International Driving Permit

[GrahamC]

Knowing how good the French are at following the rules, I do wonder how many of them actually have all this stuff in their cars? Or is it another way of fleecing the tourists?

[florida4sun]

To be fair, why would anyone not carry the majority of these items. Basic items like this should be compulsory here too.

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Knowing how good the French are at following the rules, I do wonder how many of them actually have all this stuff in their cars? Or is it another way of fleecing the tourists?

[Katys Grandad]

Graham - you need two breatherlysers in a car in France. They are sold in packets of two here but if one is used then you only have one in the car. You therefore actually need TWO packets of breatherlysers !

Interesting point!

If the purpose of needing the breathalysers is to self-test then, if you only have 2, you have the dilemma of whether to test your fitness to drive and risk prosecution for not having all the required equipment in the car. I assume that the devices have to be specific to whatever the French limit is so just any kit won't do.

Of course, the best approach is not to consume alcohol at all if you're driving.

[Lyn]

I can't see the logic of making it illegal, it's quite clear they want them for money making purposes, if the purpose of them truly is safety and they want people to go below the speed limit, does it make any difference if they know about them in advance and slow down so they don't get a fine or don't know till they see the sign and then slow down (possibly last minute meaning a greater potential for accident Quite clearly the Authorities would rather be able to issue fines to those who are speeding anyway and not following the signs (if that makes sense0 than have people slow down in advance. The argument they will speed up after the camera is redundant imo because they will probably do that either way if they are going to.

This assumes that you are speeding in the first place, if you obey the speed limits then the cameras should not bother you. People who slow down when they know a camera is comming up are a danger to other drivers.

[Gerry Reed]

To be fair, why would anyone not carry the majority of these items. Basic items like this should be compulsory here too.

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As most cars now, including mine, have sealed units for lights etc, it would take half my boot to carry all this stuff around, not to mention the cost and I would not know how to change lights etc myself so what would be the point ?
I also think carrying a breathalyser is dangerous as it tempts people to drink up to the limit when you really should not drink and drive full stop !
As far as a first aid kit goes, what good is an elastoplast if you come across a RTA ?
I do think a warning triangle is a good idea, but that is about it.

Sue

[steph_goodrum]

This assumes that you are speeding in the first place, if you obey the speed limits then the cameras should not bother you. People who slow down when they know a camera is comming up are a danger to other drivers.

I was thinking of the people who do speed and slow down when they see the speed camera signs, if they know about them they would hopefully slow down to the correct speed earlier. I don't drive so it wouldn't affect me.

I assumed the breathalyser is for the police to administer a test in the event youu were involved in an incident or they stopped you. Anyone who is going behind the wheel shouldnt be drinking anyway imo and if they need a breathalyser to decide for themselves if they hav drunk too much, then they quite clearly have doubts and again shouldnt be driving.

[sunseeker]

As most cars now, including mine, have sealed units for lights etc, it would take half my boot to carry all this stuff around, not to mention the cost and I would not know how to change lights etc myself so what would be the point ?
I also think carrying a breathalyser is dangerous as it tempts people to drink up to the limit when you really should not drink and drive full stop !
As far as a first aid kit goes, what good is an elastoplast if you come across a RTA ?
I do think a warning triangle is a good idea, but that is about it.

Sue

Interesting point regarding the lights, are you talking about the LED type of lamp? If it has a bulb then it will not be a sealed unit, but I would like to see somebody change a bulb on some of the newer cars on the side of the road where wheel,arch liner and in some cases even the bumper is required to be removed. As we know LED's don't last forever so are the French requiring us to carry complete spare lamps? Check your cars hand book and see how to change a blown bulb, don't be suprised if it says "take to your dealer as this requires specialist fitting".

Dave

[florida4sun]

In Norway we had a hired driver and he had to blow into a machine each time he wanted to start the vehicle. Without a clean reading the vehicle would not start. Brilliant idea.
All roadside breath tests and confirmed by a static calibrated machine at the police station. This is the reading that goes to court.

Perhaps that is a tactic we should adopt in the UK get everybody to suppply their own breathalser and save the police (aka taxpayers) the cost of buying them and also save the time wasters who, if prosecuted argue that the breathalyser machine was faulty as they only had 1 drink etc. If they supplied the equipment it would not be a defence they could use as if it was faulty they would then be charged with not having a breathalyser as required by law.

[freddiehollie]

All the lights on my car are now LED.......... So what do I carry????????????????

Stupid idea...

The side repeater on the drivers door mirror has developed a fault. I therefore rang the main dealer (Car still under warranty) to be told "I will order a new mirror for you" The car goes in on Tuesday to have it fitted.....

So, the question is..... Do I now carry 2 spare door mirrors, just in case the LED goes faulty????????? I dread to think how I could change that on the hard shoulder.

I also dread to think of the cost, If it wasn't a warranty job. ££££££££££ instead of a bulb for a couple of quid[msncry]

[sunseeker]

All the lights on my car are now LED.......... So what do I carry????????????????

Stupid idea...

The side repeater on the drivers door mirror has developed a fault. I therefore rang the main dealer (Car still under warranty) to be told "I will order a new mirror for you" The car goes in on Tuesday to have it fitted.....

So, the question is..... Do I now carry 2 spare door mirrors, just in case the LED goes faulty????????? I dread to think how I could change that on the hard shoulder.

I also dread to think of the cost, If it wasn't a warranty job. ££££££££££ instead of a bulb for a couple of quid[msncry]

Probably wouldn't do you any good if you did manage to replace it yourself as many of this type of lamp needs to be programmed into the car before it will work. Also your headlamps are probably xenon and a relacement bulb can be well over a hundred pound, again not advisable to fit yourself.

Dave