Driving in France, new rules

whatmichaelsays

And from next year, bikers in France have got something else to consider: http://www.carolenash.com/insidebikes/bike-news/france-introduces-hi-viz-jacket-rule.htm

knightstyle

whatmichaelsays, I think they have got it wrong! Here is the official notification of this rule:

Qui conduisent un deux-roues
A compter du 1er janvier 2012, en plus du port du casque, tous les usagers de motocyclettes de plus de 125 cm3 devront obligatoirement porter un blouson ou un gilet ou un brassard dot! de dispositifs r!tro r!fl!chissants pour être mieux vu des autres usagers de la route.

angelil

The breathalyser thing is certainly not yet being tested in the French driving theory test (I know because I'm studying for it...bloody harder than the UK theory test I tell you!!) so may not be law for some time. However, no harm in having it anyway I suppose.

Some really interesting comments here. I personally don't think the breathalyser thing will work anyway as the French attitudes to driving while over the limit are still so lax here. I was at a party over Christmas that was hosted by French people. My mum refused a drink as she was driving and the host was literally like "oh, you'll be fine, you're not going far" :eek: which I think would be considered quite a dated/unacceptable attitude in the UK and US. So you can change the law, but perhaps changing people's attitudes is not so easy.

shown73

I just received my regular Tom Tom speed camera updates and it removed the French ones, as from Jan 1st its illegal in France to have any warning devices. Let's hope this doesn't spread. Somebody over there is having a job to find new things to justify their existence. Surprised the French are going along with it.

knightstyle

angelil, we have had this many times and once as we were leaving we were told which road to avoid as the "flics" were going to be there sometime that evening.

zagfles

shown73 wrote: »

I just received my regular Tom Tom speed camera updates and it removed the French ones, as from Jan 1st its illegal in France to have any warning devices. Let's hope this doesn't spread. Somebody over there is having a job to find new things to justify their existence. Surprised the French are going along with it.

But do they still have the massive warning signs plus a speed limit reminder about 0.5-1km before the cameras? Or are they getting rid of those?

zagfles

Itismehonest wrote: »

I would think that they'd have to be sold on ferries & Eurotunnel (no doubt with an enormous mark up) but maybe Halfords etc. will cotton on to the need when the law is actually passed

Halfords will probably sell them at a massive markup too. They wanted £8 for headlamp deflectors last time I checked :eek:

zagfles

knightstyle wrote: »

Here is the official French site for information and it states "in 2012" for these rules, Gendarmes in our area have a supply of breathalysers that they are handing out with warnings that from now you must have one in the car. French friends confirm that the law has not yet been passed so the Gendarmes can only "advise" and not prosecute. Interestingly many say you must have two kits so if you get stopped a second time you still have one to use. Think that for a couple of £ I would have one when driving in France.
http://www.net-iris.fr/veille-juridique/actualite/28790/deploiement-de-radars-et-equipement-obligatoire-des-vehicules-en-ethylotest.php

What if you get stopped a third time?

Are they not reuseable, if not what is the point?

zagfles

knightstyle wrote: »

You can get the kits on Amazon and ebay for under £4. The Gendarmes are giving out old blow in the bag ones but I can't see any of these for sale. The idea behind this is so that the Gendarmes don't have to supply them. If you test positive you then go to the Police station for a more accurate test. Plus remember that in the UK the reading must be under 0.08 and in France it is lower at 0.05 so even one unit can put you over the limit. The fine for not having one is 17€.

No doubt someone will design a frigged breathalyser that always reads negative :rotfl:

Do you have to supply your own handcuffs in case they want to arrest you;)

zagfles

knightstyle wrote: »

Plus remember that in the UK the reading must be under 0.08 and in France it is lower at 0.05 so even one unit can put you over the limit. The fine for not having one is 17€.

One UK unit (ie 10ml alcohol) won't put you over the limit unless you're about 6 stone! The UK limit is about 5 units for an average size man, the French limit is about 3 units, but of course this varies with size, sex etc.

Though the French use different units (I think a French unit is 1.5 UK units) so be wary if you see units on beer etc. 2 French units could put you over the limit.