Discussion
Well, it's started. two Englishmens' holidays started with a bang yesterday south of Arnage when they were stopped for speeding. Both lost their licences on the spot and since they were caught at 146kph in a 90kph zone both cars seized. If they are their personal cars they will be auctioned for state funds.
I wonder when people visiting France will realise that doing almost 150 in a 90 results in unhappy Police?
I'm no killjoy, but if you wouldn't do it at home why do it a short hop across the water? We all know they lie in wait and sadly the days of a fast blast to Le Mans seem to be behind us.
.....I tell you what though, I still thoroughly enjoy the drive down there even at a sedate pace
I'm no killjoy, but if you wouldn't do it at home why do it a short hop across the water? We all know they lie in wait and sadly the days of a fast blast to Le Mans seem to be behind us.
.....I tell you what though, I still thoroughly enjoy the drive down there even at a sedate pace
And that 146kph was probably downgraded from something higher (speaking from experience). 90mph in a 50mph zone is taking the p
s a bit really, even on a long stretch of unfettered road, but losing your car is harsh. Oh well, they can't say they weren't warned. It's been getting tougher with each passing year.
s a bit really, even on a long stretch of unfettered road, but losing your car is harsh. Oh well, they can't say they weren't warned. It's been getting tougher with each passing year. 
OK so we all know Les BiB show very little, if any, tolerance to us Brits who do seem to disregard their speed limits and driving laws when we head to Le Mans. God know I've done it enough times in the 13 or 14 times I've been. So we shouldn't be surprised by this and should be prepared to accept the consequences of our actions.
I do agree that it's no longer like it used to be and people need to be careful or risk heavy fines or losing their licence and potentially their cars.
That said I don't think we should start shouting from the parapets of our ivory towers - have you never done 90mph in a national speed limit 60mph zone (which is roughly what this equates to)?
We know nothing of the circumstances - type of road, time of day, weather conditions, traffic etc. Based on the description could it have been the Mulsanne Straight? In which case would you say 90mph is that extreme as to warrant losing you car over?
Granted these are not UK laws and we need to be mindful and respectful of this, but this does seem to be a disproportionate punishment does it not?
I do agree that it's no longer like it used to be and people need to be careful or risk heavy fines or losing their licence and potentially their cars.
That said I don't think we should start shouting from the parapets of our ivory towers - have you never done 90mph in a national speed limit 60mph zone (which is roughly what this equates to)?
We know nothing of the circumstances - type of road, time of day, weather conditions, traffic etc. Based on the description could it have been the Mulsanne Straight? In which case would you say 90mph is that extreme as to warrant losing you car over?
Granted these are not UK laws and we need to be mindful and respectful of this, but this does seem to be a disproportionate punishment does it not?
Great Dane said:
Agree how would we feel if a large contingent of say French people cam over to Britain and were bombing up the motorways to Manchester doing 100 120mph... people would be outraged..
Living and commuting along the M20 this happens on a daily basis i'm afraid to report :-)WhyTwo said:
That said I don't think we should start shouting from the parapets of our ivory towers - have you never done 90mph in a national speed limit 60mph zone (which is roughly what this equates to)?
Of course we have, but in France we know they lie in wait and still UK cars blast along the Autoroute and then wonder why they have been treated harshly. If we knew the UK Police were out in force and had powers to seize cars (and auction them) and remove licences on the spot we'd probably be a lot more cautious. The French are looking out for us, why give them the opportunity to prosper?
Firstly I always take a good copy of my licence just in case as I remember in 2007 we got stopped and fined 750 euros for speeding which I would of accepted however we were genuinely overtaking a Tractor towing a trailer of hay.
I do however find it strange that people have this fascination of driving all the way to Le Mans as quickly as possible. Not being funny guys most cars going down there are capable of doing 150mph wow!!!
I prefer the slow scenic drive down the A roads and enjoy having the locals take pictures of the car. If however people really want to do this then drive over to Germany find yourself a de restricted autobahn and go nuts. However after doing 10 trips a year every year the novelty wears off and the first time you hit 170mph and someone pulls out in front of you it soon brings you back to reality.
We are all enthusiasts at the end of the day otherwise why do we go to Le Man every year and yet every year, the same stories appear about ludicrous fine etc etc.
Drive sensible, Enjoy the drive and save yourself some money to spend on additional beer!!
I do however find it strange that people have this fascination of driving all the way to Le Mans as quickly as possible. Not being funny guys most cars going down there are capable of doing 150mph wow!!!
I prefer the slow scenic drive down the A roads and enjoy having the locals take pictures of the car. If however people really want to do this then drive over to Germany find yourself a de restricted autobahn and go nuts. However after doing 10 trips a year every year the novelty wears off and the first time you hit 170mph and someone pulls out in front of you it soon brings you back to reality.
We are all enthusiasts at the end of the day otherwise why do we go to Le Man every year and yet every year, the same stories appear about ludicrous fine etc etc.
Drive sensible, Enjoy the drive and save yourself some money to spend on additional beer!!
I do agree with you Garlick and as I said we need to be mindful and respectful of French law regardless of how fair or otherwise we think it is. And yes we would probably be a little less inclined to hoon around our green & pleasant land if we faced the same threat of our P&J being confiscated.
Perish the thought that these two Englishers are not part of the PH Massive
, and taking into account that ignorance is no defence, can you imagine their shock when they were told their cars were being impounded?! If they aren't Le Manners and were just passing through enroute to a nice family holiday, I bet their SWMBO's were less than pleased as well!
Perish the thought that these two Englishers are not part of the PH Massive
, and taking into account that ignorance is no defence, can you imagine their shock when they were told their cars were being impounded?! If they aren't Le Manners and were just passing through enroute to a nice family holiday, I bet their SWMBO's were less than pleased as well!WhyTwo said:
I do agree with you Garlick and as I said we need to be mindful and respectful of French law regardless of how fair or otherwise we think it is. And yes we would probably be a little less inclined to hoon around our green & pleasant land if we faced the same threat of our P&J being confiscated.
lowdrag said:
Well, it's started. two Englishmens' holidays started with a bang yesterday south of Arnage when they were stopped for speeding. Both lost their licences on the spot and since they were caught at 146kph in a 90kph zone both cars seized. If they are their personal cars they will be auctioned for state funds.
Decent cars or a couple of chav sheds...?Garlick said:
WhyTwo said:
I do agree with you Garlick and as I said we need to be mindful and respectful of French law regardless of how fair or otherwise we think it is. And yes we would probably be a little less inclined to hoon around our green & pleasant land if we faced the same threat of our P&J being confiscated.
davidd said:
One mans chav shed is another mans decent car....
True. I guess that - despite popular opinion - not all PHers are powerfully-built, goatee-adorned company directors. That said, having a grands worth of 10 year old souped up Corsa confiscated is a bit different to an F40 or something...
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