Pyrenees return
Discussion
Was that on D roads, N roads or autoroutes?
In my experience of 20 years working in France for part of each year and since retiring and touring at lot there, I have seen very very few police on N roads and even fewer on D roads. But that's why I try to pick more challenging roads where breaking the speed limit is either not an option or is unneccessary. I would certainly stick rigidly to it on autoroutes.
Having said that, I know people in France who told me that if you do get caught you can expect the guillotine.
In my experience of 20 years working in France for part of each year and since retiring and touring at lot there, I have seen very very few police on N roads and even fewer on D roads. But that's why I try to pick more challenging roads where breaking the speed limit is either not an option or is unneccessary. I would certainly stick rigidly to it on autoroutes.
Having said that, I know people in France who told me that if you do get caught you can expect the guillotine.
Edited by Zed 44 on Thursday 11th February 09:34
Zed 44 said:
Was that on D roads, N roads or autoroutes?
In my experience of 20 years working in France for part of each year and since retiring and touring at lot there, I have seen very very few police on N roads and even fewer on D roads. But that's why I try to pick more challenging roads where breaking the speed limit is either not an option or is unneccessary. I would certainly stick rigidly to it on autoroutes.
Having said that, I know people in France who told me that if you do get caught you can expect the guillotine.
This was on an N road, just off an Autoroute. I agree with the D roads, you see very few police and as they're usually narrow and twisty you are driving at a reasonable speed.In my experience of 20 years working in France for part of each year and since retiring and touring at lot there, I have seen very very few police on N roads and even fewer on D roads. But that's why I try to pick more challenging roads where breaking the speed limit is either not an option or is unneccessary. I would certainly stick rigidly to it on autoroutes.
Having said that, I know people in France who told me that if you do get caught you can expect the guillotine.
Edited by Zed 44 on Thursday 11th February 09:34
Zed 44 said:
Was that on D roads, N roads or autoroutes?
In my experience of 20 years working in France for part of each year and since retiring and touring at lot there, I have seen very very few police on N roads and even fewer on D roads. But that's why I try to pick more challenging roads where breaking the speed limit is either not an option or is unneccessary. I would certainly stick rigidly to it on autoroutes.
Having said that, I know people in France who told me that if you do get caught you can expect the guillotine.
A friend of a close friend whilst leaving Andorra around four years ago, little did he realise that though D/carriageway that the limit had dropped from 80KPH to 50.In my experience of 20 years working in France for part of each year and since retiring and touring at lot there, I have seen very very few police on N roads and even fewer on D roads. But that's why I try to pick more challenging roads where breaking the speed limit is either not an option or is unneccessary. I would certainly stick rigidly to it on autoroutes.
Having said that, I know people in France who told me that if you do get caught you can expect the guillotine.
Edited by Zed 44 on Thursday 11th February 09:34
As he was in a line of flowing traffic, he thought it odd that a police office on the side of the road was waving and just assumed he was waving at one of the other cars in front, so carried on.
Three miles or so on a police car comes screaming past him and pulls him over. ..... One of the cop actually gets his gun out! The guy has his wife and two kids in the car.
The cops were not happy that 1, he was doing over 30KPH above the speed limit and 2, that he didnt stop as requested for a police officer.
The fella explained that he was in a line of traffic so didnt realsie the officer was flagging him down, that he just hadnt realised the speed limit had reduced and no way would he have intentionally been speeding with or without his family on board.
Cops not accepting this, family and car were escorted to the local police station where his licence was taken off him and he was fined.
No licence, not allowed to drive. His wife hadnt got her licence with her, so now they are well and truly stuffed.
The guy has no other option than to ring his father back in the UK, pay for a flight from Liverpool to the nearest airport that received flights from there.
The earliest flight was the next morning ......
So he had to fork out the following:
Speeding fine .... I think it was 800 euros
Accomodation for four overnight. 350 euros
Flight from Liverpool for his father £200.00
The following day he had to collect dad from the airport, taxi arranged through police, cost 200 euros return.
When the taxi arrives a police officer jumps in the taxi along with him. When they arrive at the airport the officer gets out and is never seen again ..... he'd just required a lift, and this poor sod had just paid for it.
Then his father (luckily it was a five seater car) drove them all the way back to the UK, at the ripe old age of 82....
Personally I'd agree you rarely see the police on minor roads and I always stick to the limits on the autoroutes, but if you do and caught then it can cause a whole load of grief, in Spain it's a fine and on your way, or at least it has been in the past.
Edited by Wozy68 on Thursday 11th February 10:35
Wozy68 said:
A friend of a close friend whilst leaving Andorra around four years ago, little did he realise that though D/carriageway that the limit had dropped from 80KPH to 50.
As he was in a line of flowing traffic, he thought it odd that a police office on the side of the road was waving and just assumed he was waving at one of the other cars in front, so carried on.
Three miles or so on a police car comes screaming past him and pulls him over. ..... One of the cop actually gets his gun out! The guy has his wife and two kids in the car.
The cops were not happy that 1, he was doing over 30KPH above the speed limit and 2, that he didnt stop as requested for a police officer.
The fella explained that he was in a line of traffic so didnt realsie the officer was flagging him down, that he just hadnt realised the speed limit had reduced and no way would he have intentionally been speeding with or without his family on board.
Cops not accepting this, family and car were escorted to the local police station where his licence was taken off him and he was fined.
No licence, not allowed to drive. His wife hadnt got her licence with her, so now they are well and truly stuffed.
The guy has no other option than to ring his father back in the UK, pay for a flight from Liverpool to the nearest airport that received flights from there.
The earliest flight was the next morning ......
So he had to fork out the following:
Speeding fine .... I think it was 800 euros
Accomodation for four overnight. 350 euros
Flight from Liverpool for his father £200.00
The following day he had to collect dad from the airport, taxi arranged through police, cost 200 euros return.
When the taxi arrives a police officer jumps in the taxi along with him. When they arrive at the airport the officer gets out and is never seen again ..... he'd just required a lift, and this poor sod had just paid for it.
Then his father (luckily it was a five seater car) drove them all the way back to the UK, at the ripe old age of 82....
Seems a bit harsh on the part of the police. I wonder how typical that is. Nevertheless, I do love the country and will be traveling in it again. But I will bear your story in mind, Wozy.As he was in a line of flowing traffic, he thought it odd that a police office on the side of the road was waving and just assumed he was waving at one of the other cars in front, so carried on.
Three miles or so on a police car comes screaming past him and pulls him over. ..... One of the cop actually gets his gun out! The guy has his wife and two kids in the car.
The cops were not happy that 1, he was doing over 30KPH above the speed limit and 2, that he didnt stop as requested for a police officer.
The fella explained that he was in a line of traffic so didnt realsie the officer was flagging him down, that he just hadnt realised the speed limit had reduced and no way would he have intentionally been speeding with or without his family on board.
Cops not accepting this, family and car were escorted to the local police station where his licence was taken off him and he was fined.
No licence, not allowed to drive. His wife hadnt got her licence with her, so now they are well and truly stuffed.
The guy has no other option than to ring his father back in the UK, pay for a flight from Liverpool to the nearest airport that received flights from there.
The earliest flight was the next morning ......
So he had to fork out the following:
Speeding fine .... I think it was 800 euros
Accomodation for four overnight. 350 euros
Flight from Liverpool for his father £200.00
The following day he had to collect dad from the airport, taxi arranged through police, cost 200 euros return.
When the taxi arrives a police officer jumps in the taxi along with him. When they arrive at the airport the officer gets out and is never seen again ..... he'd just required a lift, and this poor sod had just paid for it.
Then his father (luckily it was a five seater car) drove them all the way back to the UK, at the ripe old age of 82....
Edited by Wozy68 on Thursday 11th February 10:32
Zed 44 said:
Seems a bit harsh on the part of the police. I wonder how typical that is. Nevertheless, I do love the country and will be traveling in it again. But I will bear your story in mind, Wozy.
I love it too Zed, beautiful country, wouldn't stop me driving there, but tootling and enjoying the scenery 
Crikey, that does seem harsh indeed! Anyway, back to subject of the thread.... your route looks great and a lot to drive in three weeks and some spectacular roads by the looks of it. The Picos route past Riano and then North is just a fantastic run. I'd done a bit of planning for a west coast of Spain trip last year and included Fisterra as part of my route. Your not far from there on your planned route, may be worth a run out as I believe the coast line is spectacular We'll be on our trip in July as posted before, but I'll be watching for your report Zed with interest.....
We'll be on our trip in July as posted before, but I'll be watching for your report Zed with interest.....Gassing Station | Roads | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff