Warning sign for France ?

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moleman

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Apr 30, 2021
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Elddis Evo 185
Hi guys, we are new to the motorhome scene and taking our first trip to France in the coming weeks. We will be taking two bikes on the bike rack which will be under a cover. My question is, do we need a warning triangle or square to go on as well ? I think we have everything else we need ! A little nervous about the trip being our first time using the tunnel and driving abroad .
Regards.
 
We no longer take bikes on our van ( since the bike rack slid down the rear doors on our PVC taking the paint with it !!! ) But as far as I am aware, not required in France, but mandatory in Spain and Italy , but they are not expensive. Dont be nervous about France, you will love it, we have been going annually for nearly 40 years, never had a bad experience. Enjoy.
 
If, by "warning triangle", you mean the striped rectangular warning board that you sometimes see hung on the back, then the answer is "not a legal requirement in France".

Carrying a portable warning triangle of the sort you set up on the road if you are stopped on the carriageway, is a legal requirement. I stick mine in the handy pocket on the bike cover as a bit of extra security but it's not necessary in France.

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moleman said:
Hi guys, we are new to the motorhome scene and taking our first trip to France in the coming weeks. We will be taking two bikes on the bike rack which will be under a cover. My question is, do we need a warning triangle or square to go on as well ? I think we have everything else we need ! A little nervous about the trip being our first time using the tunnel and driving abroad .
Regards.
Click to expand...
Not sure about the original question but as a first timer in France...literally as we speak....DO NOT BE NERVOUS!! It's sooooooooo much easier than the UK! I even drove to a site in Paris! Enjoy.
 
moleman said:
Hi guys, we are new to the motorhome scene and taking our first trip to France in the coming weeks. We will be taking two bikes on the bike rack which will be under a cover. My question is, do we need a warning triangle or square to go on as well ? I think we have everything else we need ! A little nervous about the trip being our first time using the tunnel and driving abroad .
Regards.
Click to expand...
Yes you must have the sign with white with red stripes. Got ours on amazon with bike cover. Have u bought your critair.
 
We have a PVC and the bike rack has a tailboard with lights. My understanding is that we don’t require a diagonal striped square board in France but would in Spain and Italy (each of those countries require a different design board).

You do have to carry in your boot a warning triangle snd also reflective jackets for each occupant - they have yo be within reach so can’t be packed away. Check AA or RAC website for uptodate requirements.

The Critair sticker for your windscreen is easy to get, cheap and means that if you inadvertently end up in a CritAir zone you are covered.

I put off the tunnel for years but used it 2019 and haven’t looked back - by far the easiest way to cross the channel.
As for France, similar population - huge country = quieter roads. Aires in most villages. Great food snd drink. Motorhomers dream.
 
For France the Warning sign is not compulsory
For Spain it is
For Italy it must be metal not plastic

We broke ours early this year and replaced it with a flexible metal one from Carrefour (Finestrat/Benidorm) we had driven through most of Spain and 90% of France with out it without being stopped
 
Hi!
Quite a few funsters on here will tell you that in case of anything going wrong, just think I' won't let you down!
If, to feel easy, you need my mobile number , not to worry I will send it to you. You won't really need internet that way to join me.
Just as others said, take it easy, France is a good place for motorhoming.
One advice though, do not drink alcohol before driving! A simple gendarmes'check of papers or of a bulb not working or some little thing that make them stop you, could go really differently if they use a breathalizer and find out you have more alcohol in your blood than allowed!

Enjoy your trip ... and eat French !! :Smile: :Smile: :cool:

Amicalement
Frankie:sun::sun:
 
Just to add that in France the red warning triangle is not to be used on motorways.

[Please correct me if I am wrong about this.]
 
moleman said:
Hi guys, we are new to the motorhome scene and taking our first trip to France in the coming weeks. We will be taking two bikes on the bike rack which will be under a cover. My question is, do we need a warning triangle or square to go on as well ? I think we have everything else we need ! A little nervous about the trip being our first time using the tunnel and driving abroad .
Regards.
Click to expand...
We did our first France/Spain trip via tunnel in June/July, yes we were nervous but as soon as we hit the road it was a breeze and so exciting, didn’t want it to end. We also had bikes on back and with the Hazard Board as we needed it for Spain but we would use it regardless for every trip. GO ENJOY, YOU’LL LOVE IT 😍 PS Off again late September, can’t wait 😎☺️
 
Madcaravanner said:
For France the Warning sign is not compulsory
For Spain it is
For Italy it must be metal not plastic
Click to expand...
Best to get a double-sided aluminium one. Believe it or not, there are two different stripe patterns, 3 red stripes and 5 red stripes. Turn it round to show the correct side. Sorry can't remember which country is which.
 
autorouter said:
Best to get a double-sided aluminium one. Believe it or not, there are two different stripe patterns, 3 red stripes and 5 red stripes. Turn it round to show the correct side. Sorry can't remember which country is which.
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Prospector said:
Spain = 3 stripes
Italy = 5 stripes (metal)
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I've just learned something. (y)

Also remember you need to turn the board through 90 deg when in the UK. The stripes need to face downwards towards the offside lane.

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Also ,If rear box/bike rack/bikes has a width of 2,54m then they really like two V20's one each side ,stripes facing to centre of road & kerb
 
Jim produced this some years ago. It's in Resources somewhere.
Print it off at a size to suit you and stick it on your dash. It will reflect mirror image on your windscreen to remind you which way to negotiate roundabouts !!



upload_2015-4-26_9-9-13.png
 
namwaldog said:
@Jim produced this some years ago. It's in Resources somewhere.
Print it off at a size to suit you and stick it on your dash. It will reflect mirror image on your windscreen to remind you which way to negotiate roundabouts !!
Click to expand...
Has anyone actually tried this? It's a common myth that mirrors reflect left to right. This will work fine if you hold it up to a vertical mirror, but won't work at all when put on the dash and reflected off the windscreen. The windscreen reflects 'top to bottom', not 'left to right'.
roundabout_2.png
 
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I really would not worry about driving in france,so little traffic on the roads compared to the uk its great soon as you arrive back you will hate it :giggle:never been pulled over once in 9 years,as for the drinking we stopped in a service station the frence lorry diver sitting there with his bottle of wine and his picnic couldnt belive he was happly downing a bottle back in his lorry and drove away,ive seen that a few times:giggle: but i wouldnt even think about doing that! just enjoy

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So do I need one if I have a bike rack but no bikes on it?
 

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