Driving in France?

[JonVTR]

Right I've been sneaking around these forums for a while but haven’t posted anything so far.

I have a C2 1.6 VTR with the horrible senso gearbox, but a part from that really enjoying ownership and driving in general!
Passed my test last October and I turn 18 this coming july.

Brilliant!.. Time to go on a foreign road trip!.. then I came across a rule that newly qualified (licence held for less then 2 years) drivers can never exceed 90km/h!

So my question. Does this apply to me as I have a UK licence not a French one?
If I'm not allowed to exceed 90km/h (55mph ish) how can they enforce this?... I mean everyone else on the motorways will be doing 130 km/h so do I need some sort of sticker on the car to say I’m a new driver...

Also if I just carry on as per everybody else at the speed limit what sort of trouble am I going to be in?

cheers for the help guys!

[OdramaSwimLaden]

Sorry, to clarify, this 90kmh is a French Law?

[JonVTR]

Apparently so... http://www.day-tripper.net/drive-speedcameras-fran...

[Boba Fret]

one bit of advice, don't even THINK about f*****g with the French 'Traffic' Plod.

Unless you have VERY deep pockets (not that I'd EVER insinuate that they accept 'personal payments' or bribes as we call them)

[james12345]

In France, new driver display a red A in a white circle on the back of the car. As this isn't a requirement in the UK to display this, I'm sure you're not breaking any French laws.

I am not a lawyer, by the way, so if you *do* get stopped, I'm not paying!

[JonVTR]

If im just going along sticking to the normal limits, how could they even tell im supossed to only be doing 90km/h, caus quite frankly thats fking dangerous having people steaming up behind you at a 40-50 km/h closing speed all day! Plus it would take me about a month to get anywhere :@

[JonVTR]

but fair enough I should play by their rules, so maybe slow and steady is the way forward!

[jake15919]

Not really anything to do with your topic but the first time I went driving in France we thought 'Interdit' was a town and drove around in circles in Brittany for hours as a result.

[Jimbo.]

Young guy in a car with British plates? It's a big enough attention-getter as it is, without actually giving them something to nail you for!

[JonVTR]

thanks for all the advice! now the question is where can I get my hands on one of these 'A's?

[dcb]

JonVTR said:

Passed my test last October and I turn 18 this coming july.

Brilliant!.. Time to go on a foreign road trip!

I'd advise against. Not only is your age
against you, but your lack of experience also.

Have you talked to your insurance company about
the costs involved ?

Suggest foreign trips when you are an experienced UK motorist.

Maybe five years NCB would be enough, on the
"crawl before you walk" principle.

[psgcarey]

JonVTR said:

thanks for all the advice! now the question is where can I get my hands on one of these 'A's?

France

[DJC]

JonVTR said:

thanks for all the advice! now the question is where can I get my hands on one of these 'A's?

I enquired about this a few years back. The response (from the French authorities) was that a driver with a BRITISH licence, driving a BRITISH registered vehicle with <2 years experience does NOT have to display the A sign. The driver does have to be 18 or over, however. A 17 year old driver cannot drive legally in France.

I got caught speeding (~136mph) on the French autoroute by their traffic cops. I had been driving less than 2 years. I had no A sign and they were more than happy to let me on my merry way after 90 Euros exchanged hands.

You might want to check in order that it hasn't changed, but this was the situation in 2003/4.

[DJC]

dcb said:

Maybe five years NCB would be enough, on the
"crawl before you walk" principle.

Rubbish. I was driving in France about 3 weeks after obtaining my UK licence. If anything, driving in France/on the continent is easier and much less stressful than the UK.

In the first 3 years of being behind the wheel, I did about 50% of my driving abroad.

[JonnyFive]

DJC said:

dcb said:

Maybe five years NCB would be enough, on the
"crawl before you walk" principle.

Rubbish. I was driving in France about 3 weeks after obtaining my UK licence. If anything, driving in France/on the continent is easier and much less stressful than the UK.

In the first 3 years of being behind the wheel, I did about 50% of my driving abroad.

I was going to say, 5 years? Seriously

[JonVTR]

dcb- Yes I've spoken to my insurance company and I can cover the added costs, I’m sure my 60 mile a day commute since day 1 of having a licence (10,000 miles to date) and a few long distance drives will be enough experience to get me 150/200 miles, mainly on motorways in France, but thanks for the concern.

psgcarey- But surly I'll need them upon arrival as I get off the train?

Edited by JonVTR on Tuesday 10th May 20:25

[JonVTR]

DJC said:

JonVTR said:

thanks for all the advice! now the question is where can I get my hands on one of these 'A's?

I enquired about this a few years back. The response (from the French authorities) was that a driver with a BRITISH licence, driving a BRITISH registered vehicle with <2 years experience does NOT have to display the A sign. The driver does have to be 18 or over, however. A 17 year old driver cannot drive legally in France.

I got caught speeding (~136mph) on the French autoroute by their traffic cops. I had been driving less than 2 years. I had no A sign and they were more than happy to let me on my merry way after 90 Euros exchanged hands.

You might want to check in order that it hasn't changed, but this was the situation in 2003/4.

That would be cracking news if I didnt, would make planning much more simple!

[maniac0796]

I went over when I'd just turned 18 and had been driving for a year. No A plates, doing 130kp/h. But then I only spent an hour in france, before going to belgium...

Which changes your perspective on driving in general.

[wackojacko]

You have to be atleast 18 to drive in France and Germany, Phoned the RAC a while back as I'm planning a trip to the 'ring.


They did say about a "speed limit" but hey what is that in a foreign country

[wackojacko]

O yeh and make sure you have atleast 750 euros in your account just in-case.


No comment from LeMans last year.....