What speed can I get away with on the French Autoroute
Discussion
I'm driving from Zurich to a place in Germany near Luxembourg this afternoon. I have planned it to head north before hitting Basel and staying on the German side of the border until north of Strasbourg. After Strasbourg it seems a lot shorter to cut across France to get where we are going.
I know the limit is officially 130kmh but do you get any tolerance from the gendarmes above that and at what point does the fine go from a €90 inconvenience to a touch your toes oh we forgot the lube situation?
I know the limit is officially 130kmh but do you get any tolerance from the gendarmes above that and at what point does the fine go from a €90 inconvenience to a touch your toes oh we forgot the lube situation?
To be honest, just do 80 and be done with it - it's better on the fuel and you don't lose much time.
I drove to the Nurburgring earlier this week in the M5 doing just this, and the difference in fuel economy was startling, and more importantly I didn't have to worry about getting pinged for speeding...
After all, you get to play when you hit Germany...
I drove to the Nurburgring earlier this week in the M5 doing just this, and the difference in fuel economy was startling, and more importantly I didn't have to worry about getting pinged for speeding...
After all, you get to play when you hit Germany...
It's just not worth the risk, the French police are really hot on catching people these days. On our way back from Innsbruck last month we were in a bit of a rush to catch the tunnel so piled through Germany and Belgium at 100 leptons and then when we were crossing the French border I thought I'd ridden our luck for quite a while so backed down to the speed limit. Two seconds later, a couple of French traffic cops ready and waiting...
Hi Ian,
the stretch between Colmar and Basel is pretty straight. If you're out of peak hours, should be fairly quiet too. You can get up to some pretty high speeds there; visibility is good and speed cameras are well signed, about 900m before each camera (I think there are only a couple, one near the border for instance).
However- there is a section more towards Colmar (heading north though) where the road surface is absolutely atrocious- very rippled and not pleasant at all- so much so that I wasn't happy to drive at the 130 kph speed limit even.
Plenty of nice roads through the hills if you head to Cernay/le Vieil Armand/Le Grand Ballon to explore if you fancy a hoon; but it does attract a lot of bikers and hence Monsieur LePlod.
Have fun!
Edited to say- got the wrong part of France! D'oh! But North of Strasbourg is usually even emptier; should have no problem.
the stretch between Colmar and Basel is pretty straight. If you're out of peak hours, should be fairly quiet too. You can get up to some pretty high speeds there; visibility is good and speed cameras are well signed, about 900m before each camera (I think there are only a couple, one near the border for instance).
However- there is a section more towards Colmar (heading north though) where the road surface is absolutely atrocious- very rippled and not pleasant at all- so much so that I wasn't happy to drive at the 130 kph speed limit even.
Plenty of nice roads through the hills if you head to Cernay/le Vieil Armand/Le Grand Ballon to explore if you fancy a hoon; but it does attract a lot of bikers and hence Monsieur LePlod.
Have fun!
Edited to say- got the wrong part of France! D'oh! But North of Strasbourg is usually even emptier; should have no problem.
Edited by Whitean3 on Friday 29th October 09:41
You only need worry about actually being stopped. If you get flashed by a roadside camera (even one in a parked car) you won't hear about it again (assuming you're on British reg plates - French hire companies WILL pass on the fine to you, usually with some excessive admin charge too). There's no cooperation between the French authorities and the DVLA (as if the DVLA could ever manage to get that right anyway).
If you do attract the attention of the Gendarmerie in person though, there's no hard and fast rule about how much over the limit you can be and get away with it - much like over here.
On the autoroutes in clear daylight, you ought to be able to apply common sense and keep your eyes open for Les Flic. The motorways have 130 and 110 limits which change at certain points (fairly clear signs but if you're not used to motorways having more than one global speed limit you could miss them) and speeds get downgraded with adverse weather, so watch out for that. I managed a late evening/early night-time run to the ferry at the end of the summer at nearly 170 in worsening weather. I got flashed twice but had to keep going (underestimated the time required to get there). The main thing is, I wasn't going **that** much faster than those around me - I didn't stand out. I think if you stick to that rule, you ought to be OK.
If you do attract the attention of the Gendarmerie in person though, there's no hard and fast rule about how much over the limit you can be and get away with it - much like over here.
On the autoroutes in clear daylight, you ought to be able to apply common sense and keep your eyes open for Les Flic. The motorways have 130 and 110 limits which change at certain points (fairly clear signs but if you're not used to motorways having more than one global speed limit you could miss them) and speeds get downgraded with adverse weather, so watch out for that. I managed a late evening/early night-time run to the ferry at the end of the summer at nearly 170 in worsening weather. I got flashed twice but had to keep going (underestimated the time required to get there). The main thing is, I wasn't going **that** much faster than those around me - I didn't stand out. I think if you stick to that rule, you ought to be OK.
Whitean3 said:
Hi Ian,
the stretch between Colmar and Basel is pretty straight. If you're out of peak hours, should be fairly quiet too. You can get up to some pretty high speeds there; visibility is good and speed cameras are well signed, about 900m before each camera (I think there are only a couple, one near the border for instance).
However- there is a section more towards Colmar (heading north though) where the road surface is absolutely atrocious- very rippled and not pleasant at all- so much so that I wasn't happy to drive at the 130 kph speed limit even.
Plenty of nice roads through the hills if you head to Cernay/le Vieil Armand/Le Grand Ballon to explore if you fancy a hoon; but it does attract a lot of bikers and hence Monsieur LePlod.
Have fun!
Edited to say- got the wrong part of France! D'oh! But North of Strasbourg is usually even emptier; should have no problem.
Thanks Andrew. I'm purposely avoiding Basel and Strasbourg as I've heard they can be a nightmare at the best of times. I'll probably avoid hooning on the way there as I want to be off the roads by rush hour. I may have a play on the way back though. the stretch between Colmar and Basel is pretty straight. If you're out of peak hours, should be fairly quiet too. You can get up to some pretty high speeds there; visibility is good and speed cameras are well signed, about 900m before each camera (I think there are only a couple, one near the border for instance).
However- there is a section more towards Colmar (heading north though) where the road surface is absolutely atrocious- very rippled and not pleasant at all- so much so that I wasn't happy to drive at the 130 kph speed limit even.
Plenty of nice roads through the hills if you head to Cernay/le Vieil Armand/Le Grand Ballon to explore if you fancy a hoon; but it does attract a lot of bikers and hence Monsieur LePlod.
Have fun!
Edited to say- got the wrong part of France! D'oh! But North of Strasbourg is usually even emptier; should have no problem.
Edited by Whitean3 on Friday 29th October 09:41
Mars said:
If you do attract the attention of the Gendarmerie in person though, there's no hard and fast rule about how much over the limit you can be and get away with it - much like over here.
Really? How do you know this? From personal experience the French coppers have - or give - a lot less leeway in dealing with things like speeding foreigners.Speaking from first hand, ex-French resident experience, I can tell the OP that you're probably more likely to get pulled being British than let off.
Go over 170kmh (speed limit + 40) and you will get an on the spot fine and (usually 2 month ban). They will take your licence off you there and then. This may or may not come back in the post. You'll be needing to fill in a D1 form when you get back to get a new one if it doesn't reappear. (Suggest waiting until the day after your French ban is over, that way there is no need to tick the "Are you currently banned in another European Country" box).
My rule is this when cruising in a 130 limit - do not exceed 145. If nicked you will have 5% knocked off for "error" (this will be noted on your ticket) which means you will be getting done for about 138kmh - 5mph over the limit - hardly kitten killing territory. This is pretty minimal and if you actually do get fined for this much it's no big deal. The French population these days seem to stick to the 130 pretty rigidly so doing 145 feels like you are really tanking past everyone. That's my strategy anyway
Somehow 130 feels about right. The majority of the roads are quiet, the lane discipline is excellent and you can just cruise along without the stress of UK motorway driving.
One thing, not sure if it's an urban myth, but can they use your time between toll booths to do you for speeding?
One thing, not sure if it's an urban myth, but can they use your time between toll booths to do you for speeding?
AJI said:
If you have an English number plate then anything above 70mph and they will probably 'do' you.
If not then just keep similar pace with the majority of other traffic....usually around 80mph.
Erm, the limit is usually 130kph, which is approx 85mph. 110kph (the limit on some sections and when it is raining) = 70mphIf not then just keep similar pace with the majority of other traffic....usually around 80mph.
Edited by AJI on Friday 29th October 10:19
Watch out where the limit suddenly drops to 110kph or even 90kph for a 'dangerous' bend etc.It's not just advisory (or a challenge as I see it) as in the UK. They will do you for it unless you've got a pretty companion to plead your case and tell them how you're just an poor ignorant foreigner.
Dog Star said:
French coppers have - or give - a lot less leeway in dealing with things like speeding foreigners.
I can tell the OP that you're probably more likely to get pulled being British than let off.
^^This^^I can tell the OP that you're probably more likely to get pulled being British than let off.
I assume you intend taking the A4 north from Strasbourg then. This page will give details of the fixed radars and probable locations of the mobile ones:
http://www.radars-mobiles.fr/dept/67-bas-rhin/
As said above I generally keep to <150kmh on a dry autoroute and <120kmh in the rain but I have French plates...
Edited by Le TVR on Friday 29th October 10:32
????????
This all sounds extremely cautious advice from the PH community who usually assume that "foreign" laws simply din't apply to the noble Brit!
70 is nonsense.
The 130 kph limit is about 81 mph. If you set your SatNav speed at that level and make sure you don't stray over, say, 85 you should be safe as houses. Chances are you speedo will be showing around 90.
Don't forget the speed limit in France reduces to 110 kph when it's raining and the alcohol limit is lower than UK.
This all sounds extremely cautious advice from the PH community who usually assume that "foreign" laws simply din't apply to the noble Brit!
70 is nonsense.
The 130 kph limit is about 81 mph. If you set your SatNav speed at that level and make sure you don't stray over, say, 85 you should be safe as houses. Chances are you speedo will be showing around 90.
Don't forget the speed limit in France reduces to 110 kph when it's raining and the alcohol limit is lower than UK.
Dog Star said:
Go over 170kmh (speed limit + 40) and you will get an on the spot fine and (usually 2 month ban). They will take your licence off you there and then. This may or may not come back in the post. You'll be needing to fill in a D1 form when you get back to get a new one if it doesn't reappear. (Suggest waiting until the day after your French ban is over, that way there is no need to tick the "Are you currently banned in another European Country" box).
My rule is this when cruising in a 130 limit - do not exceed 145. If nicked you will have 5% knocked off for "error" (this will be noted on your ticket) which means you will be getting done for about 138kmh - 5mph over the limit - hardly kitten killing territory. This is pretty minimal and if you actually do get fined for this much it's no big deal. The French population these days seem to stick to the 130 pretty rigidly so doing 145 feels like you are really tanking past everyone. That's my strategy anyway
If there was a tick box to say the accepted answer to your question - this would be it My rule is this when cruising in a 130 limit - do not exceed 145. If nicked you will have 5% knocked off for "error" (this will be noted on your ticket) which means you will be getting done for about 138kmh - 5mph over the limit - hardly kitten killing territory. This is pretty minimal and if you actually do get fined for this much it's no big deal. The French population these days seem to stick to the 130 pretty rigidly so doing 145 feels like you are really tanking past everyone. That's my strategy anyway
Though I don't agree with the myth that lane discipline is better.
Doesn't matter if I am in the UK/France/Greece/Italy they all have rubbish lane discipline when it comes to three lane roads. On two lane roads everyone has much better lane discipline, plus the roads are much quieter so it seems that way.
Gassing Station | General Gassing [Archive] | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff