anita
Roda Enthusiast
Posts: 69
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Post by anita on Oct 4, 2008 9:17:58 GMT 2
This is for anyone thinking of driving back through Europe as of now -
Article in 1st Oct 2008 Daily Express – “Gendarmes to swoop on drivers with no jackets” –
British motorists are in danger of providing French police with a ‘windfall in fines’ under a new law which comes into force today.
All drivers of four-wheeled vehicles will be required to carry one reflective jacket plus a red triangle for use in the event of a breakdown. Motorists caught without the kit face a find of up to £107.
The AA warned that the new law could re-open concerns about foreign cars being searched by French police.
It also said the new law was mired in confusion, with some sources claiming that drivers need a reflective jacket for every passenger as well, although French police indicated this was not the case. The crackdown comes after French police took a harder line this summer on speeding British motorists racing from the Channel ports to the sun.
In August, at the peak of the holiday season, a joint French and British police patrol caught 30 drivers in four hours near Saint Omer, of whom 28 were British.
The highest speed recorded on the roads of northern France this year – 125mph – was clocked up by a British driver.
I am now off to buy a reflective jacket.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Oct 4, 2008 11:04:09 GMT 2
This has actually been in force since the 1st July 2008, as we nearly came unstuck on a holiday to France back in July. We were not aware of the new laws, but found out from the ferry company a week or so before we departed. We brought a nice pack from Halfords which included a Jacket with the correct markings and codes, a triangle, road map, set of light bulbs, headlamp defusers, GB Stickers and first aid box. The purchase price is about £30. Cheaper than buying each item separately.
You must remember to have a GB Sticker/Magnetic displayed on your car unless you have the EU/GB number plates.
Yeiamas, Chris
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Post by artisans on Oct 4, 2008 12:47:27 GMT 2
Hi Anita It goes to show that national newspapers are great recyclers - of old news, that is. We first became aware of the reflective jacket issue three years ago and it soon became clear thatevery country had it's own interpretation. To panic you into buying one at a silly price, the shops at UK ferry ports were saying then that every driver needed a jacket, but the laws in some countries were still lagging behind. We have found that French supermarkets are about the cheapest for jackets, coming in at around 4 euros, if you don't get stopped before the first supermarket that is. Coming to Corfu, we drive from Dunkerque towards Lille and if we don't want to divert into the Town, the first supermarket is Leclerc at J10 on the A26 toll-free section. The best advice is to have a jacket for every member of your party and put them on before getting out of the car. We did when we broke down in Bologna - but that's another story! See our new 'Roda Travel' section - 'By Road' RODA BY ROAD
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Post by Ian on Oct 14, 2008 19:57:15 GMT 2
Think this must be about to start in the UK.The company I work for have just issued all its drivers with these packs, but not sure if you need one jacket for ever person in the vehicle .Will do some investigating and let you know.
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