Speed Camera Detection Rules in France- has anyone been caught and given huge punishment under French Rules

[Zentex]

What does the French law say?​

French laws ban drivers from carrying devices that can detect speed cameras. This covers:

• Radar and laser detectors, which pick up the signal from mobile speed cameras
• GPS systems which show fixed speed cameras that exist on a database

Banned GPS systems can include sat navs and other navigation devices that show you where fixed speed cameras are.

'Jammers' which block the signal from a speed camera to stop you being caught are illegal, both here and abroad.

What are the penalties?​

If you're caught with one of the banned devices, you could be penalised. Penalties can include:

• Fines of up to €1,500
• Confiscation of the device
• The vehicle being confiscated

Penalties can be issued if you're using the device or if you simply have it in the car, even if it's switched off. THIS SEEMS VERY SCARY TO ME !

What should I do with my camera detector?​

If your satnav can show French camera locations in France then you must at least disable camera alerts before driving in France. VERY ONOROUS HAVE FUNSTERS DONE THIS IN FEAR OF THE ABOVE FINES?

We recommend that you contact the manufacturer of the satnav for advice. It's likely that an update exists that'll actually remove camera info for France from the device.

If you have a satnav system built into your car then we recommend contacting the vehicle manufacturer in the first instance.

If you use Google maps to navigate, Google has advised that its camera detection feature turns off when you connect to data or WiFi in France.

If in doubt, follow our guidelines for driving with a mobile by switching it off and popping it in the glove box.



Appreciate Funsters advice and comments on the above scary information - what have you done yourselves?

 

[Mleabon]

The bit on your post that I highlighted...lower speed limit in inclement weather

Well the problem with that is that's it's not black and white and therefore over complicated. The sign says there's a lower speed limit when it's raining but what about if there is an accident and it's spitting but the road is dry does the lower speed limit apply then? What if it's not raining now but the road is still wet does the lower speed limit apply? How it even proven that it was raining when the accident happened if there are showers? I do slow down if it's raining but black and white rules are better.

 

[Martist]

Last year in France using google I slowly became aware that it wasn't warning me about cameras, which makes sense in this context.

 

[The Wino]

Well the problem with that is that's it's not black and white and therefore over complicated. The sign says there's a lower speed limit when it's raining but what about if there is an accident and it's spitting but the road is dry does the lower speed limit apply then? What if it's not raining now but the road is still wet does the lower speed limit apply? How it even proven that it was raining when the accident happened if there are showers? I do slow down if it's raining but black and white rules are better.

You don't have to drive at the speed limit there are a lot of country roads in the UK where you would be bonkers to drive at the national limit. The advantage of a lower limit in rain is it makes it clear to drivers what is reasonable and if someone is way over the limit increases the penalty which seems pretty appropriate. On UK motorways I have frequently seen people driving at totally inappropriate speeds in heavy rain it seems dafter to me not to reduce the limit in rain.

 

[Platelet]

will need to check, but I am pretty sure my Garmin sat nav's don't show speed cameras when in France automatically.

Especially if it’s a Nav6!!

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[Fdhadi]

When I learnt to drive I was told by the instructor to indicate right approaching a roundabout unless taking the first exit, changing only when passing the exit prior to the one you want. Mind you that was nearly 60 years ago.

Hope your instructor didn’t teach a lot of people to drive.

If you’re going left, indicate left
If you’re going ahead no signal is required until you have passed the first exit then indicate left (check your near side mirror if one is fitted).
If you’re going right, indicate right, then indicate left (check your near side mirror if one is fitted) when you have passed the exit before the one you wish to take.
Treat a mini roundabout the same but no need to signal left when exiting.

Your instructor sounds like a distant relation to the one who teaches people to drive in the middle lane of a three lane or second and third lane of a four lane motorway. SCARY
Just hope you didn’t have to pay him for his advice.

 

[sueandjohn]

When I learnt to drive I was told by the instructor to indicate right approaching a roundabout unless taking the first exit, changing only when passing the exit prior to the one you want. Mind you that was nearly 60 years ago.

Yes me too meanders

 

[dunnah01]

There's always fun n games around here where there are several roundabouts where both approach lanes are for turning right. If you use the left hand lane to turn right as instructed by the approach signage but don't indicate right anybody entering from the left road will pull out in you presuming you are turning left

 

[Zentex]

Isn't it easier to follow the speed limits? What's the hurry, especially in a MH.

Always hard enough to know the speed limits , any permitted tolerances and what the cameras look like in your own country let alone a foreign country - so easy to be caught out . In Italy I thought their speed cameras were post boxes as they are so low- had a heart attack when I researched why there are so many 'postboxes' in towns but somehow still missed any tickets !

 

[Mleabon]

Always hard enough to know the speed limits , any permitted tolerances and what the cameras look like in your own country let alone a foreign country - so easy to be caught out . In Italy I thought their speed cameras were post boxes as they are so low- had a heart attack when I researched why there are so many 'postboxes' in towns but somehow still missed any tickets !

I always have the limits on my dash mounted tablet. My wife looks them up not me . When over 3500kg the limits are often different to the signs.

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[David M]

There's always fun n games around here where there are several roundabouts where both approach lanes are for turning right. If you use the left hand lane to turn right as instructed by the approach signage but don't indicate right anybody entering from the left road will pull out in you presuming you are turning left

Isn’t that why we are supposed to indicate right when turning right?

 

[The Wino]

Isn’t that why we are supposed to indicate right when turning right?

I don't do it but can see the point that a couple have made about indicating right if they are going to go straight ahead until they are past any other roads entering the roundabout especially on a roundabout without lane markings. I find it really difficult to judge if anyone on the roundabout is going to turn off or continue around when I'm waiting to enter in fact some seem intent of making a dummy turn off to confuse matters! Indicating right makes it clear you're going to continue past the next exit.

 

[VXman]

Another reason to avoid France.

Far more reasons to visit France than reasons not to. Far more reasons to leave the UK when wanting to travel

 

[Orion]

In many European countries dashcams are still not allowed so be careful with those as well…

That could create a problem if, like us, the motor insurance policy is conditional on have one fitted and in operation!

 

[DuettoBrian]

I've always left the speed camera warnings active, along with the 'over speed' alert with a 10% tolerance. I use these to assist my safe driving (aided by a voice from the passenger seat - "do you need to go this fast?"!!!)

In answer of the OP's subject line - I haven't heard of anyone actually being caught, let alone fined etc.

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[BikerJon]

Isn't it easier to follow the speed limits? What's the hurry, especially in a MH.

Have you seen the speed limit signs in Spain? They go from 110kph to 80 then 40 then 110 in the space of a few hundred yards! It's actually quite dangerous as you would be jamming your brakes on regularly.
The Spanish and the French ignore them.

 

[Mleabon]

Have you seen the speed limit signs in Spain? They go from 110kph to 80 then 40 then 110 in the space of a few hundred yards! It's actually quite dangerous as you would be jamming your brakes on regularly.
The Spanish and the French ignore them.

I generally find it a bit silly the number of times the speed limit is changed up and down. In a lot of Europe.

 

[iandsm]

This is the generic approach to most aspects of life in France. They have draconian laws on the books and then largely ignore them unless you really get up the gendarme's nose. My Golf has the standard VAG built-in sat nav (and thoroughly useless it is too) but we use a bog standard cheap Garmin in the MoHo which routinely reports a "dangerous road segment" whenever I am approaching a speed camera! It was purchased in France so I presume it is ok?!

Yes it is OK that's how all the Sat Nav providers get around the French law, if they didn't they would be jointly liable with the offender for facilitating the offence.

 

[Emmit]

I think the dafter practice is what they now do at roundabouts. If they're going straight on they indicate left

That's to stop the wazzocks joining the roundabout from the road on the right wrongly assuming that those on the roundabout
are turning off the roundabout before them.

 

[BikerJon]

I generally find it a bit silly the number of times the speed limit is changed up and down. In a lot of Europe.

It makes it impossible to be doing the right thing. I started following the different limits on Spanish motorways but found it too dangerous.

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[Widge]

They just need to learn to drive.

Last time I was in the uk I thought the driving was atrocious.

 

[Widge]

On the autoroute if you go over 150mph the camera takes a photo of an empty road - any takers? Has anyone on here ever had notification in UK of French penalty? I haven't heard of any.

They tested a gatso camera on top gear and I think they had to exceed 170mph before they could beat it. And even then it just didn't detect the car.

 

[gus-lopez]

I started following the different limits on Spanish motorways but found it too dangerous.

Yes the limit drops to 100kph at every exit/entrance but as you say everyone ignores them as too dangerous.

 

[Zentex]

I always have the limits on my dash mounted tablet. My wife looks them up not me . When over 3500kg the limits are often different to the signs.

So you use a regular android or apple tablet with its own sim card to load up eg google maps and use that as your sat nav?

 

[The Wino]

Yes the limit drops to 100kph at every exit/entrance but as you say everyone ignores them as too dangerous.

Sounds like they need some mobile cameras!

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[Conniedriving]

When my Waze spots a speed camera
It says( police reported ahead)

 

[gus-lopez]

Sounds like they need some mobile cameras!

even the police do not do i.It is nonsensical & extremely dangerous slowing to 100 then speeding u especially in areas with multiple entry & exits.
Another that is far more prevalent & that nothing is done about is the minimum speed limit of 50% which applies on all roads. Nothing worse than an 80,90, 100 limit road with some half wit driving at walking pace poke nosing in to what is growing,being done, etc,etc.It was only within the last couple of years that they removed the need for cyclists to comply with it.

 

[The Wino]

even the police do not do i.It is nonsensical & extremely dangerous slowing to 100 then speeding u especially in areas with multiple entry & exits.
Another that is far more prevalent & that nothing is done about is the minimum speed limit of 50% which applies on all roads. Nothing worse than an 80,90, 100 limit road with some half wit driving at walking pace poke nosing in to what is growing,being done, etc,etc.It was only within the last couple of years that they removed the need for cyclists to comply with it.

I suspect the slowing down is to make it easier for traffic to enter especially HGV which cannot accelerate as quickly. The danger is slowing down is mainly because others don't adhere to the signs which is why I think the cameras would be a good idea. In the UK certainly average speed cameras have had a definite effect in reducing speeding through roadworks.

 

[L' Hobo]

Have you seen the speed limit signs in Spain? They go from 110kph to 80 then 40 then 110 in the space of a few hundred yards! It's actually quite dangerous as you would be jamming your brakes on regularly.
The Spanish and the French ignore them.

There are a few places along the road from Sudbury, Suffolk to Bury St Edmunds where the limit sign, often obscured by a bend or branches, where the speed limit goes from 60 to 30mph with enforcement cameras, and back to 60 again.

 

[gus-lopez]

I suspect the slowing down is to make it easier for traffic to enter especially HGV which cannot accelerate as quickly.

So why do they have double on/off entry/exits where the 'offs' have the lane priority & the 'ons' have to stop & wait but do usually have an uninterrupted lane to accelerate in with a solid white line before they are allowed out?

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[oldiesontour]

It's all to do with horses and carrying you sword in you right hand

I understand it but it's not logical and different to the rest of the world. It's not just flashing Amber it's red to flashing Amber and no green light which traditionally means go.

Technically green does not mean go...it means proceed with caution .We had a driver fail his psv test for saying green meant go.