French Driving Laws
Discussion
Just a quick one here - I was wondering how different French/EU driving laws are to the ones we have in place here in the UK.
A friend of mine has recently come back from a holiday in France and, after being pulled over by the police, was told he should be carrying a breathalyser in his car at all times. He did mention that he wasn't faced with a fine or anything, just a slap on the wrist from the police. This got me thinking though - just how different are some of the driving laws in France/elsewhere in the EU?
I've done a bit of research online as I'm thinking of going on a driving holiday at the end of this summer, but I'm keen to see what any of you fellow PH'ers have to chip in, or if there are any obscure laws/any laws that are imperative not to be missed.
A friend of mine has recently come back from a holiday in France and, after being pulled over by the police, was told he should be carrying a breathalyser in his car at all times. He did mention that he wasn't faced with a fine or anything, just a slap on the wrist from the police. This got me thinking though - just how different are some of the driving laws in France/elsewhere in the EU?
I've done a bit of research online as I'm thinking of going on a driving holiday at the end of this summer, but I'm keen to see what any of you fellow PH'ers have to chip in, or if there are any obscure laws/any laws that are imperative not to be missed.
Thomas Foreman said:
Just a quick one here - I was wondering how different French/EU driving laws are to the ones we have in place here in the UK.
A friend of mine has recently come back from a holiday in France and, after being pulled over by the police, was told he should be carrying a breathalyser in his car at all times. He did mention that he wasn't faced with a fine or anything, just a slap on the wrist from the police. This got me thinking though - just how different are some of the driving laws in France/elsewhere in the EU?
I've done a bit of research online as I'm thinking of going on a driving holiday at the end of this summer, but I'm keen to see what any of you fellow PH'ers have to chip in, or if there are any obscure laws/any laws that are imperative not to be missed.
Its standard in France and I don't understand why people do zero homework.A friend of mine has recently come back from a holiday in France and, after being pulled over by the police, was told he should be carrying a breathalyser in his car at all times. He did mention that he wasn't faced with a fine or anything, just a slap on the wrist from the police. This got me thinking though - just how different are some of the driving laws in France/elsewhere in the EU?
I've done a bit of research online as I'm thinking of going on a driving holiday at the end of this summer, but I'm keen to see what any of you fellow PH'ers have to chip in, or if there are any obscure laws/any laws that are imperative not to be missed.
You should have first aid kit, warning triangle, high viz vest for ALL PASSENGERS, and a spare bulb set for your car and the aforementioned.
Forms part of the MOT in some European countries such as Portugal.
Edited by surveyor_101 on Wednesday 18th July 16:05
Stoofa said:
I was also 99% sure bulb kit was a recommended rather than compulsory in France. I certainly do not carry spare HID bulbs.
Why on earth not? It's not like they're made from pure unobtanium or anything? You can buy whole kits including a pair of bulb, ballasts and ancillaries for £10 on ebay, so I can't see the problem...
surveyor_101 said:
and a spare bulb set
Interesting point a mate made to me recently - on his bike (and, I'm sure, many modern cars) all the lights are LED, and modular, and quite probably a dealer-fit for replacement, so carrying a bulb kit is pointless.The only (not great) advice I could offer was to carry a £5 bulb kit and plead ignorance if les flics were on the ball and knew that this was futile. Anyone know what the actual situation is?
CAPP0 said:
surveyor_101 said:
and a spare bulb set
Interesting point a mate made to me recently - on his bike (and, I'm sure, many modern cars) all the lights are LED, and modular, and quite probably a dealer-fit for replacement, so carrying a bulb kit is pointless.The only (not great) advice I could offer was to carry a £5 bulb kit and plead ignorance if les flics were on the ball and knew that this was futile. Anyone know what the actual situation is?
And when you're driving round in France you will see plenty of locals with head or tail lamp bulbs out.
Just carry a £5 kit that is the closest thing to what your car runs, for the sake of compliance and have done with it. If you do have fancy newfangled sealed units then presumably the chance of them failing is really low anyway so the issue should be academic.
CAPP0 said:
Interesting point a mate made to me recently - on his bike (and, I'm sure, many modern cars) all the lights are LED, and modular, and quite probably a dealer-fit for replacement, so carrying a bulb kit is pointless.
The only (not great) advice I could offer was to carry a £5 bulb kit and plead ignorance if les flics were on the ball and knew that this was futile. Anyone know what the actual situation is?
RAC>The only (not great) advice I could offer was to carry a £5 bulb kit and plead ignorance if les flics were on the ball and knew that this was futile. Anyone know what the actual situation is?
That was all from memory.
https://www.rac.co.uk/drive/travel/driving-abroad/...
I was stopped for sppeding (and banned) last September. The police didn't ask to see any of my documents, my breathalysers, my warning triangle, my spare bulbs or my hi-viz (which were in the boot, but very obviousoy not in the cabin with us).
I'm sure that if you annoy them, they can get pedantic, but being polite, in French, goes a long way, I suspect.
I'm sure that if you annoy them, they can get pedantic, but being polite, in French, goes a long way, I suspect.
We recently returned from a European road trip. Carried a spare bulb kit I bought a few years ago that would have been no use on our Audi. Had all the other required items with us. Didn't bother with any proper GB stickers, just two small SCO/ EU flag stickers on both registration plates.
While on a quiet motorway in France we were pulled over by two uniformed guys on motorbikes. Signalled us to follow one while the other sat behind for a few kms until the next exit, all under blue lights. Turned out they were customs officers running checks. My O Grade French is pretty much all forgotten, or I would probably have remembered Douane is French for customs. It was squeaky bum time for those few kms.
David.
While on a quiet motorway in France we were pulled over by two uniformed guys on motorbikes. Signalled us to follow one while the other sat behind for a few kms until the next exit, all under blue lights. Turned out they were customs officers running checks. My O Grade French is pretty much all forgotten, or I would probably have remembered Douane is French for customs. It was squeaky bum time for those few kms.
David.
Glasgowrob said:
having spent 2 hours changing bulbs in a mk5 Mondeo which involves dissasembling half the front of the car would I buggery change that at the road side. LED rear lamps too.
2 hours? Wow. Things have got worse then, as I did dipped beam lamps both sides within two weeks on my Mk4 Mondeo, and they took 30 minutes tops, with 10 minutes of that spent finding the right 'bit' for my ratchet screwdriver...To be honest I wouldn't change any lamps at the roadside, as the risk/benefit ratio isn't worth it...
David-H said:
Didn't bother with any proper GB stickers, just two small SCO/ EU flag stickers on both registration plates.
That's the point of having Nationality Identifiers on your numberplates. It means you don't need GB stickers. Assuming the flags on the plates are legal, and not "Arsenal" or a Tazmanian Devil or Betty Boo or some other hilarity.
You mention French/EU law. It may help to clarify how the legal systems of the EU and of EU member states interact. NB: this is a summary, not a dissertation for an LLM.
EU law is part of the law of each member State (including the UK until next March, and possibly in some form thereafter, depending on what happens. But EU law only covers some aspects of life, and not all of it, and member states remain mostly free to do their own things in most areas. Broadly speaking, motoring laws are matters for individual member states and are not determined on a EU-wide basis, although there is some harmonisation in certain areas of the law relating to motor vehicles.
Stuff like speeding and making illegal turns and so forth is usually a matter of national law. Thus there are local variations in rules all across the EU, and there is no one quick and easy guide to the extent to which the law of France is the same as or is different from the law of any other State. Googling can show some key rules for driving in France, Italy, Germany and so on. In general, "don't dick about", and "don't come over all Imperious British and silly if stopped" are useful guidelines. There have been some recent threads here about what happens when people disregard the second of those guidelines.
EU law is part of the law of each member State (including the UK until next March, and possibly in some form thereafter, depending on what happens. But EU law only covers some aspects of life, and not all of it, and member states remain mostly free to do their own things in most areas. Broadly speaking, motoring laws are matters for individual member states and are not determined on a EU-wide basis, although there is some harmonisation in certain areas of the law relating to motor vehicles.
Stuff like speeding and making illegal turns and so forth is usually a matter of national law. Thus there are local variations in rules all across the EU, and there is no one quick and easy guide to the extent to which the law of France is the same as or is different from the law of any other State. Googling can show some key rules for driving in France, Italy, Germany and so on. In general, "don't dick about", and "don't come over all Imperious British and silly if stopped" are useful guidelines. There have been some recent threads here about what happens when people disregard the second of those guidelines.
There is a handy little book published by the AA that adresses these points in a nice matrix; Anywhere in europe you will want Triangles & High vis either compulsory or reccomended; The bulb kit and breathalyser are a good idea to have even if they aren't enforced - If you've already been stopped by a gendarme, It's probably best not to dig yourself any deeper.
Having recently driven up to the Netherlands, through Germany, Belgium and France (Not in that order :P), It was invaluable to have a local friend who enlightened me as to some of the unfarmiliar European signs, traffic features and behaviours. (Especially trying to work out bike lane priorities on the first day in NL! Enough shark teeth there)
Having recently driven up to the Netherlands, through Germany, Belgium and France (Not in that order :P), It was invaluable to have a local friend who enlightened me as to some of the unfarmiliar European signs, traffic features and behaviours. (Especially trying to work out bike lane priorities on the first day in NL! Enough shark teeth there)
The big law of the road that is very different to the UK is the "Priority Adroit". This can happen in big cities or small villages and it means that a car pulling out into the main carriageway has priority. Don't expect people to sheepishly emerge, they can treat it like a sport to catch you out. On main roads you will see yellow diamond that means you have priority. A backline through the yellow Diamond means watch out Priority Adroite applies
Remember in France that they still have priority from the right rule.
It went out of favour but is being used more and more as a traffic calming device.
Many towns and villages have introduced a 30 kph limitand normally priority from the right applies.
Village near us has crossroads in the middle no give way signs just look to the right if it’s clear go. If there is someone approaching from the left they will expect you to pull out and if you don’t it will confuse them.
I was pulled over late one Saturday night and breathalysed but they never asked me for my breathalysers or to look at any of the other kit that is mandatory.
As it’s france they never check for these item at the MOT!
It went out of favour but is being used more and more as a traffic calming device.
Many towns and villages have introduced a 30 kph limitand normally priority from the right applies.
Village near us has crossroads in the middle no give way signs just look to the right if it’s clear go. If there is someone approaching from the left they will expect you to pull out and if you don’t it will confuse them.
I was pulled over late one Saturday night and breathalysed but they never asked me for my breathalysers or to look at any of the other kit that is mandatory.
As it’s france they never check for these item at the MOT!
Abbott said:
The big law of the road that is very different to the UK is the "Priority Adroit". This can happen in big cities or small villages and it means that a car pulling out into the main carriageway has priority. Don't expect people to sheepishly emerge, they can treat it like a sport to catch you out. On main roads you will see yellow diamond that means you have priority. A backline through the yellow Diamond means watch out Priority Adroite applies
Priorité à droit.Which means priority to the right. A car pulling out onto the highway from the left would not have priority.
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