Thinking of speeding en France?

Tony

That has been the law for some time, I was fined £500 in '99 for doing 109mph(175kmph).
There was no ban as has been said due to the 50kmph rule.
If I had not paid the fine there would be a night in jail, wish I'd chosen that to be honest! I was skint for the holiday!

Regards

Guy

Reality check here:

You can do 130 km/h (81mph) legally.

Up to 180 km/h (that's 112mph folks!) you get just a €97 (70 quid) fine.

Try doing 112mph on a UK motorway and expect just a fixed penalty...

Oh and btw, on French motorways there is a 20 km/h tolerance over and above the posted 130km/h speed limit. C'est-à-dire you can do up to 94mph without even having to look out for the Gendarmes.

I'll probably be driving in France this summer, however in my 75mph top speed motorhome I think I'll be fine.

I'll need to be careful if I'm over there on the bike though as I have been known to 140mph+ super-cruise when on the continent!

quote:

Originally posted by Steve G:
I'll need to be careful if I'm over there on the bike though as I have been known to 140mph+ super-cruise when on the continent!

Flipping heck Steve, how fast do you pedal? ( )
I once (briefly) managed 67mph on the descent of the Col de Tourmalet, at which point my brake-blocks were literally melting. I took the next few descents in a more leisurely fashion, stopped occasionally, and enjoyed the view.
Are you taking your bike (bicycle) with you, Steve? I've toured over there many times, and always been delighted. The prospect of 100 miles per day doesn't seem quite so bad when thinking about the evening meal which awaits.

Best wishes,

Reginald.

We usually take bikes with us when we're off in the motorhome. I don't think there will be any 100 mile days but my kids are for 15-20 mile trips so we might try and fit a few of those in.

Once the kids are older I'm intending doing some cycle touring and France would certainly be on the agenda - although after the west coast and islands of Scotland which will be top of my list.

Did your touring over there take in any of the big climbs in the Alps?

Regards
Steve

I've been over a few of the Alpine climbs. I favour the ones the riders cover in the TdF, just to say I've done them - (at 10% the speed and with frequent stops, I hasten to add), but also because they are usually well-surfaced. We based ourselves just outside La Clusaz one year, and I rode the Col des Aravis, which, although one of the lesser-known 'TdF' climbs is a pig (a 42x32 slog - this in the days when I was arrogant enough to think that a double chainset was sufficient). I've also taken in, at different times, (and with a triple chainset - forget pride), the Col du Galibier (there is a nice monument there to Henri Desgranges, the founder of the TdF), the Col du Grand Bournand, the Lautaret, and the climb up to Courchevel, the name of which escapes me (I'll get my touring diaries out at some stage and check). All of these are definitely rideable by youngsters (kids of <14yrs have passed me on most of them) at a steady pace. If you intend to involve the kids may I suggest the Massif Central as a starting ground, perhaps before the Alps (I don't mean in the same year, obviously!). The slopes (apart from the Puy de Dôme, which is a private road anyway), are generally less arduous, but the scenery is still beautiful. I lived for a while in Clermont-Ferrand, so I'm biased. Wherever you wander, you are unlikely to be disappointed. I do hope that you enjoy yourself(ves).

Kind regards,

Reginald.

PS: I've just had a thought. If you haven't yet, read Tim Moore's 'French Revolutions'. He followed the route of the TdF one year recently, and his book gives a true and witty insight into cycling in France.

Steve T,

The reason I had a fine of that amount(have the receipt, sadly) is that I was on a main road. There are no motorways by our cottage, between Rosrennen and Carhaix.

Regards

Guy

Guy,

I know. I was refering to the article in your link.

Unless there are speed cameras (radars automatisés) there is a 20km/h tolerance above a posted limit. There is a 50km/h limit above which the fines get hefty and are accompanied by a ban.

The French are tightening up on speed because their annual death toll is nearly double ours, but otherwise they don't have the same anti-car mentality that we have here. Their speed limits and enforcement thereof don't take the piss like they do here.

GuyPerry
That new road that will ultimately bypass Carhaix is a breeze to drive along from Rostrenen isn't it. There's hardly ever any traffic on it. I like driving in France cos of roads like that.

Bob

In the UK we have more cars per road mile than anywhere else in the world.

The French have more roads per square km than anywhere else in the world.

As a result, and as we all know, France is just one big area of concrete, and not so much as a blade of grass in sight!

Hi Bob,

Yes thats why I got caught, it was silly I know, but my sister had a company MGF (no room for 4) so borrowed a 420D AUTOMATIC! (she deserted the sinking Longbridge ship!) The others couldn't stand driving it, it was given the name "Driving Miss Daisy".

I know the road well and knew there were no turnings for a stretch so I just saw what it would do, not very clever I know. Don't have any points on my licence, but as Steve said it would be an "instant" over here, plus the Police aren't judgemental, just process you and your off.

I love taking the Kit Car over, (a 4 litre V8 Sebring) because of the roads. I don't drive any faster in it, but it's fun reaching the limit quicker!

Regards

Guy

The Gendarmes are now the least of your worries...

Before you go outre-manche you need to click here for information on the location of every single speed camera in France, including photos (the cameras aren't exactly painted yellow like they are here so the pics are are actually quite useful...)

Click on the part of France you'll be driving through and then on the individual camera sites for a photo and description including posted speed limit and whether the camera is front or rear-facing.

Alternatively, by entering the start and finish points of your journey you get to see where all the cameras are en route here.

It costs a couple of Euros but could save you a fortune.

Excellent Steve.

Cheers

Guy

No worries - especially as I won't be driving in France this year myself despite some good deals being offered by both Seafrance and P&O on ferry crossings.

Basically you can get a standard return for less than £150 quid. It used to be about £300.

They've now got about 370 fixed-site cameras in France against our c.5000. I have also noted that cameras are only on peri-urbain sections of the motorways with speed limits of 110 km/h or less. So on the 130 km/h sections you should still enjoy the 20 km/h tolerance without worry.

PS: I quite like the picture of what is obviously a British dual carriageway on the radarsfixes website.

After getting all of Pope Benedict's luggage loaded into the limo in Paris,(and he doesn't travel light), the driver notices that the Pope is still standing on the kerb.

"Excuse me, Your Holiness," says the´ driver, "Would you please take your seat so we can leave?"

"Well, to tell you the truth," says the Pope, "they never let me drive at the Vatican, and I'd really like to drive today."

"I'm sorry but I cannot let you do that. I'd lose my job! And what if something should happen?" protests the driver, wishing he'd never gone to work that morning.

"There might be something extra in it for you," says the Pope. Reluctantly, the driver gets in the back as the Pope climbs in behind the wheel.
The driver quickly regrets his decision when, after exiting the airport, the Pontiff floors it, accelerating the limo to 105 mph. "Please slow down, Your Holiness!!!" pleads the worried driver, but the Pope keeps the pedal to the metal until they hear sirens. "Oh, dear God, I'm gonna lose my license," moans the driver.
The Pope pulls over and rolls down the window as the cop approaches but the Cop takes one look at him, goes back to his motorcycle, and gets on the radio.

"I need to talk to the Chief," he says to the dispatcher. The Chief gets on the radio and the cop tells him that he's stopped a limo going a
hundred and five. "So bust him," says the Chief. "I don't think we want to do that, he's
really important," said the cop. The Chief exclaimed, "All the more reason!" "No, I mean really important," said the cop. The Chief then asked, "Who ya got there, the Mayor?" Cop: "Bigger."

Chief: "Governor?"

Cop: "Bigger."

"Well," said the Chief, "Who is it?"

Cop: "I think it's God!"

Chief: "What makes you think it's God?"

Cop: "He's got the f***ing Pope as a chauffeur!!"


Fritz Von O'la La

Nice joke from Fritz but I've hearditbeforeinnit

A bit more poking around, so to speak, on the above website reveals that there are in fact the odd radar fixe on the 130 km/h sections, but looking at the photos and the locations these may well be accident blackspots.

It will indeed be considered by many French (and rightly so that they are more sceptical than we are in general) that this is often just an operation pompe à l'argent, but given the relative small numbers of radars fixes and the sheer transparency of the whole operation, I've yet to believe the French government is taking the piss out of drivers in the way that our government is clearly doing.

Some of the cameras are actually framed by reflective yellow-and-black stripes.

As an aside, here in the UK I escaped a speeding ticket (it would have been my first) thanks to a 4 x 4 driver who flashed his headlights at me to warn of an impending speed trap. I returned the karma favour by warning a Merc SLK driver coming towards me at speed a few hundred yards after the trap in the same fashion, and he even put up his hand to thank me as he knew exactly what I was warning him of.

Speed kills

Steve

I was caught by a little gent who effectivly jumped from behind a tree, I was then ushered to the side of the road by his co-horts, some way up the road, well out of view.

I have'nt seen any fixed radars en route to Paule from Roscoff, but have regularly seen mobile police traps, in fact more than in this country.

I was certainly in the wrong and would not even defend my actions. I save my driving capabilities(?) for the track now.

My wife got caught recently on the A41 coming into Cosford, where the national limit drops to 40, She was doing 47. Needless to say She was a little miffed, as 1mph lower there would be no offence. The limit has to be set somewhere I suppose.

I generally agree with them at blackspots, such as there. But as you say, money spinner?

Regards

Guy

I was doing 55 in a 40 so I was lucky.

The last time I drove through France I did 160 km/h up the A20 between Brive and Limoges. Had the Millau viaduct already been built by then (it was June 2003) I could have kept to a more leisurely 140 km/h. It was 7pm and we had to be in Bellac, have the tent erected and be in the resturant before 8.30pm. We made it.

I now realise that Montpellier to Bellac in one go is a tall order.

No matter how many times I visit the (family) cottage, I never get used to the scale of the country!

In Brittany fast progress is not really an option, but I go there to relax, so I cycle.

People generally think the standard of driving is appalling on the continent, but I have cycled in Spain,(Menorca & Mallorca) and obviously France and the level of consideration for bikers is amazing, when compared to this country. My neighbour is off to watch the Tour, quite jealous!

Sounds excellent, Now that England is in Europe, maybe it can learn something from them, innit ?



Fritz Von 'Ici Paris'

hi guys there is another website where you an check out the location of automatic speed radars in france plus some other stuff, this one is in english, which could prove quite useful:
radar control

if you wanna have fun you can read that story caught speeding that is real fun

good day
mat

Just came back last week from a nice motoring break with some friends thru the Alps/cote d'azur and a couple of them had a run in with the local police whilst trying to play catchup after getting lost from the main pack.
Anyway both of them got done for 140km in a 90, unfortunately licences and 150 euros were removed from them, basically a 45 day ban, luckily both had their partners with them who could take over driving otherwise that could of been big problem getting home
On the camera side of things, one thing I learnt whilst there is that when a sign comes up saying camera/control there is actually a camera there so pay attention, unlike here in the UK the bloody thing could be anywhere

John

I once got a speeding fine in a clapped out Renault 4 whilst driving across the Atlas Mountains in Morocco. We'd slowed right down where a lorry had broken down and was partly blocking the road. A Policeman, asleep under a tree, was woken by a loud clang from the suspension as we hit a rock in the road-side trying to negotiate the lorry. We were doing 3mph max at the time.

He got up, spat, waved his machine gun at the car and proceeded to extract about 20 US from us with a broad smile. He did however present a receipt which claimed we were doing 45mph. He then requested that we took his photo standing to attention beside the car, with his gun pointing at my travelling companion.

Ripped off, but with style.

Bruce