Le Mans and speeding

[andyps]

Essexjohn said:

Four of us in two MX5s, 15 mins North east of Le Mans on Sunday morning. Just north of Change on the road to Bonnetable...117km in a 90km limit. Following 4 French cars, who obviously were let through and we got pulled. Absolutely no way we were doing that....indicated 74mph allowing for the optimistic speedo. No way.

No point in arguing, we had a crossing to catch. Just a minor downside to a great weekend. 90 euros each. Ah well.... We were cautious for the next few miles....

As 74mph is 119kmh, even with a 10% error you were exceeding the limit so you were right not to argue.

[Dickie Dastardly]

We were pulled on Friday between Zeebrugge and Rouen when leaving a toll (2 x Tuscans, 1 x Griff 1 x VXR8), there were several French police and a Kent Constabulary 5 series BMW.

The French police were excellent and just asked us to be respectful of the speed limits and drink/drive laws, they gave us a leaflet then wished us a safe journey and waved us on our way (the policeman who was filtering us back into the traffic was actually encouraging a wheel spin departure), a good bit of PR in my opinion and a sensible way to initially deal with the vast majority.

[XJ Flyer]

andyps said:

Essexjohn said:

Four of us in two MX5s, 15 mins North east of Le Mans on Sunday morning. Just north of Change on the road to Bonnetable...117km in a 90km limit. Following 4 French cars, who obviously were let through and we got pulled. Absolutely no way we were doing that....indicated 74mph allowing for the optimistic speedo. No way.

No point in arguing, we had a crossing to catch. Just a minor downside to a great weekend. 90 euros each. Ah well.... We were cautious for the next few miles....

As 74mph is 119kmh, even with a 10% error you were exceeding the limit so you were right not to argue.

If I've read it right the post says no way was it an indicated 74 mph.Which,assuming they're aware of the 90 kmh limit,sounds sensible.In which case as I said it's still arguably better to use the autoroutes where possible from the point of view of the speed v penalty equation.

[XJ Flyer]

Dickie Dastardly said:

We were pulled on Friday between Zeebrugge and Rouen when leaving a toll (2 x Tuscans, 1 x Griff 1 x VXR8), there were several French police and a Kent Constabulary 5 series BMW.

The French police were excellent and just asked us to be respectful of the speed limits and drink/drive laws, they gave us a leaflet then wished us a safe journey and waved us on our way (the policeman who was filtering us back into the traffic was actually encouraging a wheel spin departure), a good bit of PR in my opinion and a sensible way to initially deal with the vast majority.

I'd still like to know what the fk Kent Constabulary were doing taking the UK enforcement regime across the channel.Onto roads with a totally different 'appropriate' speed regime as opposed to the M26 on a Friday evening.Which seems to provide the clue as to the reason why running on the French autoroutes of 2014 is different beyond recognition to that of 1994.

The logical conclusion of which will be Kent Constabulary being involved in limiting British cars on unlimited autobahns to UK speed limits.If not directly by simply telling the Germans to enforce a blanket 80 mph motorway limit but which doesn't have to apply to Germans.

[Storer]

No tales of woe from me (unless something drops into the letterbox in the next few days) but some interested looks from the Gendarmes at payages or in towns.

I even stopped and asked a couple of officers in Combrai for a hotel recommendation and received an escort to the best hotel in town.

Of course I kept to the speed limit at all times. I saw no speed traps and only a few roadside permanent cameras.

Most French seem to keep close to the limits so there seems little need for major speeding detection. The normal UK to Le Mans routes are an obvious target as some people seem to speed on their way there and back!!!


Paul

[XJ Flyer]

Storer said:

The normal UK to Le Mans routes are an obvious target as some people seem to speed on their way there and back!!!


Paul

I think Kent constabulary would have gone into melt down if they'd have been parked up watching 'some Brits' on the French autoroutes of previous better days.As for Le Mans routes as I remember it things only really got interesting after Reims on the way to/from Italy.

[andyps]

XJ Flyer said:

If I've read it right the post says no way was it an indicated 74 mph.Which,assuming they're aware of the 90 kmh limit,sounds sensible.In which case as I said it's still arguably better to use the autoroutes where possible from the point of view of the speed v penalty equation.

You may be right, but either way the poster needed some clarity!

[leyorkie]

Essexjohn said:

Four of us in two MX5s, 15 mins North east of Le Mans on Sunday morning. Just north of Change on the road to Bonnetable...117km in a 90km limit. Following 4 French cars, who obviously were let through and we got pulled. Absolutely no way we were doing that....indicated 74mph allowing for the optimistic speedo. No way.

No point in arguing, we had a crossing to catch. Just a minor downside to a great weekend. 90 euros each. Ah well.... We were cautious for the next few miles....

For those of us resident in France we do not have the inconvenience of a roadside stop, just a nice letter requesting payment and points some days later.
The notion that only British cars are targeted would be nice if it were true, but the only way to penalise visitors is to stop at the roadside.
Nice when I visit the UK and drive past your fixed cameras. Revenge is sweet

[XJ Flyer]

leyorkie said:

Essexjohn said:

Four of us in two MX5s, 15 mins North east of Le Mans on Sunday morning. Just north of Change on the road to Bonnetable...117km in a 90km limit. Following 4 French cars, who obviously were let through and we got pulled. Absolutely no way we were doing that....indicated 74mph allowing for the optimistic speedo. No way.

No point in arguing, we had a crossing to catch. Just a minor downside to a great weekend. 90 euros each. Ah well.... We were cautious for the next few miles....

For those of us resident in France we do not have the inconvenience of a roadside stop, just a nice letter requesting payment and points some days later.
The notion that only British cars are targeted would be nice if it were true, but the only way to penalise visitors is to stop at the roadside.
Nice when I visit the UK and drive past your fixed cameras. Revenge is sweet

In the real world the evidence seems to point to French police trying to protect French drivers by sabotaging fixed cameras.While just as you say using manned traps to get Brits.But also obviously letting the French through according to reports.

As for the French being able to drive through our fixed cameras good luck to them.But at least have the decency to reciprocate the feeling.

Having said all that things obviously haven't reached the stage for French drivers where they are being policed on UK roads by French police.In which case it all seems like a plan by the UK plod to target UK drivers taking advantage of fast foreign roads as we've,so far,been historically able to do.As I said the next logical conclusion of which will be UK type speed limits enforced for UK drivers using unlimited German autobahns.

[Storer]

In my experience the vast majority of French drivers stick to the speed limits in their country.
This is probably the reason there are so few police and cameras.

Over here speeding is much more common even with the average driver. Hence more enforcement.

[webby23]

I wonder how we would all feel if every year, tens of thousands of French race fans came over for the British GP and showed the same contempt for British speed limits as some on here show for the French ones......

[Nohedes]

webby23 said:

I wonder how we would all feel if every year, tens of thousands of French race fans came over for the British GP and showed the same contempt for British speed limits as some on here show for the French ones......

Yes, imagine if a lot of foreign registered vehicles, HGVs for example, were used on UK roads and regularly flouted road traffic legislation.

Oh hang on....

[webby23]

Nohedes said:

webby23 said:

I wonder how we would all feel if every year, tens of thousands of French race fans came over for the British GP and showed the same contempt for British speed limits as some on here show for the French ones......

Yes, imagine if a lot of foreign registered vehicles, HGVs for example, were used on UK roads and regularly flouted road traffic legislation.

Oh hang on....

Talking about speed limits here mate....

[Nohedes]

webby23 said:

Nohedes said:

webby23 said:

I wonder how we would all feel if every year, tens of thousands of French race fans came over for the British GP and showed the same contempt for British speed limits as some on here show for the French ones......

Yes, imagine if a lot of foreign registered vehicles, HGVs for example, were used on UK roads and regularly flouted road traffic legislation.

Oh hang on....

Talking about speed limits here mate....

Sure, I understand what you're saying and don't disagree, I just think that my point above is analogous.

I think there is a lot of wistfulness about the 'good old days', when we could drive to LM at a relatively high pace without significant fear of repercussions. Of course those days are over, never to return!

[Pupp]

Partnership working in progress... none of the pulled over cars here were penalised

[XJ Flyer]

Storer said:

In my experience the vast majority of French drivers stick to the speed limits in their country.
This is probably the reason there are so few police and cameras.

Over here speeding is much more common even with the average driver. Hence more enforcement.

My experience goes back to the 1980's and I'd say that was total bullst of the type which I'd expect from a regime which is sending UK plod to enforce UK speed enforcement policy on French roads.

There's a reason why French roads have been historically known for high speeds by all drivers and that's road design which provides good vision and lots of straights between few bends and relatively little traffic volumes compared to here.IE the opposite of many of the reasons used to justify the low speed regime on UK roads.

It's no surprise that the raving UK anti speed lobby is now trying to expand it's remit onto the continent where it's reasoning is even more flawed.

[Troubleatmill]

Pupp said:

Partnership working in progress... none of the pulled over cars here were penalised

But, it has set the expectation - that "we are further down the road just waiting for you to act like a tt. And when we confiscate your car we will rag it, meanwhile you will be locked up being dry bummed by Big Pierre. Drive safely now! "

[XJ Flyer]

webby23 said:

I wonder how we would all feel if every year, tens of thousands of French race fans came over for the British GP and showed the same contempt for British speed limits as some on here show for the French ones......

I'm guessing that you've never been to many/any Italian events where such fun is usually welcomed by real race fans of all nationalities not moaned about.Maybe I've provided UK plod with their next foreign speed crusade destination.

[webby23]

XJ Flyer said:

webby23 said:

I wonder how we would all feel if every year, tens of thousands of French race fans came over for the British GP and showed the same contempt for British speed limits as some on here show for the French ones......

I'm guessing that you've never been to many/any Italian events where such fun is usually welcomed by real race fans of all nationalities not moaned about.Maybe I've provided UK plod with their next foreign speed crusade destination.

Oh. Ok, so therefore (in your opinion) breaking speed limits is "fun".......?

Interesting theory pal

[Dblue]

Porkerr said:

JimmyH77 said:

I had the cruise control set at 125kph & they still flagged my down & nicked me saying I was doing 159kph......!?!?!?

When I asked to see the evidence of the offence they got very shirty with me...... Demanded the car keys, license & passports off us & it was basically pay the 90€ fine in cash right now or we impound the car & you with spend a night in the clink.....

My poor 8yr old was traumatised thinking he & dad was getting locked up bless him.....

I mean fairs fair if I was speeding & got caught........ but to just "say" I was caught at 159kph & not be even willing to show me the evidence is just wrong.....

We were travelling in nothing flash but just an average family estate so they clearly also just pick out non French cars at random too....... Lol

I've had the same thing happen to me, only I was told I was doing 181km/h, I had to fork out €750 and lost my license for 3 months. No proof whatsoever was given.

Utterly disgusted by their behavior.

181kmh is 115mph . You do not say whether you dispute that but thats way above the limit, you know the rules, what did you expect? Its 35 mph above a fairly generous limit

Its nonsense that they target UK motorists, the times I've fallen foul of the Gendarmes the Gendarmerie has been largely full of French motorists