RE: UK Speeders In France Could Soon Get Points
Discussion
neh321 said:
Orb the Impaler said:
Anyone else noticed how much the French have slowed down, by the way. It's very noticeable.
Yes, I definitely have.When I first drove in France in the 1960s I couldn't believe how fast the traffic was compared with Blighty, where everyone drove around at or below the speed limit (times have changed, for those who weren't driving in the 60s!) The French only used to have 2-position accelerator pedals: On and Off. And On meant foot to the floor. The accident statistics were horrendous.
Times have very much changed and on the whole the French are relatively slow now, although I do find myself being passed by Frenchman after Frenchman on the Autoroute doing over the limit. I don't know how they get away with it since all the tickets are timed and if you reach the end too early there is always a Gendarme there with his hand out and a smirk on his face. The only answer is to stop off for a coffee on the way to bring your average down... Maybe that's how they get away with it!
Edited by neh321 on Wednesday 8th October 09:25
Edited by neh321 on Wednesday 8th October 09:26
[/quote]
Yes, I definitely have.
When I first drove in France in the 1960s I couldn't believe how fast the traffic was compared with Blighty, where everyone drove around at or below the speed limit (times have changed, for those who weren't driving in the 60s!) The French only used to have 2-position accelerator pedals: On and Off. And On meant foot to the floor. The accident statistics were horrendous.
Times have very much changed and on the whole the French are relatively slow now, although I do find myself being passed by Frenchman after Frenchman on the Autoroute doing over the limit. I don't know how they get away with it since all the tickets are timed and if you reach the end too early there is always a Gendarme there with his hand out and a smirk on his face. The only answer is to stop off for a coffee on the way to bring your average down... Maybe that's how they get away with it!
Edited by neh321 on Wednesday 8th October 09:25
Edited by neh321 on Wednesday 8th October 09:26
[/quote]
Yes they have slowed alot. Still do some mad overtaking on the N roads...
The Autoroute tickets do not automatically get you fined if you are speeding the Gendarme are at the tolls if they have set up traps further up the road (the route to the port is almost a given these days)
EU_Foreigner said:
Never been stopped at the toll for a too fast average though, so it sure isn't a "permanent" check.
By the replies it obviously isn't on all Autoroutes.It is on some, though. I was warned about them by relations who live in France and told to be careful not to average over the limit otherwise I could get a ticket.
andyps said:
In reality, I don't think there is an argument which can be made against this, other than the general ones which apply to speed cameras anyway.
I guess the problem is that the French roads are generally very good, and very empty so people feel safer at the higher speeds, and when they think there is not much chance of getting caught will take a chance. I have to add that anyone getting caught by a French camera deserves it because those signs are enormous so if you miss it you aren't paying attention. In addition, I have never seen one where there isn't a camera so they aren't used like ours calling peoples bluff all the time.
Got to hope it is reciprocated and all the foreigners get points from UK cameras.
Yes but what about the gendarmes hiding in bushes, motorway lay-by's etc?? I guess the problem is that the French roads are generally very good, and very empty so people feel safer at the higher speeds, and when they think there is not much chance of getting caught will take a chance. I have to add that anyone getting caught by a French camera deserves it because those signs are enormous so if you miss it you aren't paying attention. In addition, I have never seen one where there isn't a camera so they aren't used like ours calling peoples bluff all the time.
Got to hope it is reciprocated and all the foreigners get points from UK cameras.
They don't put up a great big sign warning that.
Edited by Tsiakosmantis on Wednesday 8th October 13:10
Tsiakosmantis said:
andyps said:
In reality, I don't think there is an argument which can be made against this, other than the general ones which apply to speed cameras anyway.
I guess the problem is that the French roads are generally very good, and very empty so people feel safer at the higher speeds, and when they think there is not much chance of getting caught will take a chance. I have to add that anyone getting caught by a French camera deserves it because those signs are enormous so if you miss it you aren't paying attention. In addition, I have never seen one where there isn't a camera so they aren't used like ours calling peoples bluff all the time.
Got to hope it is reciprocated and all the foreigners get points from UK cameras.
Yes but what about the gendarmes hiding in bushes, motorway lay-by's etc?? I guess the problem is that the French roads are generally very good, and very empty so people feel safer at the higher speeds, and when they think there is not much chance of getting caught will take a chance. I have to add that anyone getting caught by a French camera deserves it because those signs are enormous so if you miss it you aren't paying attention. In addition, I have never seen one where there isn't a camera so they aren't used like ours calling peoples bluff all the time.
Got to hope it is reciprocated and all the foreigners get points from UK cameras.
They don't put up a great big sign warning that.
Edited by Tsiakosmantis on Wednesday 8th October 13:10
james0 said:
Do the the rest of Europe have 10% over reading speedo's as is allowed in the UK?
I was pretty sure its a UK thing, surely that would need harmonising too?
Would be great as it would help speed the dual carrigeways up a bit.
It's not allowed in the UK.I was pretty sure its a UK thing, surely that would need harmonising too?
Would be great as it would help speed the dual carrigeways up a bit.
The point at which you are prosecuted is their decision. They can prosecute you below 10%+2mph over the limit, or they can turn a blind eye to you doing 200mph if they want.
It's their choice.
Sorry should have been clearer.
I meant the calibration of the car speedo can be 10% optimistic in this country, thus some cars (mostly toyotas in my experience) will show 70 when at an actual 63.
Hence the guy driving at what he thinks is 55 is more like 50 causing the trucks with calibrated speedo's to want to overtake and not helping congestion in general
I may be incorrect but I believe cars sold elsewhere have less margin on the over reading of the speedo.
I meant the calibration of the car speedo can be 10% optimistic in this country, thus some cars (mostly toyotas in my experience) will show 70 when at an actual 63.
Hence the guy driving at what he thinks is 55 is more like 50 causing the trucks with calibrated speedo's to want to overtake and not helping congestion in general
I may be incorrect but I believe cars sold elsewhere have less margin on the over reading of the speedo.
neil-f said:
When I first drove in France in the 1960s I couldn't believe how fast the traffic was compared with Blighty, where everyone drove around at or below the speed limit (times have changed, for those who weren't driving in the 60s!) The French only used to have 2-position accelerator pedals: On and Off. And On meant foot to the floor. The accident statistics were horrendous.
Times have very much changed and on the whole the French are relatively slow now, although I do find myself being passed by Frenchman after Frenchman on the Autoroute doing over the limit. I don't know how they get away with it since all the tickets are timed and if you reach the end too early there is always a Gendarme there with his hand out and a smirk on his face. The only answer is to stop off for a coffee on the way to bring your average down... Maybe that's how they get away with it!
Edited by neh321 on Wednesday 8th October 09:25
Edited by neh321 on Wednesday 8th October 09:26
The Autoroute tickets do not automatically get you fined if you are speeding the Gendarme are at the tolls if they have set up traps further up the road (the route to the port is almost a given these days)
neh321 said:
SS HSV said:
French Statistic Pen Pusher said:
I did once get nicked in France for crossing a double white line which a) I couldn't see from my position on the R.H. Side and b) shouldn't have been there in the first place because it was on a long straight downhill stretch of road. They were only nicking foreigners, doing the same thing. I was so incensed that I made it a policy to buy nothing French at all (wine, cars, food) until I thought they had paid sufficiently for relieving me of 900 francs, which I reckoned took about 12 years, in which time I reckoned they had paid at least 10-fold. No Frenchmen noticed of course but at least I got some satisfaction from doing that.
Oh, so you were incensed? Well, 1) if you cannot see the road signs because you have an UK car on european roads, that is your problem, 2) road signage is the law and not for you to decide 3) you did not buy French food and wine for 10 years: good god, are you a glutton for punishment????One a more serious note: why do you all get so heated up about this whole issue? When you are abroad, adapt to the rules. Period. If you do not want to, pay the fine as you would at home...
And yes, I was already nicked in France, and guess what: I was not speeding. I was doing a sedate 110mph, which is my normal speed at home on German Autobahns....
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