Driving in France: eight points British drivers need to know

France maybe just 30 minutes away via the Channel Tunnel, but when it comes to driving laws, there are strict requirements you need to be aware of to avoid penalties and problems.

Below, the RAC lists eight points British drivers need to know when taking to the roads in France:

Hi-vis jacket

A reflective vest is needed for each passenger and must be carried inside the passenger compartment of the vehicle in case of a breakdown.

This shouldn’t be dismissed as the French police will stop British-registered vehicles to check they have the correct equipment for driving in France.

If you breakdown on the motorway or need to repair a puncture, make sure you wear it as soon as you step out of the vehicle or you could risk a hefty fine of €750 or €90 if paid early.

Warning triangle

This is compulsory in every vehicle with four wheels or more. The maximum fine for not having one is €135.

GB sticker

You need to have a GB sticker on your car or a euro registration plate featuring the GB initials.

You will also need a GB sticker or number plate on anything being towed.

This law applies to all of mainland Europe too, not just France. If you do not have one, you could receive an on-the-spot fine of €90 from the authorities where you are driving.

Headphones/earphones

As of March 2017, all drivers and riders have been banned from wearing headsets and headphones while driving, whether the device is for playing music or for phone calls. But the law excludes motorcycle helmets that have integrated systems.

Clean air sticker

Introduced in late 2016, drivers need to have a Crit’Air sticker displayed on cars when traveling to certain cites, including Paris, Lyon, Toulouse, Marseille, and Strasbourg.

It costs around £3 (buy yours here) and drivers face an on-the-spot fine of up to €135 for not having one. They include a six-category sticker system that notes what emissions your vehicle produces, and can restrict access to cities too.

Headlight beam deflectors

Depending on your car, you will either need deflector stickers or have to adjust the beam manually. This is because modern car headlights are set up to point towards the kerbside of the vehicle. A right-hand drive car on the right-hand side of the carriageway means this could blind oncoming traffic at night. You can expect to pay a fine of €90.

Spare bulbs

By law, you need to carry a spare bulb kit for your vehicle, as the French police deem it necessary to replace it there and then on the grounds of safety. The fine you’ll face is €80.

Breathalyzer/alcohol tests

In theory, all drivers and motorcyclists need to carry a breathalyzer kit in their vehicle, with at least two disposable testing units. While it was expected that an €11 fine would be imposed for not carrying one, the French government postponed this move indefinitely, so no penalty will be imposed if you can’t present one during a police road check.

A kit can be bought for around £5 but if you’re buying online, check it meet NF standards, similar to BS1 standards in the UK.

Do police need to wear high visibility reflective vests when on duty?

Everybody has heard the urban myth about the driver who escaped a speeding fine because the police officer that issued his ticket wasn’t wearing a high visibility vest for Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S). So, with CarAdvice reader Trent e-mailing us with that exact question this week, we set off to investigate.

Q: Hi guys. I love the site! Keep up the great work. I’m from Victoria and a friend told me recently that police can’t issue you with traffic infringements if they are not wearing high visibility reflective vests for safety. Is this right?

A: Good question, Trent. It’s one that has been doing the rounds for some time — where the individual fought a speeding fine because the police officer wasn’t wearing a high visibility reflective vest.

To get a definitive answer, we touched base with the Victoria Police to see what the ruling is in your state.

Victoria Police senior media officer, Ben Radisich, told CarAdvice:

“Members must wear a high visibility vest when performing a role where the primary function is road policing duties or when on roads near moving vehicles. Members will not be required to wear a high visibility vest:

Wherein the assessment of the member, wearing the vest represents a serious risk to health and safety (such as responding to an armed offender or siege situation); or

If authorized by a supervisor on a specific occasion, for specific duties or planned operations.

If members assess that wearing the high visibility vest on roads represents a serious risk to health and safety they must be able to justify such a decision if required to do so.”

So there you have it, Trent. Generally speaking, police officers must wear high visibility reflective vests when performing duties outside of their vehicles.

But, that doesn’t mean it’s okay to break the law and use technicalities to get around infringement notices.

THE SCIENCE BEHIND HIGH-VISIBILITY CLOTHING

Please welcome Mike Moloney as Canada Moto Guide’s safety columnist. Mike is an advanced motorcycle instructor with RoSPA, Britain’s Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents. In 1983, Mike founded The Sportbike Rally, which took place in Parry Sound. Mike is a veteran of dozens of self-organized international tours and cites his favorite destination as, “next”.

Do you consciously choose to wear high-visibility (hi-vis) motorcycle gear such as a jacket, vest or helmet? Why? Does it simply seem like a sensible idea, or is it because of a traffic incident where you weren’t seen?

And what exactly do we mean by hi-vis clothing? Wikipedia describes it as “any clothing is worn that is highly luminescent in its natural matte property or a color that is easily discernible from any background.” That’s pretty much the opposite of camouflage, which is “the use of any combination of materials, coloration, or illumination for concealment.”

Brightly colored clothing is not only easier to see, but it registers with more priority to the human eye.

Perhaps, on your motorcycle, you’ve experienced the distinct displeasure of being on the receiving end of the time-worn phrase, “Sorry, I didn’t see you.”

An accompanying police accident report might contain the line, “The driver looked, but failed to see”, which is useful only to a statistician. While car drivers are not deliberately trying to cause us harm there remains the unfortunate fact that, all too often, we are not being seen.

Why is this? Like it or not, we are part of the problem. There is an assumption among riders, a common belief, that we are being seen, not just merely ignored, but there are many factors that can determine our visibility to others. Let’s start with Global Precedence.

Global Precedence is the visual big picture. Generally speaking, a motorcycle is only a small portion of the big “global” picture, particularly when head-on to an approaching vehicle. A person’s eyes, and recognition, go to the largest objects first. Our brains process that information almost twice as fast as the local aspects. If something, anything, is larger and visually more compelling, that is where another road user is most likely to first focus their attention. It takes precedence.

Roger Foster, seen (easily) while out for a ride near Las Vegas on his Suzuki, jumps out visually on a grey day.

Making it work

Working from empirical data, safety regulators in many countries now stipulate a certain amount of retro-reflective material for motorcycle jackets. This usually involves a minimum amount of striping or piping on areas such as shoulder and arms. In some places, such as France, it even includes helmets (18 square cm for French heads, if you must know). A better strategy is for the entire area of the jacket, vest or helmet to be one luminescent color, making you appear as both a brighter and larger object.

“But”, we hear some riders say, “I’ll look like a dweeb”.  Well, we know that fashion is fickle and subjective but if Harley-Davidson can see the benefits of including plenty of hi-vis safety clothing in its catalog – although it does tend to orange for some reason – then surely it has passed a key chic-to-wear test.

Let’s face it: no one goes to a hospital for the fine dining. Since we’re among the most vulnerable of road users, those things that may be able to give us a distinct safety advantage should be worth our consideration. When you’re the one waiting for the ambulance to arrive, do you want to hear someone say, “Sorry, I didn’t see you”?

Bright clothing is just one aspect of providing useful information to other road users. There are also some options for making our machine more visible. Beyond that, we must look within ourselves. Factors such as our position on the road, bearing, and speed is key components of being seen by others. We can look at these in future articles.

Alright then, I’m outfitted like a motorized macaw. Can you see me now?

Going for a walk? Old Town offers free reflective vests for pedestrians

The City of Old Town launched its new pedestrian initiative “Walk Safe Old Town” on Nov. 15 to increase the visibility of people walking or running near roadways in the dark.

Old Town residents can pick up free reflective vests at Old Town City Hall. The city purchased the vests for $4.70 each using the city’s Safety Committee Fund.

“The bottom line is it’s going to let people enjoy the outdoors in the safest way they can,” said Travis Roy, assistant city manager. “This just seems like the right thing to do at the right time.”

Within hours of the initiative being announced on the Old Town Police Department’s Facebook page, about 20 people came to City Hall to pick up a vest on Nov. 15 with an estimated 35 more by the following Monday, requiring the city to order a second batch of vests, according to Roy. As of Friday, 120 vests had been picked up with the third batch of 80 vests ordered.

“We’re quite thrilled that the first batch is gone, and we’re on our second batch,” Roy said. “It shows people agreed with us. It was a good thing to do.”

Similar to the ones worn by Old Town Public Works employees, the vests are bright neon yellow with gray reflective tapes and orange stripes along the back. Roy suggests residents pick up a vest in a larger size so they can be worn over their coats in the winter.

Although it would not save every pedestrian, Roy said that if they can get people to wear the vest when they are near the road, it would help increase safety. He also suggests that residents keep the vests clean as it would help their effectiveness.

According to a study by the Governors Highway Association, an estimated 6,227 pedestrians died the first six months of 2018 including three in Maine. In January, a University of Maine student was killed after being hit by a plow at the intersection of Bennoch Road and Stillwater Avenue.

“We ask that when using these vests, you are still very aware of your surroundings, while the vests will dramatically increase your visibility, one must be mindful of your proximity to traffic,” the Old Town Police Department wrote in a press release.

Roy hopes that the success of the vests will encourage other areas to participate in similar projects.

“We’d love to have other communities jump on board and do the same,” he said.

Old Town residents can pick up a reflective vest at Old Town City Hall 7 a.m.- 5 p.m. Monday-Friday. The vests are available on a first-come, first-served basis and are available in most adult sizes.

Cyclist safety

The Seimas Energy and Sustainable Development Commission approved the draft amendment to the Law on Road Traffic Safety, which concerns the obligation of cyclists to wear a brightly colored vest reflecting light, with four members voting in favor and three abstentions.

The project’s explanatory memorandum states that the project aims to remove the unnecessary, statistically unjustified requirement for cyclists to wear a brightly colored vest with reflective tapes or to have a white light on the front and a red light on the front and red light on. to provide for this requirement when driving on the carriageway, except cycle paths, footpaths, and cycle paths and cycle lanes.

According to the authors, the draft law aims to make cycling more aesthetically and comfortably attractive – without reducing traffic safety, to abandon excessive requirements for bicycle traffic during daylight hours.

The draft will still have to be considered by the main committee before the Seimas sitting.

The Seimas will decide whether to allow cyclists to take off their reflective vests

Lithuanian cycling enthusiasts have been striving for change for some time now – they would like to ride through pedestrian crossings without getting off the bike and change the order when it is necessary to wear reflective vests or ride with the lights on. It is on the latter issue that the Seimas will decide in the autumn.

In early July, the government assessed the desire of cyclists to allow them to ride through pedestrian crossings without getting off their bikes. According to LRT.lt, then the Government decided to keep the current procedure – cyclists are not allowed to ride through pedestrian crossings without getting off the bicycles unless it is a regulated crossing or road markings indicate that the road is crossed by a bicycle path.

However, the proposal on the use of brightly colored vests and lanterns has been submitted to the Seimas for consideration.

Under current regulations, cyclists must wear brightly colored vests or ride with their lights on at all times, regardless of the time of day or where they ride – in the city or on the highway, on a bike path or the roadside.

The draft submitted to the Seimas envisages changing this procedure. It is proposed that wearing a brightly colored vest and driving with the lights on should only be mandatory during the dark hours of the day when cycling in the city or on the street, as well as on the highway and that the vests or headlights should only be worn during the day.

Will decide in the fall

A special working group headed by MP Tom Tomlin was convened in the Seimas to resolve the issue of cyclists and prepare a draft law.

He assures that the draft law seeks to find a compromise that would satisfy both cyclists and other road users, although some categorically opposed the changes.

“The Ministry of Transport was quite categorically against it, although at first, it seemed to be prone to consideration. I understand the arguments that any solution that affects road safety is debatable, but I think that a certain level of human comfort is also very important for cycling culture. They feel that there is too much flying in their lifestyle and clothing,” says T. Tomilinas.

Vidmantas Pumputis, the head of the Traffic Safety Department of the Ministry of Transport and Communications, who was interviewed on the LRT RADIO program “Morning Sounds”, has noticed that the currently valid requirements did not come about by accident.

“A few years ago, the visibility of cyclists was a very big problem, especially in cities, where many tragic events took place.

Until the city has developed infrastructure suitable for cyclists, there are no consistently designed bicycle paths (for example, in Vilnius from Justiniškės, Fabijoniškės or Šeškinė it is practically impossible to drive to the central part of the city without getting on the road), it is necessary to do everything to make the cyclist visible,” said V. Pump.

He added that cyclists are given two alternatives. This is to wear a brightly colored vest or another bright garment with reflective elements or to mount headlights on the front and back of the bike. It is these tools that help to better notice the cyclist.

The head of the Seimas working group emphasizes that in resolving this issue, efforts were made to take into account the wishes of cyclists as one of the groups of road users, as certain changes may encourage people to ride bicycles more often than cars.

“I think the problem is that we are too car-oriented. In our country, the vast majority of the population is driving. Attempts are being made to protect their comfort and safety, but cyclists are also a traffic group that cares about their safety. They just don’t want to be overworked with that worry,” says T. Tomilinas.

True, speaking about the amendment to the law prepared by a working group convened in the Seimas, T. Tomilinas states that it is still too early to decide whether the amendments will be adopted or not. This decision will finally be clear in autumn.

“As with all laws, in this case, submission, deliberation, and adoption are awaited. Members of the Seimas will register this proposal and it will be discussed in the autumn. It usually takes 2-3 months.

If the law is approved, I think it would be logical if it came into force on the first of January next year, “T. Tomilinas explains.

The Seimas will propose to allow cyclists to ride through the crossings

The Seimas has drafted a project that will allow cyclists to ride through pedestrian crossings by obliging the cyclist to stop, pass cars and ride through the crossing at pedestrian speeds without endangering pedestrians. During the preparation of the project, an analysis of accident statistics was performed, and good foreign practice was evaluated. According to surveys, almost no one is complying with the current requirement to get off the bike in front of the pedestrian crossing. The new regime is expected to even increase road safety by obliging cyclists to stop and pass cars and pedestrians and to oblige cyclists to drive 3-7 km / h at level crossings for accident prevention. The draft law will be submitted by a group of 14 members of the Seimas. This is with a different composition (wider group) than the working group formed by the Seimas. Main provider Member of the Seimas Dainius Kipnis. Also read: An experienced cyclist has evaluated his city: where is the best place to ride One problem is hindering the use of electric scooters in cities Rinktinės Street – important changes: a new pedestrian and bicycle path will be developed. The project is also based on foreign practice.

On 27 November 2018, the Research Division of the Information and Communication Department of the Seimas conducted an analytical review “Regulation of Bicycle Traffic and Safety Requirements in the Member States of the European Union”. Signatories of the Vienna Convention have studied: Germany, Sweden, United Kingdom, France, Estonia, Latvia. It has been established that the legislation allows cycling through pedestrian crossings in the signatory countries of the Vienna Convention: Germany, Latvia, the United Kingdom, and Estonia. In Germany, for example, road traffic rules do not directly prohibit cyclists from crossing a pedestrian crossing. However, when crossing the carriageway, pedestrians take precedence over motorists, only pedestrians, and cyclists, if they ride, have no preference, and only gain it by getting off and cycling, then they are treated as pedestrians.

In the UK, cycling through pedestrian crossings – Zebras – is for guidance only. In Estonia, cyclists must not endanger pedestrians and choose a safe speed when crossing a pedestrian crossing. In Latvia, cyclists are also allowed to cross the carriageway through pedestrian crossings without impeding pedestrians and reducing speed. Also, Lithuania is a party to the Vienna Convention, so the national legislation adopted by Lithuania cannot contradict it. However, the Vienna Convention does not define cycling at pedestrian crossings at all, leaving it to each signatory to decide what regulation it wants. A petition was submitted to the Seimas, which was approved. It consisted of two parts: the first part proposed the abolition of mandatory reflective vests/lights for cyclists during the day, and the second part proposed changes to the rules for driving through pedestrian crossings. To prepare the project, a survey of 18 institutions (municipalities, police commissariats, courts, prosecutors’ offices) was conducted on cyclists involved in accidents when crossing pedestrian crossings. Her findings: although 90% of cyclists cross the level, according to the petition’s surveys, the accident rate is very low or non-existent. Accident data were obtained from 18 institutions: 16 of those institutions did not find any accidents for the cyclist to cross the crossings; a small accident was recorded in two institutions. For this reason, and due to the disproportionate need for human resources, several authorities have refused to obtain data on road accidents caused by these persons. The Seimas submitted a draft on vests and voted in favor of the submission.

The proposed changes to the rules read as follows: The driver of a bicycle, a motorbike can cross the carriageway on both an adjustable and an unregulated pedestrian crossing when riding a bicycle, motorbike. When approaching an unregulated pedestrian crossing, the driver of a motorcycle must: 1) stop, 2) skip vehicles driving on the carriageway, 3) start driving only when he is convinced that his actions will not force other road users to change direction and speed, 4) start pedestrians pass only convinced that it is safe. When the bicycle is approached by an adjustable pedestrian crossing, the traffic order is set by the traffic bike driver or the regulator. When driving through both an unregulated and an adjustable pedestrian crossing, the cyclist or motorbike driver must ride at a speed close to the speed of the pedestrian (3-7 km / h), give way to pedestrians, not obstruct or endanger them, leaving such a gap from the side to keep traffic safe.

The habit of saving lives, how about reflectors?

It is extremely important to stay safe on both roads and streets as it gets darker and brighter every day. A recent photo released by the Lithuanian police perfectly illustrated that even during daylight hours, a pedestrian without a reflector or other light-reflecting device can be difficult for drivers to notice. We encourage all road users to be visible, wear reflectors and share some tips.

How to choose the right reflector and light-reflecting vest?

The reflector must be made of a suitable light-reflecting fabric. There are a variety of alternatives on the market, such as bright ribbons, pendants or similar accessories, as well as low-quality reflectors that hardly reflect light, so make sure your chosen item is a reflector and reflects light properly: in the dark, aim the flashlight at the light and watch as it reflects light. The reflector must also not be less than 15 cm² and the inscriptions on it must not exceed 20%. the total area of ​​the reflector. It is much safer and more reliable if the advertisement is under reflective film. Also, it is known that bright yellow reflectors are better visible in the presence of fog. Another quality indicator is the special code LST EN13356 on the reflector or label, which means compliance with LST EN 13356: 2002 “Accessories for non-workwear to improve visibility. Test Methods and Requirements”.

A reflective vest is an even more effective way to prevent possible accidents, especially during the dark hours of the day. Before purchasing a vest, make sure that it meets the applicable requirements: the vest must not only be bright (yellow, orange, etc.) but must also have at least two or more horizontal light-reflecting elements at the waist.

Where to mount a reflector?

Since the reflector itself does not illuminate but only reflects light, it should be mounted at the height of the vehicle headlamps, approximately at the level of the adult road. The strip reflector should be mounted on the sleeve of the garment, just above the wrist of the hand or on the right side of the calf. The road traffic regulations stipulate that the roadside must go in the direction of travel of the car, so the reflector attached to the handles of the backpack or handbag does not even reach the light of the car headlights. In this case, it is recommended to strap the reflector and allow it to swing at approximately the height of the human knees.

What do cyclists need to know?

The bicycle must be fitted with reflectors: there must be a red light reflector or lamp at the rear of the bicycle and orange light reflectors attached to the wheel spokes on both sides. When riding on the carriageway, the cyclist must wear a brightly colored vest with reflective elements or have a lit white light at the front of the bicycle and a red light at the rear. When driving on the road in the dark or poor visibility, both a brightly colored vest and lights at the front and rear of the bike are mandatory.

Why wearing reflectors should take a look at the instruction as well

There is no doubt that a reflector can protect against a traffic accident, injury, or even save a life. Nevertheless, often the light-reflecting element is hung, but it is not considered whether it is visible. This is why there are cases when it is still impossible to notice a person with a reflector in the dark.

There is more than one mistake that is made. For example, often a strip-shaped reflector is wrapped not on the arm or leg, as it should be, but on the handle of the backpack or handbag. Hanging reflectors on handbags and backpacks are also often hung in such a way that they hide, so these light-reflecting devices are not visible to car drivers. How pedestrians make mistakes There are times when people know how to hook a reflector correctly, but forget that it cannot be covered with various objects. This is especially common among students when, for example, a backpack with light-reflecting elements is covered by a sports bag without reflectors.

Danger also arises when a pedestrian walking on a country road wears a brightly colored vest with reflective elements but covers it with a backpack. It may be almost impossible for the driver of the oncoming vehicle to notice the person walking on the road, as only the edge of the vest can shine from under the backpack at best. There are cases when purchased vests, reflectors, are of poor quality and do not reflect light. Before buying such safety devices, it is suggested to make sure that they work. The easiest way is to use a flashlight to illuminate a reflector or a safety vest in a dark room, even if you are on the phone. This way it will be immediately clear if the light is reflected. If brightly colored vests that reflect light are used for a long time, are frequently washed, they will lose their properties over time. The same happens with trailed or worn reflectors that are affected by temperature changes, sunlight, precipitation. It would, therefore, be worthwhile replacing existing safety measures with new ones every few years.

Important and instructions for use It is important not only to have a reflector but also to use it properly. Pedestrians on the highway, if there is no sidewalk or footpath, must walk on the curb in front of the direction of travel. When walking on the highway on the left side of the road, the reflectors-strips should be worn on the right hand just above the wrist or the right foot below the knee. Suspended reflectors should be mounted so that they swing freely at the height of the car’s headlights. It is best to attach hanging reflectors to the outer garments on the right side. Those who want to take maximum care of their safety and visibility, in an unlit road, should wear not only reflectors, but also a vest, or carry a switched-on light, illuminate with a mobile phone flashlight. Moreover, it is advisable to wear a brightly colored vest even when you have to go on a country road during the day. After all, in autumn, when the weather conditions are constantly changing, even during daylight hours, it can be extremely unsafe.

It can also be difficult to spot a pedestrian during the day if heavy rain starts to form or thick fog forms. It is because of such threats that pedestrians should choose brighter clothing and avoid dark colors, as well as take care of a brightly colored vest. The latter will not reflect the headlights in the day as it does at night, but will certainly help to keep a pedestrian out of the environment, making it much easier for the driver to notice. The information was prepared in cooperation with the Lithuanian Road Administration under the Ministry of Transport and Communications.

Abolition of the obligation for cyclists to wear brightly colored vests

On Wednesday, the government did not support the proposal of the group of Seimas members to waive the requirement for cyclists to wear a brightly colored vest with light-reflecting elements or to have a white light on the front and a red light on the rear when turning on during daylight hours. It is also proposed that in non-settlements, this requirement be limited to the carriageway, except cycle paths, footpaths, and cycle paths. The obligation to wear brightly colored vests has been introduced since 2014. July 1 On Wednesday, the government rejected a bill to amend section 17 of the Road Traffic Safety Act. The group that drafted the amendments to the law based on the petition of Marijus Kupčinskas states that the current procedure is not based on scientific information and specific data. Police officers in many counties also do not collect specific information about cyclists involved in traffic accidents with or without vests.

It is important to mention that according to the Road Traffic Regulations (KET), it is not mandatory to wear reflective vests or ride with the lights on during daylight hours when cycling or paving during the day. According to the Law on Road Traffic Safety (SEAKĮ), bicycle paths and lanes are also included in the carriageway. There is a contradiction. The cyclist must wear a brightly colored vest with reflective elements or white light at the front and a red light at the rear. The proposal is not based on any data. no objective data, research or studies. demonstrating that the existing requirements for cyclists are redundant and that the waiving of these requirements will not have a negative impact on road safety, making the proposal unacceptable from a road safety point of view.

“The measures provided by the law to improve the visibility of cyclists are inexpensive and easily accessible, and their effectiveness is based on research,” the government resolution said. It is also considered that the proposal to abandon measures to improve the visibility of cyclists during daylight hours is not in line with the vision of the European Union institutions to ensure road safety for the most vulnerable road users. Is popularization more important than security? In road and traffic safety legislation, the carriageway is considered to be an integral part of the road as a roadside, sidewalk, pedestrian and bicycle paths, etc. It is believed that it is unacceptable to increase the popularity of cycling by waiving traffic safety requirements and endangering the lives or health of road users. And the non-use of traffic safety measures during daylight hours can endanger traffic safety, affect the creation of a dangerous situation due to insufficient visibility of cyclists. The amendments are planned to be considered further in the Seimas in December.