can't afford to pay the fines.
If you are aware of the strict zero tolerance attitude to speeding, and are aware of the fines, and aware that you can't / don't want to pay them - why the hell would you push your luck???
Take your time, enjoy the journey, hold on to your cash and don't ruin the trip for yourself and whoever else is in your car.
Various people complain that the penalties for getting caught speeding in France are harsh (and increasingly so).
Nobody complains that they were done for speeding whilst not actually speeding, i.e. those that got stung, were speeding. Doesn't matter if it was by a bit or by a lot, we all know what the Gendarmes will say...
The answer is obvious, surely? Don't speed if you can't afford to pay the fines.
If you are aware of the strict zero tolerance attitude to speeding, and are aware of the fines, and aware that you can't / don't want to pay them - why the hell would you push your luck???
Take your time, enjoy the journey, hold on to your cash and don't ruin the trip for yourself and whoever else is in your car.
Driving down to Le Mans on a Thursday, I have never seen anyone get stopped on the toll roads. I've seen a few camoflauged people that fellow travellers have claimed are sneaky coppers, but I've gone flying past and had no chase. I have seen the traps in and out of villages on the D roads.
As a previous poster has said, the toll roads are the safest places to drive fast and UK traffic accident stats of motorway injuries/fatalities versus those on A and B roads fully support that statement. The only time I've ever seen speed traps have been around that final toll booth on the way back to Calais on Sunday afternoon.
I have always believed that (certainly on Thursday and early afternoon Sunday's) the police spend most of their time on the roads that aren't tolls (particularly that D road from Rouen to LM) catching people speeding on roads where it's exceptionally dangerous to do so and tend to leave the toll roads alone. In my view that is sensible enforcement aimed at keeping road users as safe as their man-power allows, rather than trying to milk overseas drivers of maximum moolar.
Obviously, breaking speed limits is illegal and dangerous and only an idiot would do such a thing......
As a previous poster has said, the toll roads are the safest places to drive fast and UK traffic accident stats of motorway injuries/fatalities versus those on A and B roads fully support that statement. The only time I've ever seen speed traps have been around that final toll booth on the way back to Calais on Sunday afternoon.
I have always believed that (certainly on Thursday and early afternoon Sunday's) the police spend most of their time on the roads that aren't tolls (particularly that D road from Rouen to LM) catching people speeding on roads where it's exceptionally dangerous to do so and tend to leave the toll roads alone. In my view that is sensible enforcement aimed at keeping road users as safe as their man-power allows, rather than trying to milk overseas drivers of maximum moolar.
Obviously, breaking speed limits is illegal and dangerous and only an idiot would do such a thing......
MasserMadMan said:
Driving down to Le Mans on a Thursday, I have never seen anyone get stopped on the toll roads. I've seen a few camoflauged people that fellow travellers have claimed are sneaky coppers, but I've gone flying past and had no chase. I have seen the traps in and out of villages on the D roads.
As a previous poster has said, the toll roads are the safest places to drive fast and UK traffic accident stats of motorway injuries/fatalities versus those on A and B roads fully support that statement. The only time I've ever seen speed traps have been around that final toll booth on the way back to Calais on Sunday afternoon.
I have always believed that (certainly on Thursday and early afternoon Sunday's) the police spend most of their time on the roads that aren't tolls (particularly that D road from Rouen to LM) catching people speeding on roads where it's exceptionally dangerous to do so and tend to leave the toll roads alone. In my view that is sensible enforcement aimed at keeping road users as safe as their man-power allows, rather than trying to milk overseas drivers of maximum moolar.
Obviously, breaking speed limits is illegal and dangerous and only an idiot would do such a thing......
I can assure you there are several points on the Autoroutes between the Channel and Le mans where there are Gendarmeries processing large numbers of infractors on a fairly impressive scale. They know their roads better than we do and are deliberately stationed where you will have little to know chance of detecting them. they are less in force on the D338/438 but still around.As a previous poster has said, the toll roads are the safest places to drive fast and UK traffic accident stats of motorway injuries/fatalities versus those on A and B roads fully support that statement. The only time I've ever seen speed traps have been around that final toll booth on the way back to Calais on Sunday afternoon.
I have always believed that (certainly on Thursday and early afternoon Sunday's) the police spend most of their time on the roads that aren't tolls (particularly that D road from Rouen to LM) catching people speeding on roads where it's exceptionally dangerous to do so and tend to leave the toll roads alone. In my view that is sensible enforcement aimed at keeping road users as safe as their man-power allows, rather than trying to milk overseas drivers of maximum moolar.
Obviously, breaking speed limits is illegal and dangerous and only an idiot would do such a thing......
There is some degree of margin for error but if your speedo shows 150k or more you are running a risk. 90 euros and some paperwork at that level. Only 180kmh + gets you into more serious trouble.
Be aware of the changes around some junctions/viaducts where the limit can reduce temporarily to 90kmh sometimes and the rule is "more than 40 kph above the limit" is the more serious offence.
Rural roads away from the direct routes are sparsely policed but if you race through villages you are asking for trouble.
But as i said above, 130kph is a reasonable speed on an autoroute, especially one where you rarely have to brake or slow down, just stick to it.
Dave200 said:
This is all it boils down to. If you don't like the rules, fly and take the train.
Exactly.Which explains the reason why clear continental motorways which are perfectly suitable for 100 mph + speeds are being lumbered with speed limits of just 20 mph more than the uk single carraigeway NSL at best.IE a deliberate policy of criminalising drivers for what is a trivial offence not to mention turning an expensive infrastructure into a pointless liability.IE corrupt corporate protectionism.Edited by XJ Flyer on Thursday 22 May 15:01
140Kph on the autoroutes seems to be deemed ok and a French colleague told me that Les BiB are OK with that.
Last year we cruised at 140 past a temporary camera probably 3 or 4 miles from the main toll on the way back to Calais. The gendarmes were pulling British cars left right and centre, including the Focus RS that had gone past us like we were standing still. He went very white as the gendarme signaled to him to pull to the side after he'd paid his toll.
We'd seen a number of French cars flashing their lights coming the other way, if we'd be pushing on we would've backed off as they were clearly warning us of something up ahead.
Last year we cruised at 140 past a temporary camera probably 3 or 4 miles from the main toll on the way back to Calais. The gendarmes were pulling British cars left right and centre, including the Focus RS that had gone past us like we were standing still. He went very white as the gendarme signaled to him to pull to the side after he'd paid his toll.
We'd seen a number of French cars flashing their lights coming the other way, if we'd be pushing on we would've backed off as they were clearly warning us of something up ahead.
XJ Flyer said:
warren182 said:
Do people normally stick to the limit religiously? Or is there a safe 'window' to drive within?
I'd guess that a lot of hypocrites would be found out if all the UK motorway detection devices available were set at 70 mph. The problem in France is that their driving standards (Concentration, judgement, awareness) have been awful and they still kill each other on a staggering level.
jazzdevil said:
I agree with the sentiment that rules are rules - works for me!
The only thing that grinds my gears is the non-reciprocal arrangement. One of my inlaws in in the police and there is rarely anything done or said to European drivers contravening British road laws.
The 'reciprocal arrangement' is on the cards as of next year.Which means that instead of just a fine we also then get points too and fixed cameras become a threat that weren't a threat previously.Unless you're a full on believer in the speed is always catastrophically dangerous cause and/or never drive a quick car on the continent be careful what you wish for.The only thing that grinds my gears is the non-reciprocal arrangement. One of my inlaws in in the police and there is rarely anything done or said to European drivers contravening British road laws.
MasserMadMan said:
I have always believed that (certainly on Thursday and early afternoon Sunday's) the police spend most of their time on the roads that aren't tolls (particularly that D road from Rouen to LM)
Last year I was solo driving the Caterham down to LM on the Wednesday morning along the old 158, and not being in a rush with ETA at lunchtime, tucked behind a French eurobox and settled down to soak up the atmosphere ( in this case heavy rain - remember ? ).I got to a long downhill stretch which passed through a quiet village which then led to roadworks on the uphill stretch going out of town so overtaking was a bit dodgy even though nothing was coming the other way and the road was clear. I was tempted but for some reason thought better of it.
OMG - les gendarmes were waiting right on the edge of the village, parked up behind a hedge in a driveway and another was standing behind a tree ready to jump out and stop anybody breaking the speed limit. The radar was behind the hedge looking through the foliage looking right back up the hill. Nearly every village further on had a bobby waiting at the village boundary although I didn't spot the radar or his back-up but no doubt they were there. IIRC, a French mobile radar looks like a large set of binoculars on a tripod so watch out.
I think this year I will take your warnings seriously.
Dblue said:
XJ Flyer said:
warren182 said:
Do people normally stick to the limit religiously? Or is there a safe 'window' to drive within?
I'd guess that a lot of hypocrites would be found out if all the UK motorway detection devices available were set at 70 mph. The problem in France is that their driving standards (Concentration, judgement, awareness) have been awful and they still kill each other on a staggering level.
XJ Flyer said:
Dblue said:
XJ Flyer said:
warren182 said:
Do people normally stick to the limit religiously? Or is there a safe 'window' to drive within?
I'd guess that a lot of hypocrites would be found out if all the UK motorway detection devices available were set at 70 mph. The problem in France is that their driving standards (Concentration, judgement, awareness) have been awful and they still kill each other on a staggering level.
Road Deaths in France last year were 60% higher than the UK , where the Police deliberately allow considerable leeway on speed , especially on Motorways.
warren182 said:
Do people normally stick to the limit religiously? Or is there a safe 'window' to drive within?
The limits for fixed and mobile automatic cameras is +5kph below 100kph and +5% above. They do not use any discretion.A Gendarme with a hand-held laser unit is more likely to allow you 10kph. They are accurate up to 1km away, so they have plenty of time to clock your speed and pull you in.
Dblue said:
XJ Flyer said:
Dblue said:
XJ Flyer said:
warren182 said:
Do people normally stick to the limit religiously? Or is there a safe 'window' to drive within?
I'd guess that a lot of hypocrites would be found out if all the UK motorway detection devices available were set at 70 mph. The problem in France is that their driving standards (Concentration, judgement, awareness) have been awful and they still kill each other on a staggering level.
Road Deaths in France last year were 60% higher than the UK , where the Police deliberately allow considerable leeway on speed , especially on Motorways.
Bearing that in mind what's safer dumbing dowwn attitudes to the point of making the sheep believe that they are 'safe' so long as no one exceeds 130 kmh or just letting everyone get on with it.
Edited by XJ Flyer on Thursday 22 May 17:23
XJ Flyer said:
Dave200 said:
This is all it boils down to. If you don't like the rules, fly and take the train.
Exactly.Which explains the reason why clear continental motorways which are perfectly suitable for 100 mph + speeds are being lumbered with speed limits of just 20 mph more than the uk single carraigeway NSL at best.IE a deliberate policy of criminalising drivers for what is a trivial offence not to mention turning an expensive infrastructure into a pointless liability.IE corrupt corporate protectionism.Edited by XJ Flyer on Thursday 22 May 15:01
P*ssing and moaning on PH will do absolutely nothing to solve your perceived injustice - in fact, I would go so far as to say that it is impossible for an individual to persuade the French government to raise speed limits.
Therefore, why not have a bash at the grown-up and pragmatic approach of millions of other motorists, and deal with the fact that the limits are there, whether you agree with them or not. Otherwise you just end up sounding like a small child who has lost his favourite toy...
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