Those new camera arrays on French motorways
If you've been to France this year you may have wondered what the large arrays of cameras on gantries that have appeared this year are all about. The answer is that you need not be alarmed about them....for now!
They are all to do with the new "ecotaxes" being applied to all hauliers whose lorries are using the French network. They work like the London congestion charge. But they only apply to trucks. Of course they could be used for other purposes such as speed checks or tolling for private motorists but that's not on the agenda just yet. So unpopular are they that this week near Quimper in Finisterre someone sawed through one of the support masts on a gantry causing the N165 to be closed in both directions for 24 hours.
If you do want something to worry about, the French Government are being advised by a parliamentary committee this week to REDUCE the 90 kph national speed limit on ordinary roads to 80kph....50mph!
There's a huge outcry which could stop it happening...but if it does go ahead I forecast thousands of UK tourists will choose to give France a miss and you can't blame them.
The reason is given as France's appalling record on fatalities but those of us who live here know it's more about raising cash, pushing more drivers onto tolled routes and upping income from speeding fines via cameras etc. The fatalities in my view are more to do with drugs, alcohol, using phones whilst driving and basically poor levels of driver skill.
Bon voyage!