International Driving Permit

[florida4sun]

I belive they speed camera alerts need to be removed completely, not just turned off. Tom TOm update reoves them completely. The french police are very unforgiving and it is a big on the spot fine.

I just meant as a back up in case the French decided it needed to be translated into French as well. Didnt go last year so haven't checked the current situation but nothing surprises me. There always seems to be something different to think about each time we go. Latest we saw is making sure "speed camera alerts" are turned off on the sat nav as they are illegal in France etc.

[Clare R]

From the AA site:-


New law in France

Effective from 3 January 2012 French laws prohibiting drivers from carrying devices capable of detecting speed cameras have been extended to include devices able to warn or inform of the location of speed cameras e.g. satnav or gps systems capable of showing speed camera sites as PoI.

As well as now banning all devices capable of warning drivers of speed camera locations, the French government is installing around 400 new fixed speed cameras and is taking down road signs indicating the location of existing fixed speed camera sites.


What should you do

If you have a satnav capable of displaying French camera locations in France then you must at least disable camera alerts before driving in France. We recommend that you contact the manufacturer of the satnav for advice as it is likely that a software or database update is available that will actually remove camera data 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.

[steph_goodrum]

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.

[dsevant]

Hi
Providing you take the documents and photo in with you they will do the permit there and then.
The Po website gives all the locations where you can purchase the permits
Hope that helps Debbie

[GrahamC]

I am sure that there is another new law in France and you now have to have a breathalyser in your car along with warning triangle, light bulbs etc etc.

[florida4sun]

Yes there is:
First aid kit, fire ext, hi viz vest, warning triangle, breathalyzer. Going off topic somewhat, sorry.

[steph_goodrum]

Yes there is:
First aid kit, fire ext, hi viz vest, warning triangle, breathalyzer. Going off topic somewhat, sorry.

And with the hi vi vests must be enough for each passenger and must be inside the car. I remembr seeing that one.

[DaveL]

Stealth speed camera cars deployed in France -

The first in a 300 strong fleet of covert police cars has started operations in France. Equipped with speed cameras and radar, the Renault Meganes will be used to target high speed drivers on French autoroutes. They can detect and photograph offending vehicles whilst the camera car is moving, and without the use of flash.

[Clare R]

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 !

[steph_goodrum]

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 !

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.