French Motorways
Discussion
I think you'll be fine at 85mph, perhaps a bit more, but i have to say my experience of my last few journeys in France is the French are sticking to the limits, so i found that even at 85 i was passing most stuff slowly, but i'd say much faster than that and you'll stand out.
Edited to add though, at this time of year you genuinely will cover 85 miles in the hour, and the last time i drove from calais on a weekend, i did 110 miles before i saw a truck. That might have been on the sunday though.
Edited to add though, at this time of year you genuinely will cover 85 miles in the hour, and the last time i drove from calais on a weekend, i did 110 miles before i saw a truck. That might have been on the sunday though.
Edited by heebeegeetee on Friday 30th January 17:43
DO NOT speed within 50 miles of Calais, it is the most heavily Policed bit and they love to pull the English. Our general rule is we cruise at a GPS 80, but in convoy and we try to stay in the slow lane unless overtaking. It draws less attention to yourself. Touch wood, in about 7,000 miles we have never had a pull. Remember also to drop to about 60 if it is raining.
heebeegeetee said:
I think you'll be fine at 85mph, perhaps a bit more, but i have to say my experience of my last few journeys in France is the French are sticking to the limits, so i found that even at 85 i was passing most stuff slowly, but i'd say much faster than that and you'll stand out.
Edited to add though, at this time of year you genuinely will cover 85 miles in the hour, and the last time i drove from calais on a weekend, i did 110 miles before i saw a truck. That might have been on the sunday though.
I have done a fair few miles in France recently and sat at Speedo indicated 90mph (GPS aprox ~ 80-85mph) and had no issues whatsoever. Jsut dont take the piss Edited to add though, at this time of year you genuinely will cover 85 miles in the hour, and the last time i drove from calais on a weekend, i did 110 miles before i saw a truck. That might have been on the sunday though.
Edited by heebeegeetee on Friday 30th January 17:43
As others say. Motorways - When close to the coast +5/10MPH.
Static Speed Cameras are always marked, but as far as I know don't ever count as I've been flashed countless times and nowts ever turned up.
Beware on A-Roads/Dual Carriage Ways of plod in marked Gendarmes vans on top of bridges and in hedges zapping you and then radio-ing their colleagues ahead to pull you in and ticket you. (I managed to apologise/talk my way out of this at +15mph - I consider myself a very very lucky boy).
Also on the increase are portable unmarked cars and vans with cameras parked in lay-bys etc. Normally white silver peugueot/citroen/renault estates or box vans.
If you do get pulled be as polite and as apologetic as you can.
Static Speed Cameras are always marked, but as far as I know don't ever count as I've been flashed countless times and nowts ever turned up.
Beware on A-Roads/Dual Carriage Ways of plod in marked Gendarmes vans on top of bridges and in hedges zapping you and then radio-ing their colleagues ahead to pull you in and ticket you. (I managed to apologise/talk my way out of this at +15mph - I consider myself a very very lucky boy).
Also on the increase are portable unmarked cars and vans with cameras parked in lay-bys etc. Normally white silver peugueot/citroen/renault estates or box vans.
If you do get pulled be as polite and as apologetic as you can.
Furyblade_Lee said:
DO NOT speed within 50 miles of Calais, it is the most heavily Policed bit and they love to pull the English.
I've done some pretty big mileage in France over the past few years. Been pulled once and fined 80 Euros. Generally the rule i've subscribed to is to cruise just under 100 leptons. That way if you get caught (unlikley) you'll probably get a small fine that wont ruin your day. More than 100 leptons and in the wrong place at the wrong time it could get expensive!
Early morning at dawn, hacking across an empty network as the sun rises is a great pleasure and should be sampled at least once in your life
theboymoon said:
Furyblade_Lee said:
DO NOT speed within 50 miles of Calais, it is the most heavily Policed bit and they love to pull the English.
I've done some pretty big mileage in France over the past few years. Been pulled once and fined 80 Euros. Generally the rule i've subscribed to is to cruise just under 100 leptons. That way if you get caught (unlikley) you'll probably get a small fine that wont ruin your day. More than 100 leptons and in the wrong place at the wrong time it could get expensive!
Early morning at dawn, hacking across an empty network as the sun rises is a great pleasure and should be sampled at least once in your life
pistonlager said:
theboymoon said:
Furyblade_Lee said:
DO NOT speed within 50 miles of Calais, it is the most heavily Policed bit and they love to pull the English.
I've done some pretty big mileage in France over the past few years. Been pulled once and fined 80 Euros. Generally the rule i've subscribed to is to cruise just under 100 leptons. That way if you get caught (unlikley) you'll probably get a small fine that wont ruin your day. More than 100 leptons and in the wrong place at the wrong time it could get expensive!
Early morning at dawn, hacking across an empty network as the sun rises is a great pleasure and should be sampled at least once in your life
Our French sales guys basically say be sensible and stick below 160kph and you should be okay (and get away with a small fine if unlucky).
To be honest I didn't really feel like speeding on the autoroutes as they're so much more relaxing than British motorways (and if you know it's going to take all day anyway doing 150mph drinks fuel), on the other side of that though you could safely make a LOT of progress if you weren't worried about your car / licence.
To be honest I didn't really feel like speeding on the autoroutes as they're so much more relaxing than British motorways (and if you know it's going to take all day anyway doing 150mph drinks fuel), on the other side of that though you could safely make a LOT of progress if you weren't worried about your car / licence.
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