France roads unofficial speed limits
Discussion
Hi, I'm planning a trip to France soon. I've got all the neccessary extras you have to take on French roads. However I would like to know if the French Police and speed cameras operate in a similar way to the UK by permitting an equivalent 10% + 2mph over the limit before getting pulled? (this may be a myth but I have passed many a van and camera at 79 on the sat nav/82 on the speedo with no resultant NIP).
I'm not planning to go mad, just want to travel as quickly as possible but be safe from the interest from French Police. I'm also aware that autoroute speeds change around junctions, bridges, and when it rains etc so it's necessary to be wary and not just plough on with the cruise control set to the maximum speed limit. But given that being stopped for speeding can seriously inconvenience a well planned holiday, I'dlike to know if there was some leeway.
I'm not planning to go mad, just want to travel as quickly as possible but be safe from the interest from French Police. I'm also aware that autoroute speeds change around junctions, bridges, and when it rains etc so it's necessary to be wary and not just plough on with the cruise control set to the maximum speed limit. But given that being stopped for speeding can seriously inconvenience a well planned holiday, I'dlike to know if there was some leeway.
Speed limits are usually 110kph or 130 kph on autoroutes. Around towns etc they are lower and clearly marked. Go slow through villages - primarily as you don't want to run anyone over....
Where you see a speed camera sign there will be a speed camera that's working.
I have never been pulled for speeding or anything else in France, but this is probably down to luck and a bit of common sense - same as here really.
90mph on autoroute would probably be fine - most Frenhies drive at this.
Where you see a speed camera sign there will be a speed camera that's working.
I have never been pulled for speeding or anything else in France, but this is probably down to luck and a bit of common sense - same as here really.
90mph on autoroute would probably be fine - most Frenhies drive at this.
You'll find that les flics usually check about 4-5km before a payage on the autoroute, usually hidden under a bridge or in bushes. It's easier to catch people who are stopped at the payage and uses less manpower.
In the countryside they are relatively rare, apart from the fixed ones, where there are still warning signs (but they are removing these). Hoon on smaller roads in the country, avoid the fast straight stretches which have traffic.
Towns have often radar mounted in blue cars (town police), again avoid the tempting "open" roads.
The only thing to really be aware of is that they can deliberately obscure speed limit signs and catch you with a laser. You'll only realise this when the Motard hauls you in.
I had a case in Molsheim a year ago where the 60 was deliberately obscured (removed) on a Autoroute feeder and paid €90,- (I checked a day later and the sign was back!)
Otherwise I've been naughty quite often in central France with no comebacks...
Use your commonsense and you'll not get done...
In the countryside they are relatively rare, apart from the fixed ones, where there are still warning signs (but they are removing these). Hoon on smaller roads in the country, avoid the fast straight stretches which have traffic.
Towns have often radar mounted in blue cars (town police), again avoid the tempting "open" roads.
The only thing to really be aware of is that they can deliberately obscure speed limit signs and catch you with a laser. You'll only realise this when the Motard hauls you in.
I had a case in Molsheim a year ago where the 60 was deliberately obscured (removed) on a Autoroute feeder and paid €90,- (I checked a day later and the sign was back!)
Otherwise I've been naughty quite often in central France with no comebacks...
Use your commonsense and you'll not get done...
I live deep in the country and there are regular speed traps on the minor roads, especially where it's known that the locals take the pi**. My daughter was done 3 times in one year on different roads (35 in a 30kph limit, 56 in a 50kph and 103 in a 90kph). When you see a town sign (black writing on white background with red border) then the limit drops to 50kph unless otherwise posted and the limit ends when passing the same sign with a line through it. As an aside, just outside Limoges airport the road goes 70kph, 90kph then 50kph in the space of less than 500 metres and is a speed trap favourite.
>>The fine for doing up to 50 km/h over the limit is only 90E, so anything up to 180 km/h on the autoroute. If you get caught by a speed camera with UK plates then they won't chase you. <<
If you are radared on the autoroute at 180kmh they will have your licence on the spot - UK or otherwise, not a bad thing in the opinion of someone who lives in rural France and has to put up with hooligans from the UK who don't give a stuff about the odd 90 euros and think they are above the law.
Hooning on back roads is fine if you don't care about local residents, the highly dangerous 'priorite a droit' rule, or - especially around dawn and dusk - the odd wild boar or deer that appears suddenly out of nowhere and is likely to take you to eternity with it.
Just as a friendly word to the wise - many speed camera warning signs have now been removed completely and the devices are often small and not painted in bright colours so they are not easy to spot. And if you see one of those electric signs that shows your speed as you approach you can now be 99 per cent sure there's a camera not far behind it.
If you are radared on the autoroute at 180kmh they will have your licence on the spot - UK or otherwise, not a bad thing in the opinion of someone who lives in rural France and has to put up with hooligans from the UK who don't give a stuff about the odd 90 euros and think they are above the law.
Hooning on back roads is fine if you don't care about local residents, the highly dangerous 'priorite a droit' rule, or - especially around dawn and dusk - the odd wild boar or deer that appears suddenly out of nowhere and is likely to take you to eternity with it.
Just as a friendly word to the wise - many speed camera warning signs have now been removed completely and the devices are often small and not painted in bright colours so they are not easy to spot. And if you see one of those electric signs that shows your speed as you approach you can now be 99 per cent sure there's a camera not far behind it.
Amateurish said:
I normally set the cruise for an indicated 160 kmph and I've never had any trouble. The fine for doing up to 50 km/h over the limit is only 90E, so anything up to 180 km/h on the autoroute. If you get caught by a speed camera with UK plates then they won't chase you.
This is interesting - apart from just experience, is there any acknowledged policy with French police that says that one would beleft alone by the polcie at 160kph on the autoroute? I'd have to have bals of steel to just cruise by a speedtrap, camera or patrolling vehicle at that speed!I'm most likely to go no more than 145kph - 10% or so over the limit would be about it for me.
As someone mentions elsewhere too, there's no point cruising at too high a speed as it will force you to stop for fuel more often.
I intend to visit France again so not too keen ignoring tickets or building up a record that could be enforced at any time in the future.
chris182 said:
Another possibility: You could stick to the speed limits. Most of the time they are fairly reasonable anyway over there and is it really worth the stress and hassle to take 5 minutes off your journeys?
Add up the saving of an average 10-15kph speed difference for a journey to the south of France.Cruising at 160 is safe in my experience. It's less than 30kmph over the limit, so very minor in terms of an infraction. As I said, there's no facility for the French authorities to chase a UK registered car owner if they get caught by camera.
I've done plenty of French autoroute driving and never been stopped at 160, nor heard of anyone who has. I'd be interested to hear from anyone who did get stopped at 159 or less on an autoroute (obviously excluding 110 sections, or in the rain).
I regularly do the drive down to the Alps which is 900km each way. Doing that journey at 160 rather than 130 saves me well over an hour. I can do it all on one tank, so no issues there. Well worth the tiny risk in my opinion.
I've done plenty of French autoroute driving and never been stopped at 160, nor heard of anyone who has. I'd be interested to hear from anyone who did get stopped at 159 or less on an autoroute (obviously excluding 110 sections, or in the rain).
I regularly do the drive down to the Alps which is 900km each way. Doing that journey at 160 rather than 130 saves me well over an hour. I can do it all on one tank, so no issues there. Well worth the tiny risk in my opinion.
chris182 said:
Another possibility: You could stick to the speed limits. Most of the time they are fairly reasonable anyway over there and is it really worth the stress and hassle to take 5 minutes off your journeys?
A most sensible suggestion, I'd be inclined to follow it, but this doesn't really answer my question about whether the police apply a blind eye to certain speeds or not.Also - from a speed point of view - it does make a difference. If I drive at 145kph over 8 hours, that puts me 120km further down the road than me travelling at 130kph, or alternatively allows me to have a nice lunch somewhere and arrive at my destination at the same time as me travelling all day at the speed limit.
I have just come back from the Gaul and before i went i purchased a telepass for the express lane of the autoroute's, the french do not use this data to fine you depending on timings between tolls.
I bumped into some fellow petrol heads and the told me over 170kph the police will seize your car this is on the 130kph streches
I rencently got done just before a toll in Marbella and was fined 600euro for doing 40 clicks over the 110kph limit, the kind officer gave me a escort while still in posession of my license to the nearest Banco where when paid on the spot it dropped to 300euro
just dont get caught over 170 and you will only pay a fine and not ruin youy holiday without your car
I bumped into some fellow petrol heads and the told me over 170kph the police will seize your car this is on the 130kph streches
I rencently got done just before a toll in Marbella and was fined 600euro for doing 40 clicks over the 110kph limit, the kind officer gave me a escort while still in posession of my license to the nearest Banco where when paid on the spot it dropped to 300euro
just dont get caught over 170 and you will only pay a fine and not ruin youy holiday without your car
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