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New French Laws |
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Mike Fishwick
Forum Member Joined: 04 Aug 2006 Location: France Status: Offline Points: 2742 |
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Posted: 18 May 2015 at 2:32pm |
Road deaths in France increased last year by 3.7%, the first increase in tweleve years, and accordingly Les Francais have recently introduced some new traffic laws, certain of which will have an impact of British tourists:
Parking on bus lanes, pavements, and pedestrian crossings is regarded as almost a right by the French motorists, but this is now expressly forbidden, and many areas - including buses - are to be equipped with cameras to catch offenders, who will be fined by post. The use of mobile phones and texting while driving is increasing, so a ban will be enforced on the use of normal and hands-free mobile phones (ie using headphones and a normal phone.) The use of Bluetooth kits managed to escape the current legislation, but these will be included when it is revised. Driving and drinking has also increased, in spite - or maybe because of - a limit of 0.5 mg/ltr, and a lower limit of 0.2 mg/ltr during the first three years after passing a test. Roadside testing is therefore to be increased. It is estimated that 35% of drivers are regularly driving for more than four hours without taking a break, so gendarmes will be watching for signs of fatigue - erratic or untidy driving while under the alcohol limit - and treating such behaviour as careless driving. Officals in many parts of France are to increase both levels of surviellance and punishment for such offences, while the Lot-et-Garonne area (centred around Limoges) is to launch a 'blitz,' with more checks being made on their roads at all times. France's road safety pressure groups have obvioulsy learnt from the UK's 'Brake' etc, and are vociferously demanding that all single-carraigeway roads have their 90 kph (55 mph) limit reduced to 80 kph (50 mph), and are annoyed that their demands are not being given enough priority. UK-registered cars remain the worst offenders for exceeding the speed limits, but until (or if)the UK joins the EU agreement on cross-border policing for such minor 'crimes' Brits will not be subject to postal fines and summoned to court hearings. It is possible however that this may happen if the UK agrees to the next revision of the agreement in 2017. |
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