Speed on French Toll roads
Discussion
Not too tolerant these days. 40KPH over and they will ban you on the spot. I wouldn't go more than 20 KPH over.
They don't average your speed but will use a lone BiB normally sheltering low down from the sun, taking readings as you crest a hill / round a bend with back up further down the road.
They also have a few speed cameras on the autoroutes too but will sign posted (huge sign with car and what looks like "waves" coming from it). Google and the official autoroute site will tell you where they are.
Fines are on the spot - cash
Remember speed limit reduces to 110 if it rains
Never speed within 30miles of the ports. The BiB target the English cars.
They don't average your speed but will use a lone BiB normally sheltering low down from the sun, taking readings as you crest a hill / round a bend with back up further down the road.
They also have a few speed cameras on the autoroutes too but will sign posted (huge sign with car and what looks like "waves" coming from it). Google and the official autoroute site will tell you where they are.
Fines are on the spot - cash
Remember speed limit reduces to 110 if it rains
Never speed within 30miles of the ports. The BiB target the English cars.
Ferb said:
What is a safe speed on French toll roads as not to get nicked knowing they can tell your average speed between toll stations? I intend to travel from Saint Malo to Spa.
They do not normally look to measure one's speed between tolls. They often will pull up a car that had been clocked speeding by a manned enforcement site when that car reaches a toll booth - hence the impression that they have measured one's average speed.You're far, far more likely to be nicked by a team clocking you from along the roadside, on a slip road, in a rest area, on a bridge, behind some bushes, etc.
Staying within the speed limit works well for me, especially in France... They have a complete lack of humour about Brits coming over and taking the piss.
Oh, and if you're going to Spa, the Belgian fuzz are extra special. I got done at just 10 kph over and fined 70 Euros... Every car they'd pulled that morning, according to the log book, was "GB". Highest fine I could see in the book was 600 Euro for a GB registered Subaru.
Oh, and if you're going to Spa, the Belgian fuzz are extra special. I got done at just 10 kph over and fined 70 Euros... Every car they'd pulled that morning, according to the log book, was "GB". Highest fine I could see in the book was 600 Euro for a GB registered Subaru.
Even though the fine is now harsher and seemingly enforced more frequently I've never had a problem in recent years on autoroutes averaging 90-95.
In the last 18 months I've seen gendarmes on the N roads, but a massive increase in fixed cameras. This isn't a problem though as only a fool would miss the warning signs, so you can 'make progress' and brake where necessary...
In the last 18 months I've seen gendarmes on the N roads, but a massive increase in fixed cameras. This isn't a problem though as only a fool would miss the warning signs, so you can 'make progress' and brake where necessary...
Thanks for replies, I don't intend going silly (I'll be doing that at Spa for 2 days
) So set cruise control at 140-145kph and should be fine then 
I get off the boat at 5pm and sat nav says 7 hour drive to hotel
) So set cruise control at 140-145kph and should be fine then I get off the boat at 5pm and sat nav says 7 hour drive to hotel Edited by Ferb on Saturday 10th January 23:02
Edited by Ferb on Saturday 10th January 23:04
You shouldn't expect any trouble with fixed cameras - as stated, the warning signs are HUGE. Not many between St.Malo and Le Havre anyway - only one that I can remember near Mt.St Michelle.
The roadside gendarmes don't stand up in the open with a hand held. The camera is often on a short tripod, only 12 inches high, on the verge, and will be monitored several yards away by a lone Gendarme in his car or van, reading Le Figaro.
When the unit bleeps, he radios your number to his colleagues a kilometre or so along the road, who will wave you into a side road, or a rest area, where you will get your fine.
You really WOULD be pushing your luck at 145 kph if they see you first, but they don't seem to go out after teatime!
What made you decide on St.Malo? How much is the ferry fare?
The roadside gendarmes don't stand up in the open with a hand held. The camera is often on a short tripod, only 12 inches high, on the verge, and will be monitored several yards away by a lone Gendarme in his car or van, reading Le Figaro.
When the unit bleeps, he radios your number to his colleagues a kilometre or so along the road, who will wave you into a side road, or a rest area, where you will get your fine.
You really WOULD be pushing your luck at 145 kph if they see you first, but they don't seem to go out after teatime!
What made you decide on St.Malo? How much is the ferry fare?
Hmmmm, well! it's kind of a confession but.... I have driven at extreme leptons on Frenchies toll roads. A favourite is the one between Rouen and Alencon A28?
I have thus far been lucky? no gendarmes or camera summonses or even a telling off at a toll booth. I have cruised at xxx in the XJS and gone near biblical in the Cerbera (and that is well north of some trackday event achievements) I'm not bragging just telling how it is/was I don't recon they actually calculate an 'average' speed but i do know the penalties for getting caught are severe. You pays yer money and takes yer chance kind of thing.
ps. removing ones front number plate helps...just ensure it is quantified with some sort of pigeon French 'un circumstance exceptionale, le engin c'est tres chaud' If you get a decent gendarme he will even lend you a screwdriver
I have thus far been lucky? no gendarmes or camera summonses or even a telling off at a toll booth. I have cruised at xxx in the XJS and gone near biblical in the Cerbera (and that is well north of some trackday event achievements) I'm not bragging just telling how it is/was I don't recon they actually calculate an 'average' speed but i do know the penalties for getting caught are severe. You pays yer money and takes yer chance kind of thing.
ps. removing ones front number plate helps...just ensure it is quantified with some sort of pigeon French 'un circumstance exceptionale, le engin c'est tres chaud' If you get a decent gendarme he will even lend you a screwdriver
JMGS4 said:
Les flics usually set up their radar traps/lasers about 2km before a tollgate, if you're careful and know where they are situated it's usually no trouble ...if you're worried keep to 140-145kmh...and you'll have no bother
True... they usually base around there.You can get information on timetables from local newspapers (usually back pages in the "annonces"
. They also have information on the web sites . radarfixes... bisonfutee.. .und also on the radio. Also check AA road maps etc. These also show most known sites
when planning routes. Sat Navs also download latest data - so make sure the gadget most useful ist up to date Went down to Lake Garda in September in my Chimaera and got flashed 3 times going down and twice coming back, and once by a plod on a bridge but have heard nothing yet! Route was Calais Riems Gothard Pass to Garda then home via Austria to Stuttgart then bat over to Calais and home managed at one point to get an indicated 150 between Stuttgart and the German/French border. 1800 miles in 10 days awesome.
daveparry said:
Went down to Lake Garda in September in my Chimaera and got flashed 3 times going down and twice coming back, and once by a plod on a bridge but have heard nothing yet! Route was Calais Riems Gothard Pass to Garda then home via Austria to Stuttgart then bat over to Calais and home managed at one point to get an indicated 150 between Stuttgart and the German/French border. 1800 miles in 10 days awesome.
saint Malo is in Brittany , Brittany is the only province in France with no Toll roads so its cheap motoring heres a good site to plan your route
http://english.controleradar.org/
oh yes fill up in the UK, petrol is around 1 euro 14 at the moment !!
Edited by DBSV8 on Friday 9th January 08:34
Cooky said:
Hmmmm, well! it's kind of a confession but.... I have driven at extreme leptons on Frenchies toll roads. A favourite is the one between Rouen and Alencon A28?
I have thus far been lucky? no gendarmes or camera summonses or even a telling off at a toll booth. I have cruised at xxx in the XJS and gone near biblical in the Cerbera (and that is well north of some trackday event achievements) I'm not bragging just telling how it is/was I don't recon they actually calculate an 'average' speed but i do know the penalties for getting caught are severe. You pays yer money and takes yer chance kind of thing.
ps. removing ones front number plate helps...just ensure it is quantified with some sort of pigeon French 'un circumstance exceptionale, le engin c'est tres chaud' If you get a decent gendarme he will even lend you a screwdriver
My parents live in the South West of France so I've driven 10s of thousands of miles over there. My advice now is to travel at night where possible if you want to press on a bit; There's even less traffic and I don't think I've ever seen a single Gendarme out in the small hours.I have thus far been lucky? no gendarmes or camera summonses or even a telling off at a toll booth. I have cruised at xxx in the XJS and gone near biblical in the Cerbera (and that is well north of some trackday event achievements) I'm not bragging just telling how it is/was I don't recon they actually calculate an 'average' speed but i do know the penalties for getting caught are severe. You pays yer money and takes yer chance kind of thing.
ps. removing ones front number plate helps...just ensure it is quantified with some sort of pigeon French 'un circumstance exceptionale, le engin c'est tres chaud' If you get a decent gendarme he will even lend you a screwdriver
GATSOs are irrelevant to us Brits anyway, so being flashed won't come of anything, but these days I just set the cruise to 85 mph and roll along.
Years ago I used to blast down the Autoroutes flat out for miles. 170 mph in my 911 and my most favourite memory 160 mph in my Boxster S with the roof down.
I wouldn't dare do it now, there is just too much emphasis on speed enforcement in France these days.Tim
You should be fine under 100mph (160kmh). As other posters have stated, you are most at risk within the vicinity of toll gates and in the Calais/Boulogne area. If you think you may have been zapped, pull off the autoroute one junction before the toll gate and proceed on the RN. It is very easy to average 95mph + without much risk (either to licence or to life and limb).
I too have enjoyed the A28 from Rouen to Alencon, maintaining 140 to 155mph for miles on end.
Best advice is to slow down (to 95) past any rest point (Aire) and also where visibility is limited: once you have crested the rise or rounded the bend and cleared the road ahead, you can open it up. However, on a long journey, your average will drop as your speed rises because of the need to take on fuel more frequently (which takes about 15mins each time). I find cruise control at 95 gives me the best average speed with 450miles between fills.
I too have enjoyed the A28 from Rouen to Alencon, maintaining 140 to 155mph for miles on end.
Best advice is to slow down (to 95) past any rest point (Aire) and also where visibility is limited: once you have crested the rise or rounded the bend and cleared the road ahead, you can open it up. However, on a long journey, your average will drop as your speed rises because of the need to take on fuel more frequently (which takes about 15mins each time). I find cruise control at 95 gives me the best average speed with 450miles between fills.
Gassing Station | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff