Driving through France into Switzerland

[PhilUK]

Hey all.

I believe some new rules have come into play recently regarding the French police being able to fine you and possibly issue points that the DVLA will honour if you are caught speeding. Obviously I'm going to try and stay within all the limits, but just so that I know what could happen, can anyone advise with some current knowledge (past year) what the fines are for speeding and if I'm caught by a camera whether I'd get a fine/points etc.

Am I likely to get flashed if I'm going 140KPH/87MPH, which is 10KPH/7MPH over the highest limit of 130KPH/80MPH? Are they very strict or is there some leeway?

Thanks!

Edited by PhilUK on Friday 4th August 21:07

[cmaguire]

The only change is that your details can be requested from DVLA and they will now supply them and therefore fines can be enforced.
Points on licence are not part of that agreement, although you can be banned from driving in Europe and licence confiscated.

[Magic919]

I generally cruise at about that speed on the French motorways. I slow down to 130-ish when I see the camera warning signs until I pass the camera. Hasn't got me into any trouble.

[James_B]

I can't comment on the new legal details, but I set the cruise control at 100mph in France, and never have any problems.

The warning signs appear to always be exactly 1km before the cameras, so treat them serious,y.

[lucido grigio]

cmaguire said:

The only change is that your details can be requested from DVLA and they will now supply them and therefore fines can be enforced.

I'm yet to be convinced this is actually happening.

I'm not going to test it myself.

[PhilUK]

Thanks guys. I've heard about an app called Waze. It's meant to know where all the speed cameras are. Anyone use it?

[dorset_clive]

PhilUK said:

Thanks guys. I've heard about an app called Waze. It's meant to know where all the speed cameras are. Anyone use it?

I'd be careful... this article suggests having any form of speed camera detection system in France is illegal

[craigjm]

dorset_clive said:

PhilUK said:

Thanks guys. I've heard about an app called Waze. It's meant to know where all the speed cameras are. Anyone use it?

I'd be careful... this article suggests having any form of speed camera detection system in France is illegal

Yup steep fines too

[Yipper]

dorset_clive said:

PhilUK said:

Thanks guys. I've heard about an app called Waze. It's meant to know where all the speed cameras are. Anyone use it?

I'd be careful... this article suggests having any form of speed camera detection system in France is illegal

Just turn off Waze if you spot plod. Takes one click and one second. Waze is a fantastic app for pre-spotting cameras in the UK and abroad.

Regarding Switzerland -- do not speed. At all. Not even a little bit. If you get caught, they hammer you. £5k fines and imprisonment for foreigners are not uncommon. Three Brits were jailed just last month.

[Perik Omo]

I live in France and use Waze on every trip out because of the huge increase in mobile/fixed cameras and gendarme document check stops. It's OK to use Waze because there is a kilometre long zone either side of the camera labeled as a "safety zone" which is permissible in French law. There's a huge number of Waze users over here and some have started using "police ahead" warnings instead of highlighting cameras to get around the "safety zone" nonsense.

[MrBarry123]

When we drove through France* on the way to Geneva in April, we averaged about 130kph and never had an issue. All I can remember is every French car was travelling at least 10-20mph faster than us, some considerably more.

*We used the autoroute all the way through France if that makes a difference.

ETA: Ignore my post. It's completely useless as the speed limit is 80mph... HENCE WHY WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY ISSUE!? Sorry, fktard moment.

[768]

Yeah. Waze is ok after they changed how it works in France from what I've read.

I've set cruise to 100mph and occasionally put my foot down a little beyond that from Calais to a little beyond Geneva and back since the rules changed (mid-July). Heard nothing. Only saw them actively speed trapping in the first tolls heading south from Calais.

[Poshbury]

Just for the record, TomTom also changed the French camera sites to danger zones just to get around the legalities.
There was a thread on the Le Mans section this year regarding anyone getting a fine. To date, nobody has admitted anything.

I've got Pocket GPS World on my phone as well as Waze. The French swear by Waze, they are affectionately known as Wazers.

[nickfrog]

Yipper said:

imprisonment for foreigners are not uncommon. Three Brits were jailed just last month.

It is VERY uncommon. But I suppose you refer to this and hysteria did the rest. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4728182/Th...

Edited by nickfrog on Saturday 5th August 14:57

[Amateurish]

Don't exceed 160 km/h and keep to the limit when you see camera signs. You'll be fine.

[Jim1556]

nickfrog said:

It is VERY uncommon. But I suppose you refer to this and hysteria did the rest. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4728182/Th...

It still amazes me how disgustingly stupid the swiss can be with regard to minor driving offences - 7 weeks in jail without charge??? WTAF!!!

Love the swiss Alps, though I'm always extra careful when I'm there...