Speeding etc in France

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/3461931.stm

Blair.
'97 CBR600

 

Mmmm, I read that earlier; it doesn't bode well for those wishing to show
Des what a real R1 looks like.

 

On 5 Feb 2004 14:50:37 -0000, (B.G. Finlay
IT Services) bored us all completely to death with wittery prose along
the lines of:

This is nothing new. The EU have been discussing this for years and
still can't sort it out.

The only other existing scheme where this works, is the Benelux
countries. Even then, it's only fines that are sent between the three
countries and not points. (I didn't know until now, that there was an
agreement between France and Switzerland)

It's the same for visitors to France. you'll only get the fine if
you're stopped by Plod and no points. Camera's are more complicated.

The major sticking point, is as it says on the page: How are these
challenged? It means big changes in the laws of all countries, with
regards to things like data protection (which aren't even the same).

It won't be tomorrow or in the next couple of years, so I'll sleep
easy.

 

The worrying part, for me, is "the [French] scheme would mirror one
already agreed with Switzerland".

*gulp* I hope the fixed cameras allegedly on certain motorways weren't
active the other week when I drove back from Andorra...

 

Surprised me too. And it certainly wasn't being applied a year or so
ago when I got nicked by frog plod a couple of times within a month or
two. Same plod, as well, the bastard.

 

Anywhere on this map?

http://www1.securiteroutiere.gouv.fr/IMG/pdf/radars_fixes.htm

 

Aye. We went via Lyon so would have passed at least two, possibly up
to five depending on their exact placement, in each direction, mainly
at speeds round about 160kph. Not heard anything yet, and frankly not
expecting to, as a) I didn't notice them, b) I wasn't flashed and c) I
don't beleive they have an agreement to deal with cameras like this.

 

Probably not yet, as the radar installations are pretty new and
they're likely to be concentrating on the French firstly.

BTW, Did you know that the cameras take pictures from the front *and*
rear. So that's how they're getting the bikers too.

 

They do? ****. The one on the N10 near Angouleme looked like it was
forward facing only.

 

Ho yuss. Use yer mirrors! (Not all are like that, but all the new ones
that are in the process of being installed are.)

 

Only if you get seriously lost.

ITYF, that there are no where near the same number of radars in
France, as in the UK. The UK has about 2000, according to the above
site.

 

God's Holy Trousers. We'll have to be careful in March.

 

Seem to be rather a lot round Calais...

 

Them's the ones I'm worried about, as I labour by at 180kph on my
heavily-burdened racing Z200.

 

Let's hope not.

 

Presumably in no time flat they'll be out in the streets, mob handed,
burning little woolly speed cameras alive whilst the local gendarmes stand
idly by shrugging in that perculiarly gallic way that they have.

 

There have already been a few cases of vandalism on cameras, but also
one or two successful prosecutions.

The awkward thing about blowing the fuckers up, is that they're
generally situated in the middle on motorways or in awkward places on
busy roads.

The only redeeming point is, 500m before the camera, there's supposed
to be a big (read very big, not like the UK) panel warning you of a
camera. So enough time to slow down, in theory.

 

Didn't know that. Which means I definitely didn't go past any on the
Andorra trip, so they must have been lying about the installation
dates...