New law in France
 

As of the 1st of july ALL vehicle`s have to carry two breathalyzer kits as well as your hi-viz jacket and med kit (i suppose they have to pay for the euro somehow) :scooter:

zebb

www.motoloco.eu

apparently cops won't be enforcing until november, just advising.

And it is just 1 breathalyser.

And I don't think bikes have to carry the hi viz jacket, or a med kit.

You are however meant to have some small reflective stripes on your helmet.

Apparently the ferries from the UK are selling them on board for around €5.

If you buy them from any French supermarket, chemist, fuel station, etc etc, they cost €1 (and I doubt you'll get into trouble for riding to the nearest shop without one).

Good profits for the ferries there methinks...

Laura

With any luck, the new Government in France might repeal this! You pretty much have to carry 2; if you use one, you'll have none, and therefore breaking the Law! What we all should do is join MAG, who will attempt to put pay to such silliness! There's another thread here covering this, but I can't remember where.

The fine for not having one is a staggering €11 :innocent:

John

It was all about speed cameras and GPS warnings, but it soon went :offtopic:
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...s-france-62864

Ride magazine, July 2012 edition, agrees that this is compulsory from 1 July (they have been known to get their factual stuff wrong).

It also discusses the hi viz business which, according to them, is supposed to come into French law from 1 January 2013; they mention that the legislation requires reflective material and not necessarily flourescent = it has to be seen at night.
Lots of existing jackets will meet this criteria because the minimum is just 150 sq cm which is "about the size of a CD case".
Nor does it have to be in one single piece, but there is no reference to such material on helmets; in fact, this article says the material must be located between waist height and the shoulder.

That's correct

The reflective pieces on helmets is a completely separate bit of legislation and has been in effect for years. You cant buy helmet that is NF approved without them. Whether it applies to visiting motorcyclist is open to question and I doubt that, as a Johnny Foreigner of any flavour, you would fall foul of such a law unless you seriously pissed-off the Gendarme that nabbed you.

John

Which you won't be, as the used one will show you have complied with the law. There is nothing in the law that says you need two.

In relation to the speed camera bit - alot of the signs are now being removed around the country . They are being replaced with a sign that flashes your speed as you pass - the camera is then within the next few Km/s . This is certainly the case around the Vosage and Lorraine areas .

In UK such signs proved more effective at reducing speeds than cameras but, Surprise Surprise, the Scamera 'Safety' Partnership ignored their proven better speed reduction capability and pressed on instead with installing more revenue earners.

Proof of what we already thought?

At least in France they are honest and openly trying to reduce speed in dangerous areas sooner than collecting more 'N Francs'.

(Oops - a couple of years or so to soon to tell you about that!)

Uh, what do you think the interpretation and application of that would be (by the Gendarmes) for someone like me, who is a teetotaller and never (I mean never) drinks alcohol?

Michael

Surrounded by the best food and wine in the world? They'd probably do you under the mental health act! :rofl:


Andy

Regarding the reflective "safety" patches on a riders jacket, does the law refer to pillion passengers as well.
"common sense" would suggest it must, as the pillion passenger will conceal the patches on the riders jacket. But as "common sense" often has not much to do with any legislation, dose the law include pillions or not?

that is exactly why you should only carry one of them! the police or Gendarmerie cannot suggest you use the one you have, as that would oblige you to be "en infraction" which they are not allowed to do. The Law stipulates that you must have 1. If you only have one they cannot oblige you to use it.