French Driving law - July 1st on...

[Huw Jampton]

For the folk going to LM Classic in July and apologies if this is a repost, just ordered a SANEF Toll gizmo and the following info is also displayed on the website:-

New: 2012 - French Breathalyzer law

From 1st July 2012 it becomes obligatory for all vehicles (including motorbikes) driving in France to carry a breathalyzer or alcohol-level test. Originally scheduled for 30th March, the law will come into force on 1st July as suppliers could not provide enough breathalyzer kits.
From November there will be a 11 € fine for not having one in the car.

So don't drink and drive, you know you'll only spill it.

[flattotheboards]

I was chatting to a guy in the pub on Sunday night about these breathalysers, he was under the impression you need two, one that has been used to show you have tested yourself and another to test yourself should it be required.

[Nobby Diesel]

flattotheboards said:

I was chatting to a guy in the pub on Sunday night about these breathalysers, he was under the impression you need two, one that has been used to show you have tested yourself and another to test yourself should it be required.

True.

[Rs2oo]

The French have not really thought this through. The vast majority of off the shelf breathalysers will not be that accurate. So, after a couple of glasses of wine the test kit says you are ok to drive but you're not because the kit only cost €20 and when you get pulled over 20 minutes later the blood alcohol level in your bloodstream has increased and you get nicked.

That aside, if it's the law then get a couple of kits because they will be checking as it's a new law and us Brits are cash- cows

[GadgeS3C]

Also note that the kit must be marked as French Government NF approved.

[illmonkey]

flattotheboards said:

I was chatting to a guy in the pub on Sunday night about these breathalysers, he was under the impression you need two, one that has been used to show you have tested yourself and another to test yourself should it be required.

Surely you'd need a few thousand then. If you need to have used one every time you drive.

[Chr1sch]

Where the heck do you get then from?! Or just stomach a load of ballache and 11 euros?

[indyxe]

I'd rather pay the 11 euro fine than fill my car with useless junk.

[leyorkie]

You are ok up to November but they are on sale in chemists, supermarkets and Norauto etc 2€ max.
The French limit is lower so uk ones are set too high.

[madbadger]

illmonkey said:

Surely you'd need a few thousand then. If you need to have used one every time you drive.

Surely you only need to test yourself once?

Or get your mum to test herself once?

Having a used one in the car proves nothing.

This topic has been on here about 10 times and this is the first thread that has suggested you need to carry a used one as well.

[illmonkey]

madbadger said:

illmonkey said:

Surely you'd need a few thousand then. If you need to have used one every time you drive.

Surely you only need to test yourself once?

Or get your mum to test herself once?

Having a used one in the car proves nothing.

This topic has been on here about 10 times and this is the first thread that has suggested you need to carry a used one as well.

Thats what I don't get.

Are they 1 use only things? If so, do I use it and then keep it in the car till I get to my destination? If so, I'll need an other for when I next drive. Well, I can't drive to the shop to get one, so best have a few spare.

[Diamond blue]

Rs2oo said:

The French have not really thought this through. The vast majority of off the shelf breathalysers will not be that accurate. So, after a couple of glasses of wine the test kit says you are ok to drive but you're not because the kit only cost €20 and when you get pulled over 20 minutes later the blood alcohol level in your bloodstream has increased and you get nicked.

That aside, if it's the law then get a couple of kits because they will be checking as it's a new law and us Brits are cash- cows

I understand the kits only cost 2 euros each.

[zbc]

illmonkey said:

Thats what I don't get.

Are they 1 use only things? If so, do I use it and then keep it in the car till I get to my destination? If so, I'll need an other for when I next drive. Well, I can't drive to the shop to get one, so best have a few spare.

There's no requirement to use one every time that you drive (yet!). If you don't have a drink then you don't need to use it. The reason for having two is that if you have a drink and decide that you want to check and use the only kit that you have in the car, then even if it turns out negative you can't drive anyway because your car no longer has a valid test kit

[illmonkey]

zbc said:

illmonkey said:

Thats what I don't get.

Are they 1 use only things? If so, do I use it and then keep it in the car till I get to my destination? If so, I'll need an other for when I next drive. Well, I can't drive to the shop to get one, so best have a few spare.

There's no requirement to use one every time that you drive (yet!). If you don't have a drink then you don't need to use it. The reason for having two is that if you have a drink and decide that you want to check and use the only kit that you have in the car, then even if it turns out negative you can't drive anyway because your car no longer has a valid test kit

So where is the line drawn? I had a few last night, do I need to use one? If its up to the judgement of the driver, then surely thats the same as their judgement if they've drunken too much anyway?

[zbc]

illmonkey said:

zbc said:

illmonkey said:

Thats what I don't get.

Are they 1 use only things? If so, do I use it and then keep it in the car till I get to my destination? If so, I'll need an other for when I next drive. Well, I can't drive to the shop to get one, so best have a few spare.

There's no requirement to use one every time that you drive (yet!). If you don't have a drink then you don't need to use it. The reason for having two is that if you have a drink and decide that you want to check and use the only kit that you have in the car, then even if it turns out negative you can't drive anyway because your car no longer has a valid test kit

So where is the line drawn? I had a few last night, do I need to use one? If its up to the judgement of the driver, then surely thats the same as their judgement if they've drunken too much anyway?

I agree, I think that it's daft. Possibly even it encourages risky behaviour, whereby you drink up to the limit, test yourself OK and then have one for the road, rather than saying 'I can't be sure when I get to my limit so I'll either Drink or Drive but not both'.