[AlwynMike]

For those of us who like to go to France and use TomTom/Garmin etc:

I get my speed camera POI's from PocketGPSWorld.
In their weekly update e-mail they are talking about frantically removing the French Speed Camera POI's from the database as it seems the French authorities have now banned any type of camera location warnings, including GPS POI's. You can still download them, but at your own risk.
No doubt the Gendarmes will be out in force outside the ferry ports now to persecute Les Rosbifs, or am I being paranoid (again)

Mike

[m@rk]

Originally Posted by AlwynMike

For those of us who like to go to France and use TomTom/Garmin etc:

I get my speed camera POI's from PocketGPSWorld.
In their weekly update e-mail they are talking about frantically removing the French Speed Camera POI's from the database as it seems the French authorities have now banned any type of camera location warnings, including GPS POI's. You can still download them, but at your own risk.
No doubt the Gendarmes will be out in force outside the ferry ports now to persecute Les Rosbifs, or am I being paranoid (again)

Mike

To be fair, the French do put very big signs up 20 seconds before you hit the speed cameras (which themselves blend in with the background rather well) so it's not all bad.

[kaishang]

Although databases of the precise location of speed cameras are now illegal, it is legal to have the general area (say with a 500m margin) listed as a "dangerous zone". Afterall, speed cameras are installed in "dangerous zones" to reduce accidents, right?

The GPS manufacturers are currently recoding their French speed camera database to a slightly more fuzzy "dangerous zone" database. You can expect a new legal French POI database to be released soon.

FYI another new French law is that it is mandatory to carry a mobile alcohol breath testing device in your car. Even if you are a non-drinker. You can put it next to your spare set of light bulbs.

[m@rk]

Originally Posted by kaishang

Afterall, speed cameras are installed in "dangerous zones" to reduce accidents, right?.

No

In France they are installed purely as a mechanism to catch people speeding.

France used to have a big problem with road deaths. Now you will notice that most French people (when in France) will stick to the limits.

FYI another new French law is that it is mandatory to carry a mobile alcohol breath testing device in your car. Even if you are a non-drinker. You can put it next to your spare set of light bulbs.

Total nonsense!

Who on earth told you that?

[kaishang]

http://www.******ionfrance.com/Breat...w-article.html

[m@rk]

Originally Posted by kaishang

http://www.******ionfrance.com/Breat...w-article.html

That's not law. It's tabloid speculation

[xenon]

Tabloid speculation? When the president said that in person whilst announcing the law in French Parliament?

still, I'm sure you know best.

[m@rk]

Originally Posted by xenon

Tabloid speculation? When the president said that in person whilst announcing the law in French Parliament?
.

Nowhere in that article does it say the president said anything of the sort!

If/when such a law is passed then it will be documented as such.

At the moment it isn't law and there is nothing here that suggests otherwise (or even if it will apply to foreign motorists)

I don't believe everything I read in the papers. I do believe things that are from official organisations in official press releases

[xenon]

http://www.kentonline.co.uk/kentonli...eath_test.aspx

OK, so it's yet to be ratified but to dismiss it purely as speculation is erroneous because it will happen and soon. More than one paper has reported it and even though you're clever enough not to believe everything you read in the papers, unlike me who's a sheep-like idiot, it seems this is genuine.

[m@rk]

Originally Posted by xenon

http://www.kentonline.co.uk/kentonli...eath_test.aspx

OK, so it's yet to be ratified but to dismiss it purely as speculation is erroneous because it will happen and soon. More than one paper has reported it and even though you're clever enough not to believe everything you read in the papers, unlike me who's a sheep-like idiot, it seems this is genuine.

Every day, something is printed in the papers claiming to be a new law that's going to affect us all from straight bananas because the EU say so to this.

The French have a big problem with road deaths and have done an awful lot to try and combat this.

To this point you will now notice that most French drivers (when in France) do tend to stick to the limit.

The problem I have is that the motor accessory business jumps on this sort of thing as a means to sell you stuff you really don't have to have when you cross the channel

Triangle
First Aid Kit
High Viz Vest
Fire Extinguisher
Spare Bulb Kit

There is at least THREE things on that list that as a UK driver in France, you don't need to have by law.

If the French pass the law to make it mandatory to carry a breath test kit (although for the life of me I can't see how it would save any deaths) it may or may not apply to UK drivers.

As for my original statement. It was claimed that it is now law to carry a breath test kit.

It isn't!

[xenon]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...r-kit-car.html

It is now.

[m@rk]

Originally Posted by xenon

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...r-kit-car.html

It is now.

Still not law. Even if you believe anything the Mail prints it doesn't say it's law yet.


Oddly after all of that, the actual limit appears to be way higher than in the UK (50mg vs 35mg)

Not exactly a clamp down is it

[xenon]

The measure, which will come into force in July, will apply to anyone travelling through France by car

You really are determined to be right aren't you, despite overwhelming evidence that it will be law by July with penalties for non-compliance beginning in November.

The French drink-driving limit of 50mg is much lower than in the UK where the limit is 80mg.

I guess you know best though. The 35 you refer to is ml, not mg.

[m@rk]

Originally Posted by xenon

You really are determined to be right aren't you,

I'm always right

I did think I was wrong the other day but I was mistaken

[Mart1000]

Uk drink drive limits are 35mg per 100ml breath.

[xenon]

There's confusion over units by the look of it:

35 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath; or
80 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood; or
107 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of urine.

[Mart1000]

It's not confusion mate, depending on how far over you can opt for different test (after the ebm). Between 40-50 mg you will normally be given the opportunity to give a blood/urine sample that may actually be lower than the prescribed limit. You will always go on the ebm though, failing to do so will be straight charge.

[Mart1000]

Actually, thinking about it, it does makes things confusing to those that don't deal with it.

[xenon]

Originally Posted by Mart1000

Actually, thinking about it, it does makes things confusing to those that don't deal with it.

That's what I meant: the law is clear but people get their units mixed up and get it wrong.

[Laney]

I think its quite clear. If you've consumed alcohol...Don't drive.

[doughboy]

Originally Posted by Mart1000

Uk drink drive limits are 35mg per 100ml breath.

I thought the breath limit was only used to arrest you and take a blood sample, but the blood level was then the 'proper' evidence for prosection?

[doughboy]

Originally Posted by xenon

That's what I meant: the law is clear but people get their units mixed up and get it wrong.

Sorry OT....

How many mg/ml in breath or urine is irrelavant as you can't relate that to what you've tipped in your mouth.

Drinks wise, 1 standard UNIT is 10ml (or 8mg) of pure alcohol (i.e. 568ml of stella @5% = 28.4ml alcohol = 2.84 units) The goverment don't publicise that simple fact as they think we're to stupid to work it out (no really)

I've never been quite sure how the limit works, because if the blood limit is 80mg (i.e 100ml) of alcohol, then by that method you could drink 10 units or 3 pints of stella in one and still never be over the 80mg limit as those 3 pints don't even contain 80mg of acohol??

I use the above calc with 50% margin if i ever drink then drive, i.e allow for up to 5 units, so 2 pints of 4% beer (4.5 units) no probs.