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We are starting this news page in order to update and inform everyone on tour information and any relevant information such as the new French laws coming into force over the next months.
NEW FRENCH LAWS
It is very difficult to find a definitive answer to the new laws in France but I have contacted a few places in France and will include the details as soon as possible.
SAT NAVS
Radar warning devices have been banned in France since 28th November 2011. Drivers using radar detectors (speed camera detectors) are liable for a fine of 1500 Euros. With regard to Garmin, Tom Toms and other GPS systems, which have speed camera locations programmed in to their software, the situation is confusing. These are not officially "radar detectors", but manufacturers are now obliged to make new software available, and most will be doing so in early 2012. By summer 2012, Tom toms and other GPS systems will be technically in breach of the law if they still have radars listed in their Points of Interest software.
It is not clear how roadside police can stop and check for offending software but current advise is to switch them off anyway. It would appear that deactivating the POI's will be enough to comply with the law.
REFLECTIVE CLOTHING
From 1st January 2013, all riders or passengers of a motorcycle with a cylinder capacity exceeding 125 cc or a vehicle of category L5e (e.g.trike) exceeding 15 kW, must wear reflective clothing complying either to French standards or to other standards of an equivalent level of safety. The reflective area can be divided in several parts over the clothing, but must have a total surface area of at least 150 cm2 visible to other road users. The material does not have to be fluorescent – only reflective - and the colour is not fixed – it is likely that material that appears red, green or even black in daylight will conform as long as it reflects in headlights at night. The reflective material must be worn on the upper body, between the belt line and the shoulders, so as to be visible to other road users.
The Ministry of Transport might in 2012 also make compulsory the wearing of gloves and shoes deemed suitable for driving a bike – this has to be decided.
BREATHALYSER KIT
French Government confirms new law
Translated from the original, published 1st March 2012
The French government announced officially on Thursday that all cars must carry a single-use breathalyser kit from November 1st. The move, which has been widely reported for some time, was made official in a decree on February 28th and published on Thursday. The law will be enacted on the 1st July and effective on the 1st November.
"Every driver of a motorised land vehicle, excluding mopeds, must possess an NF Approved digital breathalyser or unused (and immediately available) NF breathalyser kit" said the decree, published in the official gazette.
Transport ministry officials said the rule would apply equally to vehicles from outside France. Only vehicles fitted with Breathalyser Interlocks are excluded.
A fine of 11 euros will be charged to any driver not carrying the breathalyser kits, but police have been told to enforce the regulation only from November 1st. The new law is the latest attempt to reduce France's road accident rate. Being fined on one occasion does NOT stop a second fine being imposed later in your journey if you have still not purchased an approved kit.
The government hopes having a kit will allow people to test themselves and to give them the means to test others if they suspect they are over the limit. (The legal blood alcohol limit in France is 0.5 grams per litre. versus 0.8 grams per litre in the UK)
We will be looking into sourcing these kits but in the meantime they are available at Ukbreathalysers. Click here for link
NEWS - Last Updated 24th April 2012