We will be going to France with our tent in August, and for the first time we will be taking our trailer, so I have been looking for speed limits for towing. All the information I have found say the towing speed limits apply to a combined weight of 3.5 tons, and we are nowhere near this, so am I safe in thinking the ordinary speed limits apply to us? We won't be travelling terribly fast anyway, but I do like to be sure
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
The French speed limits are the same for cars and trailers/caravans as for cars without. The national speed limit is 130 kph in the dry, dropping down to 110kph in the wet
Just to say that the French are laughing up their sleeves at us Brits at present ...... as 9 out of 10 cars being stopped for speeding this week are British.
Some horrendous speeds have been recorded recently, with massive on the spot fines ..... €750 plus points etc - which makes our fines look paltry. Le Mans has brought the speed cops out in force ..... and the French are driving at no more than the max and watching scores of Brits go sailing past into the danger areas. Two Brits have been caught doing 234 and 254 km/ph respectively and have been heavily fined and had their licences withdrawn.
Although there are now big road signs in France showing static cameras, those on bridges or at the roadside are not marked. The big danger is that Brits who are now so restricted on UK roads (40 mph speed limits everywhere) and who suddenly see almost open roads, put the right foot down to enjoy the sudden 'freedom'.
Despite some people thinking that it is a myth that you can be fined for speeding between motorway toll booths, last year a Daily Telegraph reporter stated that he had been caught in such circumstances.
It's not worth taking a chance - so please don't speed in France! ;-)
Oozat
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
Despite some people thinking that it is a myth that you can be fined for speeding between motorway toll booths, last year a Daily Telegraph reporter stated that he had been caught in such
There was the famous case of Jensen Button being caught like this a few years ago.
When we were going south on the A26 there was a police mobile unit on the north bound carriageway, a favourite spot I understand. However I would add the France has quite generous speed limits and if someone exceeds these they have to take responsibility for that speed and that in certain circumstances will result in a very heavy, on the spot fine. The ball is in the drivers court. Over the years I have noticed that the French are generally not driving as fast as they once did so it also having an affect on them as well as points on their license.
Despite some people thinking that it is a myth that you can be fined for speeding between motorway toll booths, last year a Daily Telegraph reporter stated that he had been caught.
It's certainly not a myth, I know someone who was caught out like that. When you go through the first toll booth your ticket is time stamped. When you get to the other end they take your ticket and the machine works out your average speed.
I`m hopeless at remembering the exact French speed limits, so if I can`t see a sign telling me what it is at the moment, I do the same as I would on the same sort of road at home minus 10mph. Takes care of most circumstances, including the speed reductions for weather and the abrupt changes in urban speed limits at schools etc. (Though generally I know I`m safe at 30mph in towns.)
French polis just LOVE stopping the Brits, btw. Make sure you have all your relevant documentation and licence with you at all time, plus the extras like spare glasses, first aid kit, fire extingusher, red warning triangle, spare light bulbs and safety waistcoats. No, not all of these are compulsory yet but they`re all recommended and a French traffic cop on a bad day can make your life a misery, even if you don`t get a fine in the end. Keep smiling and be polite, remember to call him Monseiur and never, never shout or argue otherwise he`ll get you to empty out your entire camping gear to measure the tread on your spare tyre or something equally awkward. (This happened to friends of mine...the husband was stroppy so they were kept hanging around. They missed their ferry.)
Really, it`s best just to behave yourself and not get stopped...
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
??? I have been camping in France regularly (interrupted by several holidays in Ireland and Scotland) now for over 30 years. I wonder why I have never been confronted with those nasty experiences with French policemen. I have passed many checks to be waived through, often seeing someone held up who just passed me with insane speed.
The only time I met a policeman, on motorbike, the strictest ones, he was fully right. I wanted to turn on a spot with uninterupted middelline on the road. As I explained that I missed the turn to Soissons and asked him for the proper route, I was just warned not to turn there, pointed out where the next opportunity to turn around was and than clearly explained the further proper route, very polite, very pleasant, once more waving when I drove of again.
Another time I planned totally wrong and chose to arrive in the Pyrenees on the same day as the Tour de France in that particular town. I was very correctly helped through roads that normally were still blocked, even held up traffic for me to get on that road again (all those cars of teams and officials...).
And is to speeding: several times I have seen remainders and fuzz in medical services and fire fighting services of some terrible accidents in France, mainly due to speeding and not watching out on small roads. It's not unusual that if you want to go to the doctor for some reason, you will have to wait for two hours as he has to render services in one of those accidents around a village.
Yes, French speed limits are very very generous indeed and I suspect you don't want to go faster than that.
It should also be remembered that they are Speed Limits, not Targets!
Beware of the Speed Limits in Towns and Villages, a RED box around a placename indicates the start of a speed limit for that place, Speed limit ends when there is a diagonal RED line through that place.
Static speed cams are usually well "advertised too, so watch out for them.
A favourite site for the mobile cops is within an hour of the ferry, when you are racing to catch the ferry! They issue an on the spot fine, and will accompany you to the nearest ATM if you dont have CASH.
What are the thresholds on the limits ?? If any ? I know in the UK for example, on a 70 mph motorway, you are unlikely to get much attention at say 80mph, are the French now enforcing a strict limit, or is there the said margin of error (approx 10% is the common view).
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
I only know the experience of one english couple who were stopped by the police on the last sliproad before Dunkirk and if their account is correct then the french police practice zero tolerance.
Probably just the compensation for inaccurancy in measuring devices and measuring direction, say 4 or 5%.
Again, they had far too many heavy accidents. Most cameras are positioned on spots and parts of he road where several accidents have happened.
Plus with their speed limits tolerance is not necessary. 10% tolerance would imply the acceptance of the crazy speed of 100 km/h on a seconday road of just two lanes, one each direction! That would imply tolerating about motorway speeds. Not very realistic, is it?
Keep in mind that their secondary road speed limit is 90 km/h!! No room for much tolerance left anymore. Zero tolerance is the proper way, just compensating for measuring inaccurancies.
Seems as if things have changed quite a bit since I last travelled through France about 4 years ago. Although, I can understand why, as over the years I have seen many a pile-up in France, caused by speed or drink, or a combination. I think that it is a better system where the limit is sensible and discretion is limited, as everyone knows where they stand. One has just got to be careful that your not carried away by the free-moving traffic, compare to the grid-locked UK.
From a conversation I had in France with the lady next door she said that French people now are much more cautious because they now have a points sytem like us. I do wonder when that will become cross border?
A day of all things motorhome and campervan. The show is held both in the main indoor arena and across the grounds. Catering, hot drinks and food options are available. Easy access to the site and free parking included. Win one of five pairs of day tickets
Topic: French speed limits
