French speed limits towing below 3.5 ton
Hi, I am off on my first venture for many years next week and the club site for driving in france states the national speed limit for a car and caravan under 3.5 ton is 131km/h 81mph! is this right on a motorway? I think the max for my caravan is 70mph and on occasions where Ive exceeded 60mph its been hairy!
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On the relevant French roads it is 130kph and 110pkh when wet. Just because you are legally allowed to do these speeds does not mean it's a good idea. As you have said, exceeding 60mph [illegal in the UK] is a bit hairy, so why not simply drive at 55mph.
Colin
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Hi Stephen,
You need to know the maximum POTENTIAL weights, so the MTPLM of the caravan and the Max Gross weight of the car.
If those weights combined COULD be more than 3500kg then you are limited to the lower speed limit 90kph/56mph.
If, like me, your MTPLM is 1450kg then any car with a max gross of 2051 would put you into the lower limit bracket-its not what the weight is, its what it could be.
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Thanks, so reading the comments above about it being the gross weight of the car and the towing capacity of the car from my log book
car - revenue weight 2135kg, maximum permissible mass of braked trailer 2100kg = 4235kg putting me into the lower limits. well, I was not in anyway planning to tow at 70mph let along 80! so actually i am pleased to know that the lower limit applys so I don't feel pressurised by the impatient french drivers!
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Towing at 55mph I think you will be surprised at how quick your progress is on French roads. We prefer the non -toll roads for various reasons, and still usually average a real 50mph on our longer runs.
Colin
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You did well @eribaMotters, I only managed an average of 42m.p.h. outward and overall 40m.p.h. on a very recent trip. The French are making it more and more difficult to use some of the old route nationals with the introduction of more and more 20m.p.h. limits enforced by sleeping policemen. In between many a route now has 50m.p.h. limits I also noticed a couple of 3,5 ton limits had also been introduced in two villages I have passed through twice before.
If you don't use the autoroutes, you don't have to be in a hurry, it can be slow going.
peedee
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Just a note on the side. Signposted weight limits in France refer to the maximum permissible gross train weight. In the UK it's, as far as I know, the actual train weight, not the maximum permissible. In Germany, by the way, weight restrictions refer to the actual weight of each individual vehicle, not the combination, so each country interprets weight limits differently.1
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Thanks peedee, I'll allow a bit extra on my timings this August. Fortunately it's a nice run from Roscoff down to just south of Amboise in the Loire.
Colin
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Hi Stephen,
As you are not bothered about being confined to the 'lower' limit its a moot point but, its the MTPLM of the caravan that matters, not what the car handbook says you can tow up to.
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Having arrived at quite a few different ports one of the clear plus points for Roscoff is its far, far more attractive a place than many.
I have had a few discussions on site over the years and many never consider the route feling its too out of the way/too long or too costly.
Ww made the decision many years ago that all the negatives of this route where nothing compared to the 'drag to Dover'!
The drive out from the port toward Morlaix and the N12 is a great way to start any trip.
We have headed for various destinations but the N12 is the usual as we head in a vaguely South, or SE/SW direction and the last trip was to a stopover at Camping Citadel in Loches, 307.5 mls @ average 45 MPH.
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Over 20+ years we've done a range of channel crossings with different providers, Dover Ferries, Eurotunnel, Newhaven-Dieppe and Plymouth-Roscoff. Our journeys have started in Essex, Merseyside and North Devon/Cornwall borders. What came as a surprise to me was when you look at the distances and times from the points of landing in France down to typically the Dordogne area then they are all comparable. The overnight crossing via Plymouth is the most relaxing we have had and the run down from Dieppe the least stressful we have encountered.
The crossing requirement are not the same for everybody, but I do think we have to keep a very open mind and look at all options. Yes Plymouth is typically an expensive crossing, but I think you need to give a fresh look at your destination and the different crossing providers each year.
Colin
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We just look at what is the most relaxing crossing. Board at a reasonable time, nice meal in the restaurant , good nights sleep and arriving at a reasonable time. For us that’s the Portsmouth to St Malo. Certainly not the cheapest but a great start to the holiday.
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