France speed limits

PaulAbroad
PaulAbroad Forum Participant Posts: 30

I've done quick search on here and can't see this topic, but apologies if it's been fully covered.

The Club's 2019 Touring France book states that the speed limit on France's single carriageway roads is 90 kph. This is NOT the case, although some exceptions are signed and seems to be the result of local decisions approved by central government.

I was intrigued my SatNav is insisting the limit was 80 in such cases - it's correct!

Having been here for a few days now, I must say these limits and the proliferation of speed cameras and checks seem to have transformed French driving standards, which has to be a good thing, despite the predictable outrage from some quarters. Have yet to experience the previous Russian roulette overtaking manoeuvres, although I don't want to speak too soon.

Interested in others' experiences.

Comments

  • eurortraveller
    eurortraveller Club Member Posts: 6,829 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 2019 #2

    Having reduced the speed limit earlier this year the French government faced fierce opposition - signs were pulled down and speed cameras wrecked. So the national government speedily passed the buck to individual departements, some of whom have reversed the limit to where it was before. but some haven't -  and as a result I had no idea earlier this month whether the limit was 80kph or 90 kph. as I crossed half a dozen departements.  If your sat nav knows more than then it's clever. 

  • mickysf
    mickysf Forum Participant Posts: 6,474 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 2019 #3

    Yes, those 'areas' having a reduction in speed limit are proving to be useful in educating folk and reducing accidents, injury and fatalities. We witness the same results here in the UK. Forget the argument about individuals driving at 'other' speeds which are inline with their own perceived capabilities and that of their units. I say this as I was overtaken again whilst traveling on the motorway at 70mph by a car pulling a 'trailer'. I'll not mention what kind of trailer it was mind!surprised

  • PaulAbroad
    PaulAbroad Forum Participant Posts: 30
    edited August 2019 #4

    Not that clever, I'm sure. Observing the speed of French motorists seems to indicate it's 80kph unless otherwise signed, at least in my experience having got as far as the Loire Valley.

  • MalcMc
    MalcMc Forum Participant Posts: 71
    First Comment
    edited August 2019 #5

    Hi Paul, we did get to experience the French style overtake, I was aware the car behind did not like following our MH, after maybe 15 minutes he simply pulled out forcing oncoming traffic to swerve over and allow him through, both oncoming cars were French and did let him know their feelings, we had not slowed him down at all, kept pace with traffic flow. Thankfully was ready for the fools manoeuvre. On the note of speed limits as least well signposted, did note they varied.

  • Unknown
    Unknown Forum Participant
    edited August 2019 #6
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  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
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    edited August 2019 #7

    I was barely within the motorway speed limit (driving solo) as I slowly crept passed a motorhome towing a small car on an A frame the other day ..... due to traffic etc he/she passed me later on on the inside lanes but excelled him/herself by pulling out to the outside/3rd lane where lane 3 splits from the motorway & rejoins a little further up (somewhere in the Midlands)

    So I agree, you don't need to be French to do stupid things

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
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    edited August 2019 #8

    Though the French do seem to drive up the back side of the car in front, I thing their driving is generally better than ours ...... their lane discipline is far better.

  • commeyras
    commeyras Club Member Posts: 1,853 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 2019 #9

    A friend came back from a holiday in France a couple of weeks ago and was welcomed home to find 2 speeding tickets from France!

    Yes MM the French tend to drive right up your exhaust pipe and I agree their lane discipline is better than ours so much so that will return to the inside lane immediately after passing.

  • dave the rave
    dave the rave Forum Participant Posts: 806
    500 Comments
    edited August 2019 #10

    try south west scotland !Todays weekly shopping trip to Stranrear following a lgv doing 45 mph overtaken by two vehicles on approach to blind bends and one on a solid double white line!!!!saw one of said offenders 3 miles later filling up in a petrol station!!!!!he must have been really desperate to get there !!!!!!!!!

  • cyberyacht
    cyberyacht Forum Participant Posts: 10,218
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    edited August 2019 #11

    Ooh, an 'over here' post on the 'over there' section. wink

    Sorry, I couldn't resist.

  • Rocky 2 buckets
    Rocky 2 buckets Forum Participant Posts: 7,101
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    edited August 2019 #12

    Your switch from Cravanner to Mororhomer has been seamless CY you've even adopted the ‘teasingly’ combative style, to top it all the winky emoji has been adopted by you too👍🏻, you are a born Motorhomer for sure👏🏻👏🏻 

  • Takethedogalong
    Takethedogalong Forum Participant Posts: 17,046 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 2019 #13

    We take great delight in waving to the fool who has just overtaken us dangerously when we end up behind them at lights, or in the next queue. They risk so much for so little gain. 

    “I am immortal, let me through” 

    Applies equally to those attempting to push onto motorway. 

  • eurortraveller
    eurortraveller Club Member Posts: 6,829 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 2019 #14

    But they don't push onto motorways in France - the inward slip roads there have long, long run ins to the motorways and drivers know how to accelerate into gaps or pause to let lane one traffic go by. We find it such a big difference from here in the UK. 

  • chasncath
    chasncath Forum Participant Posts: 1,659
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    edited August 2019 #15

    Our experience of driving in France and the French need for speed can be summed up thus:

    No matter how fast you drive, someone will want to overtake you.

    If you stick to the speed limit, everyone will want to overtake you.

  • Unknown
    Unknown Forum Participant
    edited August 2019 #16
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  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited August 2019 #17

    French police have requested details of nearly 250,000 UK drivers for driving irregularities this summer, as part of the exchange of details the UK has signed up to with the EU,Germany has requested nearly 29,000,other EU countries much lower numberssurprised

  • Freddy55
    Freddy55 Club Member Posts: 1,810
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    edited August 2019 #18

    I did once get ‘flashed’ (solo) when approaching the port (St Malo), maybe ten years ago. I didn’t hear anything.

  • Unknown
    Unknown Forum Participant
    edited August 2019 #19
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  • ValDa
    ValDa Forum Participant Posts: 3,004
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    edited August 2019 #20

    I wonder if it's any coincidence that one of the few sources I can find is from the Express............. and mentions the director of 'Alcosense'  (a company which makes breathalysers.  He's still recommending that people need a 'single use breathalyser..............'!

    Link here

     

  • PaulAbroad
    PaulAbroad Forum Participant Posts: 30
    edited August 2019 #21

    Interesting, but anything in the Express relating to the EU, or Johnny Foreigner in general, can usually be presumed to be misleading or outright lies. I'll try to discover if there's any truth in it. 

  • Oneputt
    Oneputt Club Member Posts: 9,144 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 2019 #22

    Pretty much like all UK news outlets then, no exceptionsundecided

  • iansoady
    iansoady Club Member Posts: 419 ✭✭✭
    edited August 2019 #23

    Well there are a few exceptions........