26 replies to this topic

[chrisbee]

Does anyone know the legal requirements, whilst driving thru france??

spare glasses, breathalizer, hi viz vest are mentioned online.. are these essential?

TIA

Chris

[Bjørge]

Remember to bring your own food & wine from home !

[Got1now]

Breathalyser, No. Not required,
hi-viz, not required, but a good idea,
Can't help with the glasses though.

[chrisbee]

I have read lots of conflicting information... Even reflective stickers on helmets...

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[chrisbee]

I didn't really want to put stickers onto my lid..
Crikey..

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[Studley Ramrod]

I dunno how recent the info you put up is Chris, but I just took some reflective tape.  You can buy a set of compliant stickers and just take them with you and fit them if le plod insist.  Never had a problem on Sideys Euro tour.  With regards to legal requirements, I took some breathalysers, a small emergency first aid kit, hi-vis builders waistcoat jacket thingy, reflective tape and spare set of bulbs.  Prolly didn't need to but hey ho.

 

Also worth getting photocopies of all your docs and taking them with you, along with the original docs.  I also took a photo of the ferry booking on my phone, came in handy when getting the Calais to Dover ferry.

[muddy]

I'm not going to put those pointless things on. Now, apparently, gloves are compulsory. At least that's reasonable, given the French health service has to fix hands when they're broken.

[Gdogg]

Unless things have changed in France in the last 18 months but I was of the impression I had to have two breathaliser kits with me at all times on my last 3 trips, if they couldn't be produced it was an on the spot fine !

 

Like Studders says you'll need the original documents for you vehicle, and check that your insurance policy covers you for fully comp as well as some will only be third party cover in Europe,so read the small print on your policy.

 

I'd imagine JBX will be along shortly to put the "local" spin on proceedings 

[muddy]

Just to say as well, I've been touring France for every year for 11 years and never had a pull. I don't have a GB sticker or any of that. What I carry under my seat are a first aid kit, torch, doc photocopies plus a 20 note, spare phone, puncture repair and a battery charge tester. I also renew my ADAC membership each year for EU breakdown and health cover. I have my bike manual on my phone as well.

[sidestand]

Need a copy of your insurance, licence, & V5 at all times when you're riding + passport (a photocopy or a scan on your phone is a good idea.

Think the viz vest IS a requirement from this year - you need it if you break down, not for riding

Best have spare bulbs - not a legal requirement - but riding with one out is illegal

You don't need the reflective helmet stickers  - but you should have a GB sticker on the bike

Think you should really have the breathalyser kit, but there's no fine if you don't

Minimum tyre tread depth is 2mm

Having the French  speed cameras on your satnav is illegal as well

Breakdown & health insurance a good idea as well (EHIC will get you treatment on their NHS, but won't get you repatriated if you have an accident - and check it covers you for riding a bigger bike as well - a  lot of standard holiday health policies restrict you to a 125 !)  

[Rallyist]

I carry spare bulbs, breathalysers ( now out of date but they don't stipulate that), spare glasses, hi viz and have reflective on my helmet supplied in the box (Schuberth), all original docs with separate photocopies set of pictures on my phone also small USB plug with copies of all paperwork on kept in my wallet and in my case full medical history in tank bag and recent prescription list to cover my medication I am carrying.

[chrisbee]

Thanks for all the replies. Very informative

[dablik]

Wether legal or not i still carry spare specs anyway in case of breakage and to see when i pee...

[steve27bha]

There's a good "How to drive in France" site and it has a biking section here:- http://www.drive-fra...cycling-france/

 

There is a blog too, but the link is difficult to see below Checklist in the links banner.

 

Re Hi Viz. Their police can be hot on not wearing HiViz when stopped and apparently can book you for searching for the jackets in the boot of a car, and also a bike's topbox! I've read you need to put it on before getting off the bike.

Edited by steve27bha, 05 January 2017 - 12:50 pm.

[TinTin]

Don't need any of that stuff in Norfolk ⛺️

[drewpy]

wasn't there a EU ban on listening to headsets inside the helmet?

 

A bloodbiker told me that last year.

 

I did look into it and there was a court case where a biker argued that his blue tooth set was exactly the same as cars stereo system.

 

He won the case but the ban is still on for leads from helmet to satnav, iPod etc!

[steve27bha]

wasn't there a EU ban on listening to headsets inside the helmet?

 

....

IIRC the ban was for in-ear speaker pods (ie those combined with earplugs), not helmet mounted speakers. And again, IIRC it was only certain countries - Spain rings a bell.

[sidestand]

I thought it was just Spain - same with the spare specs .......& you MUST carry spare bulbs in Spain 

[TinTin]

Someone on the Tiger 800 forum asked the same question. A guy living there replied with this so I borrowed it. I'm sure he wont mind.  

 

 

(I live here, so)....

Re speed cameras on sat nav;
Yes; it's illegal to have camera data on your satnav.
1. Any recent map updates ( tomtom/ Garmin ) will have had these removed from the France maps.
2. It is legal for the satnav to show " zones de vitesse controllées"; which is a zone 1 km each side of a fixed camera, but not exactly where the camera is. My totally legal French sat nav does this.
3. If the satnav is switched off; the gendarmes can't ask you to switch it on to check.
Speed cameras are not a big issue anyway; there are nowhere as many as in UK; and the French are gentlemanly enough to put up a huge sign about 6 foot square not far from a camera anyway to warn you

Other things;
It is illegal to wear "in ear  " earbud speakers in your helmet ( or driving a car, or cycling.) speakers fitted in the helmet are legal ; though technically, in France, you should only have one speaker. The " earbud" rule still allows you to wear earplugs, though .

Carry 100€ cash . Police can spot fine you; and theoretically can hold your bike until return with cash; though many gendarmes now carry credit card readers.

Common reasons to get nicked are not stopping at a stop sign; 90€ fine; you must stop, put a foot down, before moving off.
That's one of the favorites.
White lines; French drivers will pull to the right to let you overtake more easily; but be careful of overtaking on a solid white line; ( I do, but I know where I can get away with it.)

Filtering is technically illegal ( there is an " experiment" allowing it in some places), but again as long as you don't "tear the ass" you should be ok.
Remember " priority a droite"; at a junction, unless signs tell you that you have priority, then the traffic joining from the right has priority; there is usually a reminder sign ( triangle with a X on it).

Headlights must be on all the time ( not an issue to Tigers, anyway).

All of the above said ; you won't see many police in France, apart from on the main arterial routes.

The bike Gendarmes are a pretty friendly bunch, and don't give bikers much hassle if you are not being a total cock.

 

[dapleb]

I like to carry the same stuff as I do ear.... Not a lot. Maybe some mint jelly (backshish) and a Gaelic shrug and emergency "pfff" should they ask to see my breathalyzer/hiviz/bulbs etc. :-)

I think whats a legal requirement and what is reasonable are starting to drift apart somewhat.