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[iggy21uk]

New for France - been told French Police are stopping UK drivers.
Not 100% sure but the fine is on the spot over £100.00 ?

Anyone driving in France from the 1st July 2008 is now required to wear a reflective jacket (e.g. yellow hi-viz jacket or vest) when leaving the vehicle in the event of an emergency.

The new law applies at any time of the day or night and affects drivers of all types of vehicle. The safety jacket must be accessible from within the vehicle and should be put on before exiting the vehicle.

Failure to obey this new rule could result in a fine  

[sorry if you think is double post other thread might not get seen and it holiday season]

Think I'll get hat with "Polish" on the from - try and look the part  

[psychnurse]

Thats ok! Though I had had too much to drink  

[tunnie]

old news!!

It was law to have a hi-vis jacket in the car back when i did my road trip in 2007...

Its been that way for a long time. nothing new mate.

[Danny]

how accurate is your info source?

i was aware there was a definate law about hi-viz jackets but not sure about exactly where and when you're required to wear them

[psychnurse]

I have been both stopped and broke down in france... police never said a word.. that was in Jan.  :question

[HolyCount]

The way they drive over there the whole car should be wearing one !!!!!

[robbo299]

Ooops . My mate left for the south of France yesterday. Driving all the way down. Last year when he went he got fined for speeding, well he didn't his stepson did as they were sharing the driving. Apparently the motorcycle cops were pulling over mainly foreign drivers and escorting them to a service area and giving them on the spot fines. His stepson was adamant that he wasn't over the speed limit but as my mate was asleep at the time he couldn't be sure. He was moaning about it when he got back. Bet he hasn't got a hi-viz in the car this time. Oh well, another few hours of his moaning when i ask how his holiday went when he gets back then

[psychnurse]

Drove in Egypt earlier this year.... what a MARE!! Had a lada fortrack thing.. top of the  range  

[iggy21uk]

old news!!

It was law to have a hi-vis jacket in the car back when i did my road trip in 2007...

Its been that way for a long time. nothing new mate.

Ferry company never told me I need one B4

[TheBoy]

There is a grey area between highly recommended and required with France.

Generally, within Europe, you need:
Hi Vis for each passenger - must be worn if broken down on motorways
Replacement bulb and fuse kit
first aid kit
warning triangle (some contries you need 2)
Fire extinguisher recommended in most

[iggy21uk]

how accurate is your info source?

i was aware there was a definate law about hi-viz jackets but not sure about exactly where and when you're required to wear them

http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travelling-and-living-overseas/travel-advice-by-country/europe/france?ta=safetySecurity&pg=2

Scroll down to Road Travel

Part of :
Road Travel

If you wish to drive in France you must have a valid UK driving licence, insurance and vehicle documents.  If you are driving a vehicle that does not belong to you then written permission from the registered owner may also be requested.

From 1 October 2008 there are plans for it to be made obligatory to carry in all vehicles a warning triangle and reflective jacket for use in case of a breakdown (introduction had been planned from 1st July).   Anyone found to not be complying with this requirement could be subject to a fine of 90 euros.

[Varche]

I am not generally in favour of EU beuracrat (?) regulation but the different driving rules in the EU are one area that needs tightening up straight away. In Britain for eg you get a licence without the need for subsequent medicals every few years. Not so in Spain.

The high vis jacket is a good idea. I would recomend to anyone never leaving the UK. The rule in Spain is you should have two. However it is only an offence to be out of the car at the side of a road without a high vis jacket on per person OUT of the car.  The rule was introduced as part of Spains efforts to reduce EU road deaths. Britain chose speed cameras. It is a ten year progarmme by all EU countries and we are half way through it with not a lot of success.

My tip is to take everything you might need in any of the countries you are visiting and have it highly visible e.g. high vis jackets draped over the seats. You are less likely to be milked of your hard earned cash that way. How long before the police in the UK can do spot fines?

varche

[theowletman]

I drove to Spain and back via France in June and encountered no police related problems at all. Just drive sensibily. If you intend to use the excellent French motorways as a racetrack expect to be captured, even if you never see a camera or a gendarme. They can work out your average speed between the tollbooths, even over hundreds of kilometres and do you on the strength of the time taken to travel between the tollbooths, the entry and exit times are logged on the tickets. You have been warned.

[TheBoy]

I am not generally in favour of EU beuracrat (?) regulation but the different driving rules in the EU are one area that needs tightening up straight away. In Britain for eg you get a licence without the need for subsequent medicals every few years. Not so in Spain.

The high vis jacket is a good idea. I would recomend to anyone never leaving the UK. The rule in Spain is you should have two. However it is only an offence to be out of the car at the side of a road without a high vis jacket on per person OUT of the car.  The rule was introduced as part of Spains efforts to reduce EU road deaths. Britain chose speed cameras. It is a ten year progarmme by all EU countries and we are half way through it with not a lot of success.

My tip is to take everything you might need in any of the countries you are visiting and have it highly visible e.g. high vis jackets draped over the seats. You are less likely to be milked of your hard earned cash that way. How long before the police in the UK can do spot fines?

varche

I always keep the hi vis vests in the car in europe, normally glovebox.  Having broken down in France on a motorway, and the narrow hard shoulders they have there (and the fact that lorries tend to straddle across them ), its a wise thing to have handy.


In the UK, I sometimes keep the hi vis in the car, and obvious (sometimes wearing), for other reasons

[CaptainZok]

Usually have a spare vest and a hi vis coat in the car in case my job gets swapped for the day and I end up in a different van.
The coat came in very handy at Keswick.