RE: UK Speeders In France Could Soon Get Points
Tuesday 7th October 2008
To many Brits this means nothingAuthorities in France are pushing through new rules that would mean Britons flashed for speeding are hit with points on their licence back home. It is part of a new crackdown to stop foreign motorists breaking the speed limits with no fear of punishment in the UK.
UK Speeders In France Could Soon Get Points
French authorities looking for new rules to punish UK speeders
To many Brits this means nothing
A study by the French transport ministry claims that 900,000 German drivers, 550,000 Britons and 350,000 Italians are flashed by French cameras every year. The number of foreign motorists being caught by speed cameras rises steeply in the summer and many believe they can be flashed by cameras with no comeback.
‘Too many traffic violations go unpunished’ and a lot of foreigners have a total disregard for French speed limits and speed cameras, transport minister Dominique Bussereau told Le Figaro, which published details of his clamp-down plan. A transport spokesman said motorists often speed with impunity. ‘They behave like the laws of the road don't apply to them,’ he said.
Mr Bussereau expects to get European transport ministers meeting in Luxembourg this week to agree on the tougher rules, outlined in an EU directive in March. If he is successful they could be applied in 2010.
Part of the tighter legislations would be a Europe-wide number plate exchange system so that anyone caught for a number of misdemeanors would be punished in their home nation. ‘I am confident our proposals will be favorably received,’ added Mr Bussereau.
Discussion
All the member states would have to agree a standardised fixed penalty/points system and all driving licences would have to be stanardised throughou the EU, non?
i.e We have 12 points for totting up and they last for 3 years (for speeding anyway). Don't the Polish only have points on their licence for a year? And more points to play with before a ban?
i.e We have 12 points for totting up and they last for 3 years (for speeding anyway). Don't the Polish only have points on their licence for a year? And more points to play with before a ban?
Edited by krallicious on Tuesday 7th October 11:17
In reality, I don't think there is an argument which can be made against this, other than the general ones which apply to speed cameras anyway.
I guess the problem is that the French roads are generally very good, and very empty so people feel safer at the higher speeds, and when they think there is not much chance of getting caught will take a chance. I have to add that anyone getting caught by a French camera deserves it because those signs are enormous so if you miss it you aren't paying attention. In addition, I have never seen one where there isn't a camera so they aren't used like ours calling peoples bluff all the time.
Got to hope it is reciprocated and all the foreigners get points from UK cameras.
I guess the problem is that the French roads are generally very good, and very empty so people feel safer at the higher speeds, and when they think there is not much chance of getting caught will take a chance. I have to add that anyone getting caught by a French camera deserves it because those signs are enormous so if you miss it you aren't paying attention. In addition, I have never seen one where there isn't a camera so they aren't used like ours calling peoples bluff all the time.
Got to hope it is reciprocated and all the foreigners get points from UK cameras.
As posted by DVD in the other thread running this topic (note Q3, in particular):
EC said:
1. What exactly does cross-border enforcement mean?
Pursuing and sanctioning traffic offences committed with a vehicle that is registered in another EU Member State than the Member State where the offence has taken place.
2. Why does the Commission intend to take action in this field?
The objective of halving the number of road fatalities on the roads in the European Union by 2010 will probably not be achieved; a strong action is needed in order to give an impulse to the reduction of the number of road victims.
3. Which offences are covered by the proposed directive?
Speeding, driving under the influence of alcohol, non-use of a seat belt and failing to stop at a red traffic light. The proposal only deals with financial penalties; penalty points linked with a driving licence and withdrawing of a driving licence are not dealt with.
4. How does the Commission ensure the effectiveness of the cross-border enforcement actions?
By the application of an electronic data exchange network which enables to identify the holder of the vehicle registration document. Once his name and address are known, an offence notification, for which a model is established by the proposed Directive, will be sent to him. This notification will be sent in the official language or one of the official languages of his resident country.
5. What will happen if the offender is not the holder of the vehicle certificate?
The offence notification which is sent to the holder of the vehicle registration document includes a reply form which gives him the possibility, if he was not driving at the time when the offence was committed, to provide the relevant data for identifying the driver.
6. What does the Commission exactly expect from the Member States?
The Member States will have two years to set up the data exchange system and start operating it. The exchanges will be carried out by the national authorities in charge of the vehicle registration documents.
7. There are relatively few non-resident drivers. Is it worth the effort, time and costs to pursue them? Can a real improvement of road safety be expected to result from this initiative?
Foreign drivers represent around 5% of the road traffic in the EU, whereas the share of non-resident drivers in speeding offences is 2,5 – 30%, or around 15% on average, of all speeding offenders. Therefore, non-resident drivers are relatively more involved in offences than resident drivers. Moreover, this directive is expected to have a positive effect on the behaviour of all drivers and not just of foreign drivers.
8. Are there other advantages to be expected from this new initiative?
This initiative, which aims at improving road safety, will also abolish the impunity of foreign drivers which currently creates a feeling of unfairness with regard to resident drivers and considerably reduces the public acceptance of enforcement. It ensures equal treatment of foreign and resident drivers.
9. There is already a Council Framework Decision on the mutual recognition of financial penalties which also covers road traffic offences. Does this instrument not make the current directive redundant?
The Council framework decision envisages that a final conviction to pay a fine by one Member State is recognised by the other Member States. It applies as a last resort in case of non-payment by the offender. The directive applies to the earlier stages, as it aims at identifying the offender and requesting him to pay a fine in a first instance.
10. Which measures will the Commission and the Member States take to ensure the data protection of the drivers?
The rules with respect to protection of the privacy are respected. The proposed directive gives the persons concerned the right of access, correction and deletion of their personal data registered and exchanged by the system.
Source: European Commission
Pursuing and sanctioning traffic offences committed with a vehicle that is registered in another EU Member State than the Member State where the offence has taken place.
2. Why does the Commission intend to take action in this field?
The objective of halving the number of road fatalities on the roads in the European Union by 2010 will probably not be achieved; a strong action is needed in order to give an impulse to the reduction of the number of road victims.
3. Which offences are covered by the proposed directive?
Speeding, driving under the influence of alcohol, non-use of a seat belt and failing to stop at a red traffic light. The proposal only deals with financial penalties; penalty points linked with a driving licence and withdrawing of a driving licence are not dealt with.
4. How does the Commission ensure the effectiveness of the cross-border enforcement actions?
By the application of an electronic data exchange network which enables to identify the holder of the vehicle registration document. Once his name and address are known, an offence notification, for which a model is established by the proposed Directive, will be sent to him. This notification will be sent in the official language or one of the official languages of his resident country.
5. What will happen if the offender is not the holder of the vehicle certificate?
The offence notification which is sent to the holder of the vehicle registration document includes a reply form which gives him the possibility, if he was not driving at the time when the offence was committed, to provide the relevant data for identifying the driver.
6. What does the Commission exactly expect from the Member States?
The Member States will have two years to set up the data exchange system and start operating it. The exchanges will be carried out by the national authorities in charge of the vehicle registration documents.
7. There are relatively few non-resident drivers. Is it worth the effort, time and costs to pursue them? Can a real improvement of road safety be expected to result from this initiative?
Foreign drivers represent around 5% of the road traffic in the EU, whereas the share of non-resident drivers in speeding offences is 2,5 – 30%, or around 15% on average, of all speeding offenders. Therefore, non-resident drivers are relatively more involved in offences than resident drivers. Moreover, this directive is expected to have a positive effect on the behaviour of all drivers and not just of foreign drivers.
8. Are there other advantages to be expected from this new initiative?
This initiative, which aims at improving road safety, will also abolish the impunity of foreign drivers which currently creates a feeling of unfairness with regard to resident drivers and considerably reduces the public acceptance of enforcement. It ensures equal treatment of foreign and resident drivers.
9. There is already a Council Framework Decision on the mutual recognition of financial penalties which also covers road traffic offences. Does this instrument not make the current directive redundant?
The Council framework decision envisages that a final conviction to pay a fine by one Member State is recognised by the other Member States. It applies as a last resort in case of non-payment by the offender. The directive applies to the earlier stages, as it aims at identifying the offender and requesting him to pay a fine in a first instance.
10. Which measures will the Commission and the Member States take to ensure the data protection of the drivers?
The rules with respect to protection of the privacy are respected. The proposed directive gives the persons concerned the right of access, correction and deletion of their personal data registered and exchanged by the system.
Source: European Commission
supermono said:
Do they have the powers to demand who was driving your car at a particular time whilst abroad?
Not yet. But who's to say that some form of Euro s172 would not be forthcoming as part of the initiative ?Failing that, some form of notice to owner (similar to those for parking contraventions), perhaps ?
Probably won;t affect the vast amount of people you see pulled over as they leave the port and are quickly swapping their number plates over. Saw loads of this on way to le mans this year.
Also before they sign up to it, lets be fair, what about their citizens that speed over here. M20 is the french speed freaks race track.
Also before they sign up to it, lets be fair, what about their citizens that speed over here. M20 is the french speed freaks race track.
Can't argue against this. I hope they will not just concentrate on speeding but also bad driving.
Would also be useful to harmonise the rules accross countires - who really reads the full code when they go to another country?! And if they harmonise, can they make it illegal for farmers to block roads in france?
Would also be useful to harmonise the rules accross countires - who really reads the full code when they go to another country?! And if they harmonise, can they make it illegal for farmers to block roads in france?
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