From Today Driving In France Could Cost You.

So rules , can't we do what the French do with them and ignore?

Who comes up with these stupid f***ing ideas? ConDem party working for the French now?

Nobody will be fined until November. A touch of Francophobia here?

Anyone who drives to France for "pleasure" in the summer must be a complete mug.

Another example of the French doing there own thing in a unified Europe. 

Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite - pah, seems the French are more egalite than the others. 

Why two?

Is it to see who gets the most pissed?

"Anyone who drives anywhere in Europe for "pleasure" in the summer must be a complete mug".

Try German or Italian motorways, try Cornwall.

Drinking is still one of the major causes of accidents in France, especially those involving young people on Saturday nights. I don't like the idea of having a breathalyser (or two) in the car, but if it helps...

They're only a euro for a packet of two. (Why two? So that if you use one, and discover you're okay to drive, you are still carrying one and hence not breaking the law)

I think it's quite a good idea. Although frankly scary if you try one the morning after a big night and discover you are still over the limit. Not, as it turns out, a welcome excuse for getting to work late.

I've lived here five years and I've never been asked to prove my possession of a fluorescent jacket (or spare bulbs or anything else for that matter), But then in twenty years of driving in England I never had to prove my car had a valid MOT either.

But roadworthiness is essential and devices that might, just might, save lives, are well worth having IMO, especially if they cost less than the price of a litre or two of fuel.

Quite a good idea I think.

In fact the French are such bloody awful drivers that any safety device is a good idea.

And why shouldn't France have its own laws? What about a 'unified Europe' (is it?) prevents that?

Presumably you'd actually need three breathalysers because if you used one you'd need two to comply with the new law.

Please explain how carrying 2 (3) breathalysers is a safety feature?

You are now a drunk driver with 2 breathalysers.

What's changed?

Testing is fine, as driving under the influence is a zero tolerance situation.  But why does the citizenry have to pay for them?  (Especially unfair for those who never drink & drive, or are teetotalers.)

I thought it was to cut down on Police costs.

Saves them carrying more stock.

Its not going to stop drunk drivers.

Imo the only way to cut the amount of drink drivers ?Is a whole year in prison  a life ban car scraped  

and massive fine.

Stu.

The guillotine would work, and repeat offenses would be a miracle!

ATB from George

What, for not carrying an alcohol tester? Seems a bit draconic

EJ

George,

Brilliant that did make me laugh.

Stu.

What exacty is the point of the law? Is it so a driver cannot claim to be unaware they are over the limit? Or is it thought to make people take more personal responsibility? The latter sounds good in principle and it will be interesting to see if it works.

Through some work involvement with the Police and drink drivers I'd generalise and say we see two sorts. Young lads who are quite aware they are risking it, and usually rather shamefaced when caught and the older (usually middle class) group who are full of booze from meals out but don't think this is an issue and behave as though they are being victimised and quite capable of driving like this anyway.

I consider both groups pretty stupid, but the latter get less sympathy.

Bruce

Just got back from Calais a few days ago. Nobody mentioned a thing about test kits/triangles or Dayglow Dereks and until i get stopped i for one wont be bothering.

Up until about 6 months ago they were checking all car boots for our friends from the Calais jungle,they dont even do that now.

Mista H

I would be a fan of having many, many fewer laws - with those remaining applied rigorously.

I have been a fan of shooting for illegal parking and see a way in which this French law could be made effective.

You allow for the prosecution of adult passengers who allow themselves to be driven by a drunk driver. This would encourage the test being applied before certain trips were begun.

You'd prosecute drunk drivers too, of course.

My understanding is that you have to carry two so that both you and your passenger can be tested and then the least pissed gets to drive.