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Stop Press...
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REFLECTIVE HELMET STICKERS X 4
R431-1 of the code of
the road states that all riders and pillions of
motorcycles must wear an approved helmet and that
helmet must have retro-reflective elements attached.
The text does not exempt foreign riders. We
can therefore deduce that British riders are subject
to these regulations When they travel in France.
The standards of approval for helmets are the same
in France as the UK. They are described in
regulation 22-05 which leaves the choice to each
State to impose the retro-reflective elements.
France chose to impose these elements. Therefore a
helmet without retro-reflective elements is deemed
as not approved and justifies a fine of €135.
However, I would like to clarify that to this day, I
have had no knowledge of a foreigner being fined on
these grounds.
Catherine Galdos
Coordinatrice juridique de la FFMC
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HI-Viz New for 2013 in France...
The Frech Interia Minister has announced on the 27 Nov 12 the suspension of the requirement to wear HiViz from 1 Jan 2013 as
previously
promulgated - for further info check: http://www.motomag.com/
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Jan 2013 - YOU WILL NOT BE
FINED FOR NOT HAVING A BREATHALYSER
The need to carry a Breathalyser in
France is EFFECTIVE however the fine for not
carrying one is ZERO euros. |
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The French have started using E10 95 Sans
Plumb
This is an eco fuel which has a 10% ethanol
additive and is not recommended for
engines/bikes older than 2000 personally I use
98 RON if I cannot find 95 RON fuel in France. |
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French Safety Cameras: New
Legislation for 2012
Travelling
in France? IMPORTANT: Please be aware of a
change in French law effective from 3 January 2012
regarding the use of speed and safety camera
locations.
http://www.garmin.com/uk/extras-camera-alerts/#france
Tom tom have their own information
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SOME TRAVEL HINTS
1. Bike preparation.
You could be riding 2,000+ miles, make sure a
service is carried out prior to going. Check tyres
- are they up to the mileage and at the right
pressure, also settings of bike and maximum
loadings, avoid overloading the bike as it will affect
the handling or could cause fatigue in the frame
and upset the balance/handling. Try your bike out
with its loading before setting off; see if you
need to ditch anything. Remember your headlamp dip
direction adjusters and a GB sticker.
2. Luggage.
Choose between hard and soft. Do not just bungee
down a carrier bag. Remember it may rain so if you
have soft luggage it will need to be waterproofed –
a plastic bin bag is cheap and ideal. If you take
hard luggage is it easy to remove? If not, take an
insert (carrier bag?) to make it easy to unload.
Don’t take too much, you will be wearing most of
your kit, and you can easily wash or buy anything
you need. Remember to take waterproofs. A tank bag
or bum bag is very useful for cash, passport etc,
and is easily removed for security, at lunch time
or for sightseeing.
3.
Documentation. Essential. Passport.
Driving licence if the new photo type, you need
to take the paper part too. Insurance, remember to
inform your insurer you are going abroad.
Registration document – photocopy will suffice. If
you have borrowed a bike, you will need copy of the
Registration document and a letter of authority
from the owner. Remember in Europe new licence
holders are restricted to 90 KPH for the first 2
years. Riding age is 18 yrs.
4. Recommended. European breakdown
cover (AA 0800 444500 or 0870 2401456. MCN/NCI 0870
9012999 RAC 0800 550055) remember some insurance
companies e.g. Carole Nash give free breakdown
cover but check. EHIC reciprocal health care (available
on-line). European accident statement form
(from insurers, comes with green card). This is a
multi language document which is ideal if you are
unfortunate enough to have an accident. You might
also consider travel insurance if you do ensure it
covers you for riding a large capacity bike and if
you are carrying a pillion make sure that is
included.
5. Spares
etc. Tool kit. Torch. Aerosol tyre
repair kit. Spare bulbs (compulsory in most of
Europe). Spare fuses, Chain lube. Bike lock. You
will also need to carry a Hi-Vis vest in Europe.
6.
Personal. Sunglasses
or tinted visor (not illegal in Europe where they
are deemed a safety item!). Sun block. Map
(pocket type) even if you have SatNav. Mobile
phone, ensure it has Roaming for Europe enabled,
if riding in a group pass all numbers between
yourselves on the ferry. Have an emergency
telephone number in UK that messages can be left
at for relaying/passing. Ear plugs. Tie
downs/protection for tie downs. On British
ferries, your bike will be secured by good tie
downs, on French ferries (Sea France, eurotunnel),
you may have to tie down the bike yourself, the
tie downs may be dirty/oily. Protection stops
damage to your bike it can be your riding
gloves. Destinations address and phone number.
Translator or language dictionary.
7. Riding in Europe. Auto
routes in France have service areas every 20 KMS,
called AIRES they have everything from rest
areas and toilets to petrol stations and quality
restaurants. The sign on the motorway will tell
you what services are available, do not run out
of fuel on the auto route, it is an automatic
fine. Emergency numbers; yellow box or dial 15
Ambulance, 17 for Police, 18 for Fire. It is
COMPULSORY to ride in the daytime with headlights
illuminated. Europe take lunch seriously so
ensure that you fill up before noon if you are
off the beaten track as they are closed from
12h00 - 14h00. Most things are closed on Sundays
except on major routes.
8. Advice.
KPH are quickly covered. If you want to know the
actual mileage, divide by 8 and multiply by 5.
Distances to travel, you will average about 50
MPH if you stop for breaks, 65 MPH if you don’t.
That means if you plan to travel 450-500 miles in
a day you will be riding for some 10 hours, so
set off accordingly. When you go to your bike, it
is useful to have a KEEP RIGHT reminder on the
tank or somewhere visible which you will see when
inserting your keys. Also let your credit card
company know you are going abroad - nothing more
annoying than them cancelling your card because
they think it has been stolen and being used
abroad.
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French road
signs and what they mean:
Some road signs are very similar to those
found in the UK - but others you might not
have seen - and which might have a
completely different meaning than you might
think - Here are some worth noting before
you ride down to the Ferry... |
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The same as the UK however In France ensure
you put your foot down and stop. It
could be an on the spot fine from a
gendarme if you do not stop correctly. |
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National
speed limits are: 50 kph (31 mph) in
built-up areas, 70 kph (44 mph) in
villages, 90 kph (56 mph) on the open road,
110 kph (69 mph) on dual carriageways, and
130 kph (80 mph) on motorways. |
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This means you are on the road with
priority and you will be passing a junction |
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This sign means that the next road to your
right has right-of-way- this sign
indicates you are approaching a side road
or crossroad you should give way
to vehicles approaching from your right
approach with caution. |
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This sign indicates
you are entering a zone where you have
priority over any vehicles approaching from
junctions on the right (found on main roads
and entering a town). .
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This sign ends that zone and you no longer
have priority over vehicles joining your
road from the right. |
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This sign indicates
you are approaching a speed camera - where
you see one of these there will be a
speed camera. The camera will be approx
500m from where you see the sign.
They look like this...
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General
Appearance: Blue signs
refer to motorways; green signs to main
roads; white signs to most other roads; and
yellow signs to temporary deviations.
Haute tension -- High tension
(electricity)
Interdit aux pietons -- Forbidden to
pedestrians
Nids de poules -- Potholes
(literally 'chickens' nests')
Obligatoire -- Compulsory (as in
'Deviation')
Peage -- Toll
Priorite pietons -- Priority to
pedestrians
Route Barree -- Road blocked
Sens unique -- One way
Tout droit -- Straight on
Toutes directions -- All directions
Travaux -- Road works
Virage dangereux -- Dangerous bend
Voie etroite -- Narrow lane
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