French registered van and car on an Aframe (1 Viewer)

[Stewart J]

Just an observation, presently in Spain at Camping Aquarius just South of Roses. Watched a rather new good looking French registered Mobilvetta A class K yaught arrive yesterday towing his car on an aframe. I know these are illegally in Spain but are they not in France as well? Must say though the motorhome is very stylish looking first I have seen in the flesh.

 

[pappajohn]

Some folks don't care....... an on the spot fine and a few miles unhitched may outweigh the inconvenience of not having a car with them

Or, as my stepdaughter keeps telling me, "I can park ANYWHERE including yellow lines for £35"
If she gets ticketed 1 time in 10 it's still cheaper than paying to park.

 

[gus-lopez]

Some folks don't care....... an on the spot fine and a few miles unhitched may outweigh the inconvenience of not having a car with them

Or, as my stepdaughter keeps telling me, "I can park ANYWHERE including yellow lines for £35"
If she gets ticketed 1 time in 10 it's still cheaper than paying to park.

Reminds me of Michael Winner's comment
" £60 to drive in a bus lane ! A bargain "

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[The Nomad]

Just an observation, presently in Spain at Camping Aquarius just South of Roses. Watched a rather new good looking French registered Mobilvetta A class K yaught arrive yesterday towing his car on an aframe. I know these are illegally in Spain but are they not in France as well? Must say though the motorhome is very stylish looking first I have seen in the flesh.

Towing with an A frame IS illegal in France. But the Gendarmes almost always either don't know that piece of obscure traffic law there or cannot be arsed to stop the offender.
In Spain as I'm sure every one now knows out ous also illegal but the difference is that more and more Guardia civil Trafico officers are clued up on this and are now stopping and fining more and more offenders and making them couple the two vehicles and drive them separately.
Just depends how lucky you feel and how big a fine you are prepared to pay , and whether you think your insurers will pay out for damaged you have an accident whilst driving illegally in that country....and whether you have 2 drivers on board to do the whole rest of your your separately too.

 

[bigtwin]

Towing with an A frame IS illegal in France.

Two questions:

1 - Is that a fact?

2 - Where might one find confirmation of that?

Thanks

Ian

 

[pappajohn]

Two questions:

1 - Is that a fact?

2 - Where might one find confirmation of that?




Thanks

Ian

French Law Regarding A-Frame Towing.

Article R311-1 (as amended by Decree No. 2009-497 of 30 April 2009) of the Code de la Route defines the vehicle categories, and vehicle/trailer combinations, that may use public roads in France under French law.
Dependant upon their individual type/weight, Motorhomes are motor vehicles within either Category M or N.

Under Article R311-1 only a trailer (which are in Category O and which are defined by Article L110-1) may be towed by a motor vehicle.

Article L110-1:the following have the meanings ascribed to them in this article:
1 "Motor vehicle" means any land vehicle equipped with a propulsion engine, including trolley buses, designed to run on a road under its own power, with the exception of vehicles which run on rails;
2 "Trailer" means any vehicle without means of self-propulsion, designed and constructed to be drawn by another vehicle.

Except in cases of emergency towing following breakdown/accident, the combination of a motor-home (or any other car/van) towing any other land vehicle equipped with a propulsion engine (eg. a car) is specifically illegal on any public road in France.
Even in emergency circumstances, such towing must only be to the nearest safe place, must use only a specialist recovery vehicle and or by the use of a homologated, solid, tow-pole (ie not a tow rope); the towed vehicle must have a driver (unless physically impossible due to accident damage), both vehicles must show their hazard warning lights, and the speed must be kept “low” (what “low” means is not defined in the article of law).

The Federation Francaise de Camping et de Caravaning (FFCC) has confirmed that there has yet been no instance of any sort of solid tow-pole homologated for use in France; and has advised it's members that A-Frame towing is specifically illegal on French roads because of the above laws.
To be towed behind a motorhome in France, a car must be carried on a trailer.





The Code de la Route cites the following French source Legislation/Regulations:
Decree of February 6, 1932 - art. 62 (V)

Proof enough I think.

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[The Nomad]

Two questions:

1 - Is that a fact?

2 - Where might one find confirmation of that?

Thanks

Ian

In French traffic law.

Quoted in many many previous threads on the subject in numerous motorhome forums; and/or via Google.