AndyMM Posted October 11, 2005 Report Share Posted October 11, 2005 Am off to France next week for a couple of days & am taking the S4 for a bit of a blast... I figure I've got to remember to drive on the wrong side of the road, but does anyone have any other tips about driving over there? Andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tizzy Posted October 11, 2005 Report Share Posted October 11, 2005 Yes - hide your RoadAngel/BlueI any other GPS / Radar detector. They're all illegal over there, and they confiscate them and crush them. Also watch out on the Peage's - on some sections they time you between toll stations - beat the set time & you're nicked! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Markallain Posted October 11, 2005 Report Share Posted October 11, 2005 One good thing is that the speed Cameras are well signed before you get to them! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mollox Posted October 11, 2005 Report Share Posted October 11, 2005 [ QUOTE ] Yes - hide your RoadAngel/BlueI any other GPS / Radar detector. They're all illegal over there, and they confiscate them and crush them. Also watch out on the Peage's - on some sections they time you between toll stations - beat the set time & you're nicked! [/ QUOTE ] No one has ever managed to prove this. Its a bloody urban legend! Watch out within 50k of calais. I've driven across the whole of France at speed on a number of occasions and not seen a single police car/trap until the last few miles to Calais that only the Brits drive Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UBM Posted October 11, 2005 Report Share Posted October 11, 2005 Drive on the right! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyMM Posted October 11, 2005 Author Report Share Posted October 11, 2005 Thanks for the tips. Think I'll be leaving the Road Angel at home & driving like a good boy around Calais! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kn0xster Posted October 11, 2005 Report Share Posted October 11, 2005 yeah and watch out they are all nuts! Dont park anywhere, they don't give a second thought about shunting a car in public to make room ( well enough room for the front tyres anyway) in a space. Otherwise enjoy the nice non congested roads:-) where are you off to? anywhere nice? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
palexr Posted October 11, 2005 Report Share Posted October 11, 2005 Having lived in France and Belgium I can say that the thing about the timed bit between peages is not true. Well...it is half true. They ARE starting to put electronic cameras that do calculate your average speed between 2 points. I can vouch for this. Last year my number plate came up on the road-side display with a message informing me I was driving over the speed limit. Bar stewards! Luckily, when I pulled into the next service area I heard an announcement to the effect that these cameras were being tested for the authorities by the autoroute managment co. They did say that they would be used to issue fines though at some "later" date. Not sure when that is but this did happen last year. It happened on the peage just south of Paris, the A10 I think (the one that goes off to Tours/Bordeaus/etc.. not Lyon). Other things you will need are a first aid kit, spare light bulbs and a breakdown triangle. I can't remember if you need a fire extinguisher, I think you do though. Speed cameras do not have to be, and are not always well sign posted. In fact they can hide them. The gendarmes will sometimes put an unmarked car on the hard shoulder with its bonnet up. Only when you go shouting past do you see the speed camera set up on the engine. So watch out. Also, despite the rumour the French invented roundabouts, they don't understand them. They will randomly, stop on them to read sign posts, invariably not indicate and probably try to take right of way onto them. Oh, and if you do get pulled over they might require immediate payment. They won't take platis or cheques, so you might want to take some cash. else they might tow your car away, expect you to get a taxi to to the closest cashpoint and pay the fine plus getting your car out of the pound. Go to Germany for a blast. Bonne route. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyMM Posted October 11, 2005 Author Report Share Posted October 11, 2005 Unfortunately it's not a jolly, it's a work thing, just drive there, sleep, have meeting & drive back next day. Although am definitely looking forward to quieter roads and the chance of opening up the S4 a little! Posted the above before I read Alex's bit; am definitely not looking forward to quite as much now! Although I do agree about the Germany bit, used to live there in a small town called Ingolstadt... just a shame can't organise it on this trip! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Markallain Posted October 11, 2005 Report Share Posted October 11, 2005 Remember light converters if driving at night (or if you've got xenons there is probably a switch) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyMM Posted October 11, 2005 Author Report Share Posted October 11, 2005 OK, so I've checked this out now; According to the AA; It's Compulsory to have; Original vehicle registration documents, GB Sticker (or Euro plates), A warning triangle and Headlamp converters. It's Recommended to have; A first aid kit, A fire extinguisher and a Spare bulb kit. Although they do point out that spare bulbs aren't really an option with Xenons. I've asked Audi about the headlamp conversion and as the car's going in tomorrow they said they'd get this bit sorted for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UBM Posted October 11, 2005 Report Share Posted October 11, 2005 I believe you also need a flourescent jacket too? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
palexr Posted October 11, 2005 Report Share Posted October 11, 2005 Despite all my doom and gloom, half of any holiday in France is the driving for me. Put it this way, I lived there and have driven in France every year for the last 18 years and I 've never been pulled over or fined. Soz, didn't mean to sound so negative Bonne route Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesB Posted October 11, 2005 Report Share Posted October 11, 2005 Agreed. I lived over there for a couple of years and, although I didn't have a nice car, still covered a fair number of miles at a good rate. As far as I was aware, I never got anywhere near being done. Although I have a mate who has been done twice, once in an S2000 (French registered) and once in a Boxster (English registered). IIRC he received fairly light fines despite being caught at reasonable speeds on both occasions. He occasionally lurks on this forum so may be able to enlighten us further Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mollox Posted October 12, 2005 Report Share Posted October 12, 2005 Got flashed twice last year en route to Spain - nothing yet! Then there was the small matter of Le Mans. You could say we pressed on a bit there Just be prudent and use your common sense and it'll all be Tout bon! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyMM Posted October 12, 2005 Author Report Share Posted October 12, 2005 Thanks for all the tips, I hadn't really considered the potential need for cash, so thanks for that Alex. But, I think Mollox has summed it up best; be prudent and use your common sense! By the way, what is the speed limit on Motorways over there? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vernan Posted October 12, 2005 Report Share Posted October 12, 2005 It's really not safe to speed in France any longer - the penalties are harsher than in the UK, and the Government has taken note of their poor road safety reputation and is very tough on motorists. The radar detector thing is true, but GPS (ie speed cameras on your Tomtom or even, presumably, a road angel without the radar detector bit). That said, try and explain the difference to a policeman. They won't care much. I got caught speeding the year before last (overtaking, in my defence) and it was 750euros immediately or the car and they take your licence til it gets to court. About 8 months later, I got a refund of 300euros thanks to the nice judge. Nasty moment though. If you were to get stopped, don't argue, and try to show not only a bit of deference to the gendarmes, but a willingness to try to speak French. Shouting at them in English is a fast ticket to the gendamerie and a breath test (and quite right too IMO). You will not win an argument with the police. They are very strict on speed limits that reduce in the rain. English CHIP and PIN credit cards don't work in 24hr fuel pumps. Fixed speed cameras are usually well sign posted, but are forward facing, and aren't yellow. Oh, and whatever speed you are going, a 7 yearold Peugeot 206 diesel will be going faster than you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mollox Posted October 12, 2005 Report Share Posted October 12, 2005 130 km/h (81mph) in the dry 110 km/h (68 mph) when its raining. Some sections (oten around junctions will have a reduced 110 limit even in the dry) and beware if you venture onto their A roads and make sure you slow right down to the reduced limits you'll find as you enter towns/villages. These are favourites for revenue generation by the local gendarmes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Posted October 12, 2005 Report Share Posted October 12, 2005 If you want to speed in France, you need to buy a french car. Having british number plates will get you stopped for sure, but for some strange reason, which is completly beyond me, cars with french plates seem to be able to go as fast as the poor little engines will push them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lussac Posted October 12, 2005 Report Share Posted October 12, 2005 Agreed. As a regular visitor S. Central France I can vouch for the fact that speed cameras a proliferating, not only on the autoroutes, but on the route nationales too. There are several new cameras north and south of Limoges on the A20 and just south of Limoges on the N21. Also, there are now regular mobile speed traps in use particularly near accident black spots. The government is now taking the number of road deaths seriously and stated that the number of 'speed reduction' areas are going to increase across France. Do be careful around Calais, recently a friend was caught in a speed trap on the Paris to Calais autoroute whilst rushing to catch a ferry, he didn't see where the trap was but was surrounded by a group of Gendarmes with the evidence at the next peage!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mollox Posted October 12, 2005 Report Share Posted October 12, 2005 Unfortunately the french have some 'great' locations where you can't see them til its too late They are typically on the last stretch of an autoroute before a Peage so they have all the time in the world to safely pull you over as you go through the tolls. They do sometimes have a bike waiting up ahead - saw one of these last week and indeed, the last time I got busted in France I was picked out of the traffic by a bike I was rather lucky earlier in the year - I saw the blue focus hidden in the bushes once it was way too late and I was unfortunately doing comfortably over 200 km/h however, someone was looking down on me as Mr Gendarme was half in a bush relieving himself - had to give him a little toot as I went by That was, unsurprisingly, on the run into Calais - they seem to concentrate on the section after the last turn-off for Brussels - where its only Brits that are left Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GCab Posted October 12, 2005 Report Share Posted October 12, 2005 I got stopped! Forgot about it with the subsequent kerfuffle, but a few notes: 1. It was on the A75 heading for Clermont-Ferrand 2. I was doing 167 km/h (they tolerate 160) 3. Two guys on motorbikes; pulled me over onto a rest stop (not hard shoulder - I slowed down to the roadside, as per UK, and they impatiently waved me further on). I assume checkpoints are based around this (i.e. rest stop available downstream). 4. They looked a bit grim and scowly in their helmets and shades, but we gave them a cheery wave as we pulled in, said "bonjour", and they immediately stopped faking the whole LAPD/Chips thing. The first guy was smiling by the time he took his helmet off. 5. Chappy came up, said "167" in French , showed it to me written down, then grinned and said "un petit peu" with his fingers a millimetre apart - basically if it wasn't for the 7, they couldn't have cared less, and were happy to show it 6. Then he said "that'll be 40 Euros", grinned broadly, and that was it - no pretence at lecturing. By this time the other guy came up, and chatted with us while the ticket was written out. Between them, they - admired the car - asked my wife how fast it would go - whistled appreciatively when she looked a bit blank and said "er, it says 200km/h on the dial" - laughed out loud when I looked slightly anxious (was this some cunning French entrapment scheme?) and said "pas aujourd'hui!" - asked me where we were going (Montpellier) and said "oh, you'll see the Millau Bridge - fantastique" - asked curiously about the tax disc ("what the hell is that?") - gave us the ticket with a flourish, and said "c'est fini" and "you have nothing else to worry about". Then they both walked round and admired the car again, then stood around with bottles of water and waved us off. All in all, they were more interested in the car than anything else, and it was a bit like being stopped by Audi_Smitten. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GCab Posted October 12, 2005 Report Share Posted October 12, 2005 Oh yes, the other thing was the first bloke asked "c'est Teh-teh, eh?" and when I looked a bit blank, showed me TT written on the ticket. At which point the other one (who'd walked round it by this stage) admonished him with "Nonono, c'est Audi Quattro", in tones of appropriate reverence So that's what it says on my ticket - "etranger, Audi Quattro", same as on the back of the car And the other other thing is this: I hadn't bothered to get much stuff for French law, but stopped after Calais and loaded up on flourescent jacket, GB sticker (magnetic), first aid kit, etc. - the petrol stations south of Calais all sell them. And did they ask to see them, did they give even the faintest sign of caring ? Go on, guess Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Durrsaku Posted October 12, 2005 Report Share Posted October 12, 2005 [ QUOTE ] Then they both walked round and admired the car again, then stood around with bottles of water and waved us off. [/ QUOTE ] Some expensive admirers hey. 40 euros a time. You wouldn't want to meet too many of them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CabGirl Posted October 12, 2005 Report Share Posted October 12, 2005 Do you get points or just a fine? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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