driving in france (1 Viewer)

sean n maggie

Free Member
Apr 29, 2014
672
327
leeds
Funster No
31,196
MH
autotrail
Exp
3
Wont be driving when dark in france, but do i still need to put on my beam deflectors ?
 

SandJ

Free Member
Sep 14, 2007
1,799
818
North Yorks
Funster No
293
MH
A Class
Exp
Too long lol
;)
Wont be driving when dark in france, but do i still need to put on my beam deflectors ?
Will it be raining? If it is then your lights may/will be put on and you will dazzle.
;)

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 

pappajohn

LIFE MEMBER
Aug 26, 2007
43,207
48,831
Dark side of the moon
Funster No
172
Exp
Since 2005
You have the ability to drive after dark even if you dont so you need deflectors.

Dont forget you must use dipped headlamps in tunnels anyway.....and that includes long underpasses on motorways .....Paris peripherique etc
 
Feb 24, 2013
12,997
101,185
Bolsover, Derbyshire
Funster No
24,833
MH
Hymer S800
Exp
not long enough
I suspect the law says we must fit them, and although 2 wrongs don't make a right, when did you ever see a foreign vehicle in the UK car lorry or MH with beam deflectors??

We don't fit them either, but I really don't think there is an option with BiXenons even if I wanted to
 
Apr 27, 2008
11,794
13,956
Eastbourne East Sussex
Funster No
2,327
MH
Hymer low profile
Exp
Since 1972
I used to put them on my car when I did a booze cruise. Just a couple of bits of insulating tape, preferably in the right place, but if not it would show you'd made the effort.
I don't put them on the MH as the headlights are tiny, anyway it's a french MH.

Don't buy beam deflectors at the channel tunnel/ferry as they really rip you off.

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
OP
OP
sean n maggie

sean n maggie

Free Member
Apr 29, 2014
672
327
leeds
Funster No
31,196
MH
autotrail
Exp
3
I used to put them on my car when I did a booze cruise. Just a couple of bits of insulating tape, preferably in the right place, but if not it would show you'd made the effort.
I don't put them on the MH as the headlights are tiny, anyway it's a french MH.

Don't buy beam deflectors at the channel tunnel/ferry as they really rip you off.
i have got them in a AA kit,,,,just need to stick then on and with luck in the right place,,,,,NO RUDE COMMENTS please......
 

cmcardle75

LIFE MEMBER
Jun 8, 2012
2,666
3,446
Reading
Funster No
21,386
MH
Riot Van Conversion
Exp
Since 2012
Wont be driving when dark in france, but do i still need to put on my beam deflectors ?

Yes, but you are unlikely to get caught...

(No I'm not paying your fine!)

OTOH, rather than paying for expensive deflectors that are often impossible to place right, you might be better parking against a smooth wall and experimenting with electrical insulation tape until you work out how to remove the left "uptick". Then draw a picture/take a photo and you know exactly what you need to do abroad.
 
OP
OP
sean n maggie

sean n maggie

Free Member
Apr 29, 2014
672
327
leeds
Funster No
31,196
MH
autotrail
Exp
3
OTOH, rather than paying for expensive deflectors that are often impossible to place right, you might be better parking against a smooth wall and experimenting with electrical insulation tape until you work out how to remove the left "uptick". Then draw a picture/take a photo and you know exactly what you need to do abroad.[/QUOTE]

that makes no sense to me ,,,,,,,what do you mean...??:(

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 

Chris

LIFE MEMBER
May 5, 2010
21,009
274,719
Funster No
11,412
MH
None
Exp
10 years
I don't fit them.

I don't think the French police are that hot on them.

My brother was in a smash in Normandy last summer and he didn't have deflectors, reflective jackets, warning triangles or indeed a breathalyser kit.

The French police who attended the scene were apparently hyper efficient, friendly and helpful and were more interested ( rightly so) in the cause of the accident and whether anyone was hurt than peripheral stuff.

I do carry triangle and reflective jackets because I think they are worthwhile, but that's it.
 

Wyaye wires

Free Member
Sep 13, 2009
3,333
9,263
Berwickshire
Funster No
8,441
MH
A class Neisman Bischoff
Exp
since July 2009
We spent 10 weeks in France and didn't fit them. We didn't drive in the dark but did use lights in poor visibility. My problem was how to fit them to a Burstner A class with those teensy little headlights.
I thought they could be adjusted to conform to driving on the right without fitting beam deflectors but still trying to find out how...
 

scotjimland

LIFE MEMBER
Jul 25, 2007
2,091
9,065
Suffolk Coastal District, UK
Funster No
15
MH
Timberland
Been travelling in France for longer than I care to remember and never fitted beam benders...

I've searched and searched and can find no law or legal requirement to fit them, except what is said by manufacturers and vendors.. not that they have a vested interest .. but a £7 a pop , what a rip off.

The only requirement is that you don't dazzle other road users.. The French don't use in the UK because unlike UK cars that dip left, left hand drive cars dip down.. neither left or right..

but as John rightly points out.. even if you don't drive at night you must use dip headlights in tunnels and poor visibility.. so better safe than sorry ..

How times change.. I recall in the early 70s when I fist went to France camping I had to paint the headlights of my MG Midget yellow to conform with French regulations..

Your's truly with girl friend, in the French Alps.. circa 1972 .. happy care free days indeed.

BROKEN LINK

BROKEN LINK

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 

Chris

LIFE MEMBER
May 5, 2010
21,009
274,719
Funster No
11,412
MH
None
Exp
10 years
We spent 10 weeks in France and didn't fit them. We didn't drive in the dark but did use lights in poor visibility. My problem was how to fit them to a Burstner A class with those teensy little headlights.
I thought they could be adjusted to conform to driving on the right without fitting beam deflectors but still trying to find out how...

I am actually able to offer practical advice on this ( Thats a first!).

When we took our motorhome to France about 3 years ago we had a Burstner A class and had a service just before we left. My wife ( being law abiding) got the dealer to adjust the headlamps for us to be compliant.

A few years later it failed it's first MOT because the lights were pointing the wrong way.

We haven't bothered since.

It looked an easy job when the mechanic at the MOT place turned the lights back round.

I don't think you can buy deflectors for those little lights
 

Wyaye wires

Free Member
Sep 13, 2009
3,333
9,263
Berwickshire
Funster No
8,441
MH
A class Neisman Bischoff
Exp
since July 2009
Thanks Chris, I know you're supposed to be able to adjust them but, like you say, is it worth the hassle?
 
Feb 24, 2013
12,997
101,185
Bolsover, Derbyshire
Funster No
24,833
MH
Hymer S800
Exp
not long enough
If easy or possible to do, a much better method of 'bending', as Chris suggests, is to adjust the lights (or have them adjusted), but then the drive to the port in the UK is as illegal as you would be not doing it for driving in France!!

Maybe OK if you live in Kent, but on the home journey, how many 'benders' remove all trace before entering the UK?

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
Apr 29, 2009
1,193
725
West Sussex
Funster No
6,505
MH
Burstner Nexxo T740
Exp
since 2008
We had always fitted them when on holiday in France, from black insulating tape on our first (94 Hymer) to the Eurolite Kits on the others and even fitted them to a 2004 Hymer (with the little round lights!)
Having seen so many other M/Homers over there without any visible beam changers I do wonder why I bother. I rarely travel when its dark but do use dipped lights in rain and tunnels.
I shall continue to use them as I wouldnt want a dazzled oncoming motorist to have an accident on my account, particularly if it involved a head on collision with me!
 

Join us or log in to post a reply.

To join in you must be a member of MotorhomeFun

Join MotorhomeFun

Join us, it quick and easy!

Log in

Already a member? Log in here.

Latest journal entries

Funsters who are viewing this thread

Back
Top