Any - Driving through France

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Mon 17 Jun 2013 13:06
Any - Driving through France - paul45

Bonjour,

About to set off on the 820 mile yearly trip down to the South of France in the new A4 on Friday morning.

I just wondered if there was any good recent advice / experience any BR's had whilst , I'm fully tooled up with breathalyser kits, hi viz' which are highly visible etc.

Eurotunnel said be there on time for your train, which I'm guessing will be busy because of Le Mans this weekend.

Many thanks

Paul

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Mon 17 Jun 2013 13:21
Any - Driving through France - Collos25

Breatherlyzer kit not required law recinded months ago.

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Mon 17 Jun 2013 14:10
Any - Driving through France - Armitage Shanks {p}

Illegal to use SatNav displaying specific Camera locations, in France. TT and Garmin now showthe locations as "Accident Black Spots". Beam delflectors or adjust lights yourself, warning triangle, reflective jackets in the car not the boot, spare bulb kit, breakdown cover Lots of mobile cameras and savage fines payable in cash on the spot. Carry original car documentation and here is a fuller chart, from the AA

http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/touring_tips/compulsory_equipment.pdf

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Mon 17 Jun 2013 14:50
Any - Driving through France - jc2

Spare bulb kit is only recommended,not legal requirement-only one HiViz jacket needs to be carried IN the car but anyone exiting the car onto a motorway must wear one-the driver could get them from the boot.

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Mon 17 Jun 2013 15:05
Any - Driving through France - Armitage Shanks {p}

A spare bulb kit may not be a legal requirement but it is a common sense one. If a bub fails and you can't replace it and/or don't have a spare you could be guilty of an offence under the provisions of the RTA or the overseas equivalent

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Mon 17 Jun 2013 15:42
Any - Driving through France - FP

I may be wrong, but I thought French law could require a driver to replace a faulty bulb on the spot, so I don't think police are interested in the presence of a kit as such. Nonetheless, it seems obvious one should be carried.

You need also to display a GB badge/sticker, if your number plate is not a "Euro" one, and there was some discussion a while back about whether some of the stickers on sale are in fact compliant - there is a minimum size of lettering required.

That said, I have never been of interest whatsoever to les flics during my fairly frequent journeys in France.

Edited by FP on 17/06/2013 at 15:48

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Mon 17 Jun 2013 16:12
Any - Driving through France - Bromptonaut

Spare bulb kit is only recommended,not legal requirement-only one HiViz jacket needs to be carried IN the car but anyone exiting the car onto a motorway must wear one-the driver could get them from the boot.

If the boot's been bashed in by a rear impact the driver may struggle to extract Hi-Viz from it. Which is why they should be in the car, it's not as if they're bulky.

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Mon 17 Jun 2013 15:01
Any - Driving through France - colinh

The AA have a different interpretation:

"January 2013 - the French government announced that the implementation of the sanction for drivers not carrying a breathalyser – a fine of €11 – has been postponed indefinitely.

So theoretically you are still required to carry a self-test breathalyser when driving in France but there is no current legislation demanding a fine for non-compliance."

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Mon 17 Jun 2013 15:52
Any - Driving through France - Collos25

If you were to carry everthing that the AA says because they sell them there would be no room for passagers.

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Mon 17 Jun 2013 16:04
Any - Driving through France - oldtoffee

You might aready have one if you're a regular driver through France but I have one of the libert-e (now aka bip'n'go I think) peage dongles that cost 2 euros a month to rent. A lot of the peages now have 30kph approach lanes so you can roll on through. Good fun catching up the speed merchants who blasted past you 10 minutes ago and take another ten or 15 minutes the other side to get past you again. Saves so much dead time queuing that over your length of journey can build up. If you're not using the autoroutes please ignore the above!

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Mon 17 Jun 2013 17:24
Any - Driving through France - RT

Not only illegal to use the speed camera data on a satnav in France - but also illegal to have it present within the satnav even if not used.

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Mon 17 Jun 2013 19:11
Any - Driving through France - oldroverboy.

Only one tip from me.

Keep to the speed limits as the fines will make your eyes water and your wallet a lot lighter.

Happy motoring ..swmbo + myself off to belgium and ne france this weekend nice pub down bt the river, nice walks, nice food, (sorry Excellent food) can't wait to get there...If ok with avant the name is Auberge de la lesse. they have their own website.

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Mon 17 Jun 2013 20:10
Any - Driving through France - coopshere
Among some of the favourite places for mobile speed traps are the villages on main roads where, if caught, there is no or at least very little leeway on being over the speed limit.

A newish arrival on the Autoroutes are speed cameras, lots of them, on overhead gantries so beware. Best advice really is stick to the limits as the local police are not amused if you don't.

A lot of the toll booths when leaving on relatively minor interchanges are not manned, the options are cash (notes and coins) and credit card payment.

Don't run low on fuel, a lot of fuel stations, especially for evenings and weekends are card only so ensure you have a card that is authorised for use in France.

Finally, it's a great place to drive as the road to car ratio is much better than in the UK. Hope you enjoy it.

PS with regard to EuroTunnel, if you arrive at the boot very early they may offer you an earlier crossing, I'd so read the screen carefully as if its more than one or two trains earlier the price is much higher..

Edited by coopshere on 17/06/2013 at 20:13

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Mon 17 Jun 2013 23:10
Any - Driving through France - Smileyman

I keep a set of spare bulbs for the car ... but not the headlamps .. Xenons are dealer fit only (but they rarely fail) .... and just how does one change a headlamp bulb or any bulb if one has to remove the front bumper???

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Tue 18 Jun 2013 15:55
Any - Driving through France - John F

I just wondered if there was any good recent advice / experience any BR's had....

If just 2 of you, inflate tyres 4psi above recommended. If fully loaded, e.g. full of booze for return crossing, inflate 2 psi above max recommended for fully loaded, for good fuel economy on motorways.

Calculate where you are likely to run low on fuel - it's often worth looking for a big supermarket in a town near the motorway to refuel, it's much cheaper. Just google the town name then 'supermarket petrol' and you'll find one.

At tolls, always head for the 'CD' credit card signed lanes - much quicker than cash.

The ferry is MUCH cheaper than Eurotunnel if you have the time - [curious, as I believe MyFerry is owned by Eurotunnel]

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Tue 18 Jun 2013 17:06
Any - Driving through France - Bromptonaut

.The ferry is MUCH cheaper than Eurotunnel if you have the time - [curious, as I believe MyFerry is owned by Eurotunnel]

That was certainly the case until last couple of years, to point I never looked at the Tunnel, just booked the ferry. Last time though the tunnel was actually very competitive. Having said that though, given I'm three hours from Dover, I'm ready for a proper break and the ferry provides it. Never feel comfortable or frankly all that safe on the shuttles.

My Ferry Link is indeed financed by Eurotunnel but the Competition Commission have ruled the deal anti-competitive.

IMHO the P&O/DFDS duopoly which would be left if MFL give up is much more threatening.

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Tue 18 Jun 2013 17:54
Any - Driving through France - Armitage Shanks {p}

My regular experience of using the Tunnel and arriving early is that, if you are offered an earlier jiourney the extra cost, if any, is displayed before one makes the selection.

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Tue 18 Jun 2013 19:07
Any - Driving through France - greenhey

I was in France a couple of weeks sgo.

I am still amazed at how many Brits don't bother with a GB plate or eu indexplates.They are asking for an on-the-spot fine.No wonder they think we are arrogant.

Aldo on Eurotunnle return was allowed to go earlier without charge, even though we had the cheapest ticket.

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Fri 21 Jun 2013 00:13
Any - Driving through France - Smileyman

for fuel price look here .... http://www.prix-carburants.gouv.fr/

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Sat 22 Jun 2013 22:10
Any - Driving through France - Alby Back

I've driven through France many times but have always paid cash at the motorway tolls. I've seen the lanes marked "CD" which I assume are credit card lanes but always been afraid to use them in case they reject my card.

Anyone know if they accept uk based credit cards?

Apologies if this is today's silly question !

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Sat 22 Jun 2013 22:30
Any - Driving through France - Alby Back

Edit - or is it CB lanes rather than CD? The latter are maybe a figment of my imagination.

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Sat 22 Jun 2013 22:47
Any - Driving through France - FP

Can't remember what's actually displayed, but CB makes sense; the French often refer to any credit card as a "carte bleue" (literally, "blue card"). Technically, Carte Bleue is a France-only credit card company, but I've had no problems using a Mastercard.

Note: when you use a credit card on a motorway, you won't be asked for your PIN - presumably, to avoid delays.

Edited by FP on 22/06/2013 at 22:48

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Sat 22 Jun 2013 22:49
Any - Driving through France - blindspot

just use a debit card . you dont need to enter a pin.

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Sat 22 Jun 2013 22:52
Any - Driving through France - Alby Back

Oh, ok thanks. Sounds like a similar arrangement to the M6 toll then. Takes your money from your card faster than Dick Turpin there.

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Sun 23 Jun 2013 09:58
Autoroutes and Bank Cards - Bromptonaut

France had chip and PIN cards long before we did but using a unique French system.

UK cards were rarely a problem on the Autoroute as the magnetic strip was read and there's never been any verification by PIN or signature on these transactions. I've used cards on autoroute since 1999 with the odd refusal solved by using a different card. The only card I've found they consistently decline is my wife's Travelex pre-paid Mastercard.

The CB lanes though are usually height limited to 1.8m which is to low for high cars with a roofbox or anybody with bikes. Queue with everybody else.

Fuel used to be a problem area. Pay at pump was commonplace in France by 98/99. While forecourts were usually attended during shop hours they were not at other times, including the lunchbreak. Some sites were completely unnattended. No French card=no fuel.

Since the mid noughties they've adopted the same C&P kit as the rest of Europe. Although signage may still deter 'cartes ertrangeres' (eg Auchan Calais) I cannot remeber when I last had a problem.

Edited by Bromptonaut on 23/06/2013 at 10:00

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Sun 23 Jun 2013 12:20
Autoroutes and Bank Cards - FP

"Although signage may still deter 'cartes ertrangeres' [sic] (eg Auchan Calais) I cannot remeber when I last had a problem."

Just in case any non-French speaker is bemused by this, Bromp is referring to signs which prevent (or allow) the use of foreign (non-French) credit/debit cards.

"Cartes étrangères" means "foreign cards".

Edited by FP on 23/06/2013 at 12:23

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Sat 22 Jun 2013 22:54
Any - Driving through France - daveyjp
Just ensure the provider hasn't been overzealous and blocked foreign use. It can lead to an embarrassing situation such as we had where a weeks spend on a cruise was rejected because it was a dollar transaction.

When you are in the middle of the ocean answering security questions about what has been spent on your card in the last month is a little difficult, as soon as you don't know the answer the card is blocked and can only be unblocked when back in the UK. Thanks Santander.
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Sun 23 Jun 2013 02:06
Any - Driving through France - Smileyman

UK credit cards can be used to pay for the toll ... I know for a fact as when my wife's handbag was stolen her card was used by the thief to pay their toll charge, no PIN was needed.

How did I know it was not our toll charge - we have a telepeage tag so use the T lane, the tag is similar to the DART tag for Dartford crossing on M25.

Edited by Smileyman on 23/06/2013 at 02:07

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