What kit for the car? (Euro Regs)

[ecain63]

Other than the watching my speed, briefing passengers and checking documents what kit is critical to keep the French Plod happy?

Im going down in my E61 M5 and i see no point in taking spare bulbs as its a dealer job IMO. Warning triangles and tool kit come with the car and i have a HI-Vis vest to display. Breathalisers arent in yet so thats one less thing to take, is there anything else im missing?

Eddie

[Jenga]

Spare bulb kit is a requirement.

Warning Trianglei is a requirement

Hi-Vis jacket for driver and passengers is a requirement

GB Sticker is a requirement

Apart from that beer will do you.

[FraMac]

ecain63 said:

Other than the watching my speed, briefing passengers and checking documents what kit is critical to keep the French Plod happy?

Im going down in my E61 M5 and i see no point in taking spare bulbs as its a dealer job IMO. Warning triangles and tool kit come with the car and i have a HI-Vis vest to display. Breathalisers arent in yet so thats one less thing to take, is there anything else im missing?

Eddie

Vehicle docs, licence, insurance, spare bins if you wear glasses, fire extinguisher, first aid kit.

[ecain63]

FraMac said:

ecain63 said:

Other than the watching my speed, briefing passengers and checking documents what kit is critical to keep the French Plod happy?

Im going down in my E61 M5 and i see no point in taking spare bulbs as its a dealer job IMO. Warning triangles and tool kit come with the car and i have a HI-Vis vest to display. Breathalisers arent in yet so thats one less thing to take, is there anything else im missing?

Eddie

Vehicle docs, licence, insurance, spare bins if you wear glasses, fire extinguisher, first aid kit.

Extinguisher and first aid kit isn't a legal requirement currently, more an advisory. First aid kit is a good call regardless. Is just the pointless stuff that I need to know about really. Do actually need bulbs? Will a crappy halfrauds bulb kit suffice, even though they won't fit my car? Bulbs on the M5 are a dealer job!

[turbo-ww]

FraMac said:

spare bins if you wear glasses

Obviously a smart idea if you do wear them (I take about 3 pairs) but is it actually a requirement?

[pingu393]

One hi-vis must be in the passenger compartment. The rest can be in the boot. You should carry one for every seat belt (you may carry passengers).

Has the breathalyser law not started yet? If so, you need to carry one unopened breathalyser (best to carry two, so if you use one the other is still unopened).

http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/touring_tips/...

[Aizle]

Can't find on the net that you need bulbs?

[nick1275]

eddie ive got a couple of spare his vis to take, and im sure kirstys parents have a breathaliser they said we can borrow

[ecain63]

Aizle said:

Can't find on the net that you need bulbs?

http://www.consumabulbs.com/content/driving_in_france.php?gclid=COjezoL_tLACFW1ItAod6zIFWQ

[ecain63]

nick1275 said:

eddie ive got a couple of spare his vis to take, and im sure kirstys parents have a breathaliser they said we can borrow

Thanks mate. The vests will do nicely. As for the alcometer we won't need it as the rule is from July.

[ecain63]

Aizle said:

Can't find on the net that you need bulbs?

http://www.consumabulbs.com/content/driving_in_france.php?gclid=COjezoL_tLACFW1ItAod6zIFWQ

[Aizle]

Thanks Eddie

[blackcossiestu]

ecain63 said:

Extinguisher and first aid kit isn't a legal requirement currently, more an advisory. First aid kit is a good call regardless. Is just the pointless stuff that I need to know about really. Do actually need bulbs? Will a crappy halfrauds bulb kit suffice, even though they won't fit my car? Bulbs on the M5 are a dealer job!

Many vehicles require a workshop to replace a bulb, your not on your own. Laws are generic, they dont have different rules for different car's as it would just be too difficult for plod to enforce it. Just throw a bunch of different bulbs in a bag/box and that'll do.
Headlight beam masks/converters also needed.

[t1grm]

FraMac said:

ecain63 said:

Other than the watching my speed, briefing passengers and checking documents what kit is critical to keep the French Plod happy?

Im going down in my E61 M5 and i see no point in taking spare bulbs as its a dealer job IMO. Warning triangles and tool kit come with the car and i have a HI-Vis vest to display. Breathalisers arent in yet so thats one less thing to take, is there anything else im missing?

Eddie

Vehicle docs, licence, insurance, spare bins if you wear glasses, fire extinguisher, first aid kit.

IIRC Spare glasses is a German requirement not French... but a good idea nonetheless

Also you should be carrying a breathalyser kit (see thread elsewhere) but you won't get fined for not having one yet.

P.S. GB sticker is not required if you have a blue GB panel on your plate.

Edited by t1grm on Monday 4th June 23:12

[Kier]

t1grm said:

Also you should be carrying a breathalyser kit (see thread elsewhere) but you won't get fined for not having one yet.

This law doesn't come in until July, so for this years LeMans there is absolutely no need to take a breathalyser kit at all.

[t1grm]

Kier said:

t1grm said:

Also you should be carrying a breathalyser kit (see thread elsewhere) but you won't get fined for not having one yet.

This law doesn't come in until July, so for this years LeMans there is absolutely no need to take a breathalyser kit at all.

I know. Thats what I said: "but you won't get fined for not having one yet"

[Aizle]

t1grm said:

I know. Thats what I said: "but you won't get fined for not having one yet"

It isn't even applicable until July, that isn't what you said.

[Kier]

t1grm said:

I know. Thats what I said: "but you won't get fined for not having one yet"

Oh sorry, my bad, I thought you said earlier "you should be carrying a breathalyser kit", which would have been wrong, maybe I'm getting a bit confused.

.......

t1grm said:

Also you should be carrying a breathalyser kit

You are of course correct where you just quote the "but you won't get fined for not having one yet" bit. The law doesn’t come in until July, LeMans is in June, I think they'd struggle to get people to pay a fine on something that's not law yet!

After July, it’s been said that for the first few months, if you get stopped by the local plod you’ll get a warning, so for example people going to the LeMans classic in July should ideally have a kit - but they won’t get a fine if they don’t! But for us going in June there is absolutly no need to waste money on a breathalyser kit that could be better spent on beer!

[lowdrag]

I appreciate all your concerns, but as someone who's lived at Le Mans for 13 years now I have never been asked for a triangle, bulbs etc. I mean, it is a requirement to carry bulbs, but not to fit a replacement if one breaks! How daft is that? And the number of one-eyed cars one sees at night here bears out that plod don't give a damn. Now from 1/7/12 it is a requirement to carry a high-viz jacket for every person in the car, but when the first law came out requiring just one per car stock ran out so they put the law back three months. They've never enforced any of it as far as I know, but if you get really up their noses then it is only human nature to respond in a similar fashion.

So, the moral of the story is to carry your real (not copies) paperwork in the car (they do ask to see that), don't be a fool and remember that bottles aren't allowed on the campsites now, so buy cans.

[Chris71]

What are the rules with regards to HIDs?

I borrowed a car for the trip last year and was told you don't need to do anything to the headlights (no converters etc.) or carry any sort of spares.