France -Hi Vis etc

[austin]

We are going to stay with some friends at their place in Brittany soon, after booking the ferry the ferry co sent some stuff about motorcycling in France: must have Hi Vis, reflective stickers on helmets, CE approved gloves, spare bulbs, breathalysers, Bluetooth headsets banned, amongst other French specific requirements.

WTF is going on? France used to be the most laid back place going for biking, with mopeds and little scoots everywhere ridden by virtually all 14 to 17 year olds leaving a lifetimes love and respect for biking. And cops riding around in shirt sleeves, shades and a tiny helmet. Now it seems, the government at least, wants to legislate us off the road.

I have dug out a couple of HV vests and will add a headlight bulb to the toolkit and might buy a breathalyser or two on the boat. I will take my chances with the rest.

 

[-XP-]

Just how many breathalysers are you required to carry? If you're stopped and asked to use one then you can't continue? You'd best buy about 5 of them!

 

[-XP-]

p.s. I'm sure there was a guy posted on UKGSer not long ago about how you're supposed to carry all your documents with you too, not photocopies but originals. A tad hard to do when in the UK they are just printed on paper (MOT) so could just as easily be a photocopy. Best take copies anyway just in case.

 

[Lutin]

Some more details here Austin - Drive-France.com

No fine for not carrying breathalysers even if they are a legal requirement - those crazy French, eh?

As for carrying original documents - what to do if you only get electronic (PDF) documents? Carry them on a USB stick?

 

[austin]

You are supposed to take original docs anywhere out the UK. I always take my actual V5 when travelling abroad and if going across a border where they actually need to see it then a couple of colour copies too - that's what they get given. Everything else is just a print off of emails so it could say anything really.

My licence is still the old pink one so no photo which has baffled a couple of border guards. An international driving permit worked ok in Africa and India. In the US they didn't believe such a thing existed.

I got the no fine thing for the breathalysers so probably won't bother unless they are buttons to buy.

 

[Paul-S]

If your helmet is purchased outside of France you do not need the reflective stickers. I bought a set but never put them on as some one posted a link on ABR to the information

 

[austin]

If your helmet is purchased outside of France you do not need the reflective stickers. I bought a set but never put them on as some one posted a link on ABR to the information

I saw that too but my French is nowhere near up to arguing a point like that against un Gendarme. Nevertheless having seen the size of the stickers I ain't bothering either. Or may just carry a set and stick em on if required to by the gendarme.

 

[hotbulb]

I think I read somewhere that a bluetooth headset (speakers inhelmet) was OK .... it was the in-ear type that was banned. However, I'm not sure what the postion is regarding (hearing defending) earplugs! Definitely verboten is any speed camera warnings on a sat-nav.... allegedly current map updates exclude these for France.

 

[Philwhiskeydrinker]

I wouldn't overly worry Austin.
When the old Gandarme stop you just keep shrugging your shoulders while shouting 'ENGLISH'' with increasing volume.
They'll soon get the message.

France is great. The women are sexy, the towns are tidy, roads are delightful and the whole place has that nice Frenchness.

Enjoy

Sent from my SM-A320FL using Tapatalk

 

[-XP-]

France is great.

Try spending 5 days in the countryside with 38c heat dragging a wheelchair over beach like stones, backwards just so you can get over and beleive me you'll soon change your fekkin mind!

 

[Lowflyer]

I wouldn't overly worry Austin.
When the old Gandarme stop you just keep shrugging your shoulders while shouting 'ENGLISH'' with increasing volume.
They'll soon get the message.

France is great. The women are sexy, the towns are tidy, roads are delightful and the whole place has that nice Frenchness.

Enjoy

Sent from my SM-A320FL using Tapatalk

Agree with Phil, but ---

Just stick the Saltire on the back and you can't go wrong

Worked for me

 

[Philwhiskeydrinker]

Try spending 5 days in the countryside with 38c heat dragging a wheelchair over beach like stones, backwards just so you can get over and beleive me you'll soon change your fekkin mind!

Blimey, I thought you were talking about Redcar for a moment there Craig.

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[Lutin]

Try spending 5 days in the countryside with 38c heat dragging a wheelchair over beach like stones, backwards just so you can get over and beleive me you'll soon change your fekkin mind!

38 degrees in Redcar? Has Hartlepool power station gone up?

 

[austin]

Oh, I am not overly worried. What will be will be but will be avoiding obvious antagonism. Mostly I am just amazed that what used to be such a laid back country when it came to biking now seems to have the most stringent rules in Europe. Back in the 80s it was quite common to see bikers "wearing" their helmet on their elbow in towns, i.e. not wearing it all but shoved up your arm. I copied the locals a few times when just nipping up a road and got stopped by a Gendarme one time - "Sur le tete, si'vous plait" was the limit of the admonishment. I was also only wearing shorts, T shirt and trainers. I don't think I would get away with it now.

 

[-XP-]

Blimey, I thought you were talking about Redcar for a moment there Craig.

38 degrees in Redcar? Has Hartlepool power station gone up?

No chaps, that's why I qouted you saying, "France is great". Try and keep up!

It was Pilac, France last August.... pergatory!!

 

[Mikey]

It's still pretty laid bac, however they've tightened up on speeding. I go most years and I've never had a problem. I usually carry spare bulbs and believe or not used them. High viz you must carry but only wear if you stop for a breakdown/accident. I use Bluetooth speakers, don't have helmet stickers which are only required for French bought helmets.

Just go and enjoy.

 

[MooN]

your bike and equipement must meet current legislation requirements in the country of residence / registration. On top of that, In france you are supposed to carry (as mentioned previously) a hi viz vest, to be worn in the case of an emergency ( exactly what constitutes an "emergency" is not laid out in the text but is generally presumed to be an accident or breakdown) You are NOT required to carry breathalisers (this law has been sidelined pending further reflection). You are NOT required to carry headlight bulb (on a motorcycle) ( or tools to change said bulb, or a warning triangle, or a spare tire, etc etc etc...)*

*sources: 1 x gendarme, 1 x insurance agent, 1 x motorcycle licence instructer.

The question of helmet stickers is bizzarre, in theory they are obligatory but that contravenes the rules about your vehicle and it's equipement corresponding to current legislation on the country of registration. In theory gloves with a CE mark label are now also obligatory equippement in France. I have a pet Gendarme (member of same bike club & mate) who is as puzzled as I am about how the rules could be applied.... which would suggest that a gendarme would avoid seeing things like glove labels and helmet stickers when dealing with a foreign registered bike. In theory, bluetooth earpeices have been banned in cars etc, no mention is made ( as far as I can ascertain) in the relevant legal text of motorcycles. wear earplugs, I do and have had no adverse reaction from police or gendarmes who have stopped me.

 

[austin]

Well as expected we made it through France with no gendarme encounters. . Did see lots of them though.

Compared to my last biking visits 8 years ago and before then about 30 years ago speeds on the open road were way down with virtually all drivers at or about the speed limit and few the crazy manoeuvres or overtakes spotted that used to brighten up any ride in France in the past. Speed cameras are very discrete - small dull grey boxes hidden in the hedges mainly and rear facing too so no getting away with it on a bike. I am mostly a "steady-eady" on our trips to enjoy the scenery so just need to roll the throttle off a bit if needed.

Spain though has these red lights in villages that seem to be timed between passing the speed limit sign and the red light. If too fast you will reach red before it changes. Going through a red light seems way worse than a few kph over the posted limit so works - except that even my hugely loaded and overweight GSA doesn't always trigger the sensors so often reach a red light despite being below the speed limit. Big dilemma - through red or not.

 

[Mervin]

Beware of cars on the hard shoulder with camera in the back and possibly front windows, there was one near Le Havre all summer back in 2008. I thought it strange when the same car was on the hard shoulder 2 weeks running when i passed , then spotted the camera in the back window on the 3rd week , some french villages have a red light/ speed system, lights will change to red on the next junction if you are speeding , but you dont know if something is about to come out of the junction either , Worst one was in Dunblane Scotland before trhey bypassed it , the main A9 ean right through the town , and even at 3 am with no one around the pedestrian crossing lights would go red as you approached tthem

 

[MooN]

I think I read somewhere that a bluetooth headset (speakers inhelmet) was OK .... it was the in-ear type that was banned. However, I'm not sure what the postion is regarding (hearing defending) earplugs! Definitely verboten is any speed camera warnings on a sat-nav.... allegedly current map updates exclude these for France.

speed camera detectors are illegal, however a gps with the fixed camera positions programmed in is legal, as are community systems such as Coyote, waze, etc. The gendarms hate them but they are not illegal in france.