Touring New French Laws?

Yes mate it's true, for single carriageway roads the new national speed limit will be 80 kph or 50mph in British.

 

Don't worry Eric, it won't change anything at all. Well for you and your chinky bike anyway.

 

Is it a case of "yes we'll do it" and then completely ignore it.

 

Not quite Tim. It is going to become law but there is a significant amount of the public that are saying: it will make no difference to safety, lorries will be more tempted to overtake, braking differences theoretically will be shortened, but tests show that paying PROPER attention shortens braking distances MUCH, etc etc etc

It should be born in mind that at the same time as announcing this speed reduction, the gov. have announced SIGNIFICANT increases in the tax on fuels. About 8 cents per ltr of petrol and 12 cents on diesel. But of course if you drive slower you'll save fuel

 

ignore me just noticed it was in gallons....

 

I can probably help a little.

Yes the french equivalent to the NSL is about to be lowered from 90kph to 80kph.

However, this should not make a huge amount of difference to you 'orrible lot. It will mainly impact those that ride with French plates and french licences.

The system is set up in France in a way that speeding more than 50kph over the posted speed limit becomes a "delit" rather just a "contravention"
(https://www.tele-points.net/contravention-delit-crime.html)

Now if you happen to be caught by an automated camera system, and you are on British plates, this is in practice not relevant as I have never yet had a fine find its way back to me in England (i am on British plates)

If you happen to be caught and stopped after you were observed to be speeding, there are then two possible scenarios.

• -you were doing less than 50kph on top of the posted speed limit: €90 fine payable there and then. If you have no cash, you will be escorted to a cash point.Once you have paid your fun tax, you are free to go and do it again.
• -you were caught doing more than 50kph on top of the posted speed limit: this one is likely to hurt a bit and carrying a little KY jelly for such an eventuality may be wise. Because of the different "nature" of this offence, the state has a different arsenal of measure and powers it can use on you. Including but not limited to: prosecution potentially leading to imprisonment (rare, unless you were really extracting the urine and doing a 6th gear wheelie pas a school for disabled kids or something along those lines) confiscation of the vehicle (quite common) confiscation of your driving licence (pretty much automatic, I think it then gets sent back to the DVLA) and fines of a much more painful nature.

in my case, I will continue riding in a way that I feel is safe, often over the speed limit, but never exceeding the above mentioned treshold and keeping €90 cash in the skyrocket should I be caught and have to stop for a roadside chat...

 

I suppose the argument would be that if you travelling at over 31 mph more than the posted speed limit then you deserve all you get - especially if you know what the likely consequences could possibly be.
I don't exactly stick to the speed limits in France (or here for that matter) but I don't take the p*ss either.

 

Supposed to be on front, back and sides.
I've got one on the front but never had a problem having ridden in France 4 times.

 

Maybe the frogs just don,t want us there, or is this another payback for the money the EU will need to find after March 2019. Cynical old me!
Cheers, Pete.

 

Is it invisible on a white helmet?

 

A spare bulb kit is required.
First aid kit is only for cars I think.
reflective vest is another one.
A breathalyser kit is technically required but there's no fine or punishment if you don't have one (some oddity of French law....)
Only time I know of someone being stopped, in the 29 years I've been popping over there, was a mate who didn't have is headlight on. (should have seen my mate's face when they tapped his headlight with the butt of a pistol )

 

Quite content on the breathalyser bit. There isn't a penalty in place.
I think in the new laws that I have missed since I have been here, there may now be a fine for not wearing gloves as well

 

You need to carry your V5 document and a copy of your insurance certificate.

 

Just come out of the tunnel, turn left and hoon it up the E40 and you're in Belgium in 30 minutes!

 

Lmao I'm obviously in the right place, I thought it was only me who used the phrase cheese eating surrender monkeys