Speeding Limits in France

marklad2020 · Aug 7, 2007

Am driving from Switzerland back to the UK on Friday, and have been looking forwards to the smooth, fast empty French motorways. It was always possible to drive at 100mph+ without any problems.

I heard yesterday (and verified it through various web-sites) that the French police are now rigorously enforcing speed limits. Drivers caught doing more than 25km/h over the limit are liable to have their licenses immediately confiscated and a 1 month French driving ban imposed, whilst drivers exceeding the limit by more than 50km/h may have their vehicles confiscated.

Just thought I would point this out in case anybody was planning to let rip on the French Autoroutes this summer.

Mark.

Macduff · Aug 7, 2007

Good advice

Also worth noting that the French (and other Euro countries) police don't like Satnavs like TomTom etc due to their ability to warn about speed cameras.

There have been stories of people having these crushed at the roadside. Not sure if that's true but be warned anyway.

mrsteve · Aug 7, 2007

also worth pointing out this, which is how a colleague of mine got caught and fined.

they use toll camera's, so if you imagine going down the m6 toll they process the time you start and time you finish and work out average speed, my m8 rob was doing over 100mph then saw cops slowed to 60 but then still got caught about an hour later cause of the toll speed things...

if they did that on the m6 toll id be banned for sure

h5djr · Aug 7, 2007

Also worth noting that the French (and other Euro countries) police don't like Satnavs like TomTom etc due to their ability to warn about speed cameras.

Providing they are GPS based they are legal in France as well as elsewhere in Europe. The ones that are illegal are the radar or laser detector type.

Earlier this year I drove from just outside Strasbourg to Calais one Sunday morning with my cruise control set to 90mph and only disengaged it for the toll booths and about 3 speed camera locations.

icenutter · Aug 7, 2007

mrsteve said:
they use toll camera's, so if you imagine going down the m6 toll they process the time you start and time you finish and work out average speed, my m8 rob was doing over 100mph then saw cops slowed to 60 but then still got caught about an hour later cause of the toll speed things...

You don't normally get automated tickets, the way it works is that they catch you with a radar/laser gun, then radio ahead to more police at the toll gate, then you get pulled over on the way out. Much easier and safer to stop you there when you are already going slow...

On the last peage heading north to Calais there's normally a queue of cars waiting to be dealt with. :bye:

Oh and they expect you to pay the fine right there and then. With Cash. And they have guns.

Bascule · Aug 7, 2007

I like the way the variable speed limits work on their motorways, where the limit rises if its dry and drops if its raining, seems fair.

caution though: same as belgium, if you get a cop in a bad mood he will check everything, and the easy things that we brits fail on are: have you got a SPARE pair of glasses with you (even if you wear contacts) and your spare Bulb kit etc etc..

unkle · Aug 7, 2007

Bascule said:
caution though: same as belgium, if you get a cop in a bad mood he will check everything, and the easy things that we brits fail on are: have you got a SPARE pair of glasses with you (even if you wear contacts) and your spare Bulb kit etc etc..

I think all the foreign plod must knock off at 6pm to get home for their tea, I usually drive back during the late evenings/early mornings when the roads are dead and you never see any Police...

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Speeding Limits in France

marklad2020

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Macduff

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mrsteve

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h5djr

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icenutter

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Bascule

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unkle

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