Warning triangles and fluorescent jackets

[lowdrag]

The french police have announced in today's paper that due to a shortage throughout France the implementation of law has now been delayed until the 1st October. If you haven't yet got one for the Classic, no need. Don't you just love 'em?

[Vette_1978]

Sweet! I've had the red triangle and collection of bulbs for ages but the jacket was going to be purchased this weekend.

Think I'll spend it on when I see you next Friday!

[rdjohn]

Daft as it may seem, these safety requirements are not for the benefit of the Police. They actually reduce fatalities of those really serious drivers who parade up and down the hard shoulder talking into their mobile after a breakdown and get wiped-out by someone trying to achieve a V-max on some long straight on the Autoroute.

A truck driver lost his life just north of La Loire this morning. The clever folk wearing the Hi-Viz were really easy to spot!!! It has got to be worth the cost of glass of 1664

Edited by rdjohn on Tuesday 1st July 21:31

[The Leaper]

Thanks for the heads up, lowdrag, but I'll stil pack my jackets and triangles. I don't relish telling the BiB that their gov. has deferred implementation and the implications of me telling them so!

R.

[Jambon]

I'll ....NOT!

Typical French.

Thanks for the heads up.

T-7 days!

[derin100]

I wasn't aware of this law...but now I am I actually think it's a good idea and as such I've just ordered a couple. One for me and one for my wife as we're having to travel there in two cars.

Worth keeping packed in the boot of one's car here in the U.K as well, I think.

[White-Noise]

I thought that you still need the jacket for the driver? And due to this news, not one for each member of your car? Mine are still in the car after the 24h, so no need to worry anyway.

Edited by White-Noise on Wednesday 2nd July 10:37

[burriana]

Derin - when are you travelling down to the Classic and which cars are you taking?

Would be honoured to share a beer or wine with you my friend

[derin100]

Leaving on Wednesday...

The cars we're going in are not too interesting though My daily driver E39 540i Touring and my wife's E39 528i Touring...both very dark grey in colour so if you see two such cars in convoy that'll be us! Mr & Mrs Grey-Touring...

How about you? Ferrari or 850i?

I think you've got my mobile? So would be good to meet up!

[shambly]

You can pick up fluorescent vests in both pound shops and 99p shops, so having one in the car for each occupant should be a no brainer.....

Please, please, please , no one ask me how much they cost!

[burriana]

derin100 said:

How about you? Ferrari or 850i?

Ah .. did I not send you an email about that?

Ferrari.

In the end, when I looked at the 99% finished 850, I realised it was simply too good for me to use as a daily hack for the 1.5 mile saunter to work each day. And much as I may have intended to give it a good run at the weekend, I know it just would not have happened as I would have used the Ferrari or the Jeep.

In its current mint condition, it is a very special car. After I had driven through all weathers for a couple of months it would no longer have a gleaming underside and would simply be a nice 850 with some interesting tweaks.

On the basis that Michael very kindly said that he would only fall out with me if I bought it when I didn't have my heart in it, I had to see sense.

Someone is going to get a very very good stealth car


Where are you staying, off site I'm guessing?

[derin100]

Al,

NOOOOO!

I didn't get an email. Are saying what I think you're saying? After all that waiting? Damn that's a shame?

[burriana]

I know. It was a really hard decision, but to be honest, once I had bought the Ferrari (which the 850 was supposed to be a stop gap until that time) I was 75% running on a sense of duty and comittment to Michael.

To run both cars would have made no sense whatsoever. It is one of the few times when I have done the "sensible" (and right) thing.

[derin100]

Whoever said anything about 'sensible'

Actually, whoever said anything about actually driving the E31?

The MOT on mine isn't that far off. I've just checked: 25547 miles at the last MOT...now 25775 miles. That's an almost Inter-Galactic mileage of 228 miles this year!

[//j17]

derin100 said:

Worth keeping packed in the boot of one's car here in the U.K as well, I think.

Remeber that if your going to France post October 1st to take them out the boot and put them in the car - the (French) law requires them to be accessable without getting out of the vehicle.

[neilr]

Having just looked on the RAC website, it says the only requirement for driving in France are Headlamp converters.

Ive always taken warning triangle/bulbs etc, so am a bit confused as to what the situ with hi-viz vests actually is...

neil

[fenderbender]

Neil

Info below. Emglish translation available if required by copying and running through an online translation service like BabelFish:

Triangle et gilet : tout ce qu'il faut savoir avant le 1er juillet

(Relaxnews) - A compter du 1er juillet 2008, la présence dans les véhicules d'un gilet retro-réfléchissant et d'un triangle de pré-signalisation sera obligatoire en France. Cette mesure, déjà adoptée dans de nombreux autres pays européens, vise à renforcer la sécurité des usagers de la route en les rendant plus visibles en situation d'arrêt d'urgence. En cas d'absence, l'amende pourra être élevée. Retour, à J -7, sur ce qu'il faut savoir pour acheter et bien utiliser ces deux accessoires.



Mode d'emploi du gilet
Le gilet rétro-réfléchissant doit être porté par le conducteur avant de sortir de son véhicule immobilisé sur la chaussée ou ses abords. Ce gilet doit être conforme aux normes européennes et donc comporter la mention CE ainsi qu'une notice d'instruction. L'automobiliste le conservera à l'intérieur de l'habitacle et le motard dans son coffre ou son top-case. Grâce à ce chasuble jaune fluo à bandes réfléchissantes, le conducteur devient trois fois plus visible de jour et cinq fois plus la nuit qu'un piéton sans gilet.

Mode d'emploi du triangle
Le triangle de pré-signalisation complète ce dispositif de sécurité. Il doit se trouver à bord du véhicule et s'utilise pour signaler tout incident ou arrêt sur le bord de la route. Une fois équipé de son gilet, le conducteur devra placer le triangle sur la chaussée, à une distance de 30 mètres au moins du véhicule à signaler. Ce triangle doit être homologué conformément au règlement de Genève en vigueur. Sa conformité est attestée par le marquage E 27R apposé sur le triangle.

Ne pas oublier
L'allumage des feux de détresse demeure obligatoire lorsque le véhicule est immobilisé sur la chaussée. En cas de panne, s'éloigner des voies de circulation, derrière les glissières de sécurité.

Les sanctions
L'absence de gilet ou de triangle dans son véhicule coûtera au conducteur une amende forfaitaire de 135 euros (amende minorée à 90 euros), mais les sanctions ne seront appliquées qu'à partir du 1er octobre. Jusqu'à cette date, la police et la gendarmerie procèderont à des contrôles à visée pédagogique.

Où s'équiper ?
Plusieurs enseignes (Feu Vert, Norauto, etc.) proposent des kits contenant un trinagle de pré-signalisation (norme ECE R27) et un gilet rétro-réfléchissant (norme EN 471) pour moins de 10 euros. Les automobilistes qui possèdent l'un déjà l'un deux accessoires peuvent également acheter l'élément manquant (à partir de 3 euros le gilet, et 4 euros le triangle). On trouve également des packs gilet+triangle dans certaines grandes surfaces ou sur des sites de vente en ligne (PriceMinister, etc.). Enfin, l'association Prévention Routière offre à ses adhérents et sympathisants un gilet retro-réfléchissant pour chaque don de 34 euros (déduction fiscale : 11,56 euros). Outre l'envoi d'un gilet, les donateurs recevront le journal d'information "Feuille de Route". Un don de 34 euros à la Prévention Routière permet la formation d'une classe entière à l'éducation routière, l'achat de 3 casques pour les pistes d'éducation routière, ou le test d'alcoolémie de 30 jeunes en sortie de discothèque. Site : www.preventionroutiere.asso.fr.

[burriana]

neilr said:

so am a bit confused as to what the situ with hi-viz vests actually is...

Simple - if you spend about £4.99 and keep one in the car, if you break down, put it on and you stand less chance of being killed!


Why people are debating over the legality of something which costs so little yet could save your life is beyond me.

JUST BUY ONE!

[Del 203]

burriana said:

neilr said:

so am a bit confused as to what the situ with hi-viz vests actually is...

Simple - if you spend about £4.99 and keep one in the car, if you break down, put it on and you stand less chance of being killed!


Why people are debating over the legality of something which costs so little yet could save your life is beyond me.

JUST BUY ONE!

[b2tus]

As Burriana and Del rightly point out, it is common sense to have a high vis vest in any car... not just for France but for general UK use. After all, they only cost the equivalent of a couple beers.

Just FYI, in Italy all hire cars by law have to have one in the car.