Speed Limits in France
Just read on another discussion that speed limit is now 80kph in France, but no info if this was normal roads or motorway. Have I missed a update on a reduction on French motorway speed limits for caravans?
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That speed limit is on roads where there is two way traffic - I.e. roads without any central barrier.
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Having just returned from three weeks touring France with the motorhome, as usual I found the speed limits a bit of a nightmare and the Garmin was indispensable as it gives quite accurate speed limit information and a warning chime if you exceed.
For novices it is probably worth mentioning that every town and village has a limit of 50 kph (31 mph) indicated by a yellow diamond at start and finish. Sometimes at the narrowest point there is a 30 kph limit.
As stated, the 80 kph applies to single carriageway roads but there are often 70 kph limits for twisting roads. Autoroute 130 kph for up to 3500 kg but 110 kph in the wet. Roadworks generally 80 kph.
We frequently saw 80, 70 and 50 kph limits within a 100m stretch of road.
The French seem to take notice of the limits (unusual!) so I imagine there are quite a few radar traps and I believe that there is no discretionary margin over the limit. Take care!
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Has this happened to you? Tell us about it.
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Just to add to the confusion they have a higher 90 kph limit on roads out of Urban areas which have more than two lanes.
In other words, a major road with one lane in one direction and two lanes in the other direction without a central barrier can have, if indicated by a 90 kph sign, the chance to go quicker than the National limit of 80 kph.
We noticed this on a few major roads as on the D76 (in picture) where 90 kph signs allow extra speed on the two lane section heading north and reduces to 80 kph as it returns to a single carriageway.
This is replicated on the South flowing traffic on the opposite carriageway.
The signs on this road were not left over from before the July limit was applied but are newly erected.
So with kph limits of 30, 50, 70, 80, 90 and Motorway limits of 110 and 130 (except when raining) it's hardly surprising that we, and the French, occasionally get it 'wrong'.
Hope this helps …...
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For novices it is probably worth mentioning that every town and village has a limit of 50 kph (31 mph) indicated by a yellow diamond at start and finish. Sometimes at the narrowest point there is a 30 kph limit.
Often where it shows a reduction to 30 kph, this would be too fast in any event. Some of the speed humps and raised crossings resemble a low hill. 😂 Much above 20 kph ( slower with a caravan) and there is a serious chance of grounding.😖
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For novices it is probably worth mentioning that every town and village has a limit of 50 kph (31 mph) indicated by a yellow diamond at start and finish. Sometimes at the narrowest point there is a 30 kph limit.
I thought it started with a red edge around the town's name sign and finished with the same but a diagonal cross through the towns name? Also some towns have a higher limit such as 70 it it is on a main through road but the 50kph is a good thing to keep in mind. There are lots of humps, chicanes, narrowing of roads to encourage drivers to slow down.
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I have just had my latest Tomtom map update and there was a note prior to downloading telling me that the speed limits in France had changed and that the map update would reflect this...
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The signs on this road were not left over from before the July limit was applied but are newly erected.
In the Vendee in August all the single carriageway roads had 90 kph signs, except of course for the lower village/hazard limits. It is impossible to know if these are old signs that have yet to be changed,which a 'national limit' would suggest, or if indeed it is another example of a law being passed that relies on the individual departments to implement and they are yet to do so,and caution is the best bet.
As said the 30kph limits are usually accompanied by quite severe speed reduction measures making the actual speed possible much lower. They can be a pain but I have no problem with them being used.
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When we were in Spain some years ago what we did notice through villages if the 30 or 40 kph limit was exceeded you continually came up against red traffic lights ,but if keeping to or below the lights were always green on the "main" road
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DJG the answer is that you must have missed the fairly wide publicity given to this subject. The UK national press covered it, it is in the Overseas Section link above and has been covered in this forum before. Returned from France yesterday and you will be well aware as you drive there that the limit is now 80kph although on autoroutes you can tow at 130kph (but check detail on this as it is and has been for many years complex about who can tow at 130 - should you wish to
). As said, if you have a TomTom the latest update includes these new limits. The Nationals in France are becoming very tedious to drive on with roundabouts at nearly every junction, increase/decrease of speed limits (sometimes down to 30kph) and rumble strips that shake your outfit are everywhere - as are the Gendarmes and speed cameras! Tolls are high but driving on the autoroutes is very pleasant enabling you to cover large distances at a steady speed with the mpg saving helping to offset the cost of the tolls. I was getting an average of between 32 and 36 mpg on my trip to Gordes/Frejus cruising at 90 kph with the HGVs, sure I would not have achieved that using the Nationals.0 -
yes, the lower speed is a bit of a pain but there you go...
the issue as to 'toll' or not has many facets, not just speed v cost.
if we are on a winter 'dash' to Spain then we want to get quickly it's a bit of a no brainer, whereas the amble back through France is usually much slower, calling in at unexpected places with many an impromptu stopover....
in the autumn, the reverse trip might be slowly to the south and quickly back in, say, december..
again, horses for courses...
i realise that ambling and impromptu stopping might not be quite so easy with a caravan and this might well add to the equation..
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Speed Limits in towns/villages in France start and end with the name on entry and again with the name on exit, (unless signed otherwise) the Yellow Diamond is to do with priority from the right but is generally not observed any more. French roads are monitored by large numbers of speed cameras rather than gendarmes hiding behind hedges as they used to do, cameras are beginning to appear at road junctions where a 70Kph is in force and some corners where a speed reduction is indicated.
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I have to disagree about 'Priorite a Droite' not being observed any more. If you are driving through a town or village where Priorite a Droite applies you need to to be aware and to drive according to what is required (ie just where you (on the main road) need to stop at junctions coming in from the right). If you have an accident where Priorite a Droite applies then you will be deemed to be at fault. There really are lots of places in France where it still applies, and it is strictly enforced.
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It might be a bit late to comment on this thread but beware I've just received a French penalty notice(posted in Paris 07/03/19) for doing 87 km/h in an 80km/h limit (with an allowance of 82km/h),the offence was recorded 06/09/2018 at 14h40. Lucky for me my wife enjoys recording our journeys between campsites so we could pinpoint the road facts, who else can remember where they were driving six months ago. Perhaps our enforcers should take leaf out of the French books and send penalty notices to those who flout the Dartford crossing charges
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6 months ago! That wouldn't be enforceable if it had been in UK I believe - too long ago.
Can you tell us what route were you on and how much are they asking for?
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Yes, the village sign not the diamond. Thanks.
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Yes lagerorwine I agree with your comment( always believed here you would be biting your nails for 21 days).
We were travelling from Arques to Mery Sur Seine, on the D1 Chateau Thierry towards Marchais -en-Brie (renamed(Dhuys Et Morin en Brie))
Fixed fine 68 euro, reduced to 45 for early payment, or 180 euro if later than 76 days.
Hard enough arguing with English bureaucracy let alone the French when French vocabulary is very limited.
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68 euros reduced to 45 for early payment is a lot better than I expected it would be.
As they will have presumably obtained your details via our government, whats the position regarding 'points' on your license and having to declare to your insurance company at renewal?
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Thanks for that. Good news all round apart from the fine of course. I prefer to use the 'cheaper' non-toll roads in France, but given the drop in speed limit, and the 'new' speed cameras being rolled out in France (apart from the ones burnt out by gilet jaunnes), I'm contemplating using more toll roads this year than previously.
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Have a look in the obvious place, The French Tourist board website! Assume it is up to date?
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Although it's not clear from the information in the web page from the above post, I think it's worth pointing out that a motorhome, or car/vehicle, towing a trailer, where the Gross Vehicle Weight exceeds 3500Kgs., is limited to 90kph(55mph) on the French autoroutes.
See Section lV HERE
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I’ve just received by post a speeding ticket declaring my camper van was clocked at 86 kph (53.4 mph) on September 9 on an empty wide two-lane country road near St Quentin in northern France. It took six months for the French authorities to obtain my details from the DVLA and issue my ticket.
It was a simple matter to go online to pay the 45 euros demanded for prompt payment. I will not get points on my licence but have informed my insurance company who have put a note in my file.
The new 80 kph (effectively 50 mph) general French speed limit is significantly slower than we are used to in Britain. In my case, my speed crept up as I travelled downhill on a rolling road. The camera was in the dip. I should have dabbed my brakes.
In discussions on another forum, it appears the RAC have been inundated with queries from Brits getting speeding violation notices from France this week. It was suggested they were having a blitz on U.K. speeders before Brexit.
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Given the dire warnings about 'lack of co-operation' on security and other issues, can we assume that DVLA will no longer provide information in the event of a 'no deal'? Not that I anticipate it being an issue as I keep my speed down to save fuel.
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The French are notorious at doing anything quickly - except their driving.
It took them over five months to send us a Hospital bill (€36) - we'd given up on having a bill by then and thought they'd forgotten or weren't bothered.
Do you blame them chasing Brits for monies when Bre*it is possibly close?
I'd prefer my debtors to cough up if I thought they might get away without paying.
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