New Driving Laws in France
As of January 5, 2012, a number of new measures affecting motorists and bikers in France were announced by the Minister for the Interior.
These driving law reforms were first announced by President Sarkozy on November 30, based on decisions made in spring 2011 by the Interministerial Committee for Road Safety.
All Motorists and Bikers
Possessing any radar warning device illegal in France
The possession, transport and use of GPS radar warning devices which correlate data on the position of the radar with the position of the vehicle calculated by the GPS is now prohibited. Usage is subject to a fine of 1,500 euros, licence penalty 6 points and the confiscation of the device or vehicle if the device is attached to it. The use of “active” radar detectors has always been illegal.
However, warning of dangerous and accident-prone areas which are not simply radar traps is still allowed, and these can be legally downloaded to your GPS. Radar checks, both fixed and mobile, may “coincidentally” be among these but manufacturers have pledged not simply to report the location of radars, so the number of identified hazard areas will be far higher than the number of radars to encourage motorists to moderate their overall speed.
Driving while distracted by other activities
This decree increases the sanctions against the use of a hand-held phone. The fine goes up from 35 to 135 euros and licence penalty from 2 to 3 points.
The police have reported that some “foreign truck drivers” watch TV while driving, so watching a screen device operating in the field of vision (other than a driver assistance and navigation type GPS) by the driver of a vehicle in motion, now becomes liable to a fine of 1500 euros (instead of 135 euros) and the licence penalty of 3 points (instead of 2 points).
Other new measures
For a license plate that does not comply in terms of typeface and spacing the fine increases from 68 to 135 euros.
Straying even momentarily into the autoroute emergency lane, fine of 135 euros and licence penalty three points. This follows cases of vehicles drifting out of control due to inattention or drowsiness.
Car Drivers
Compulsory to carry a breathalyser in the vehicle
The minister announced that from a date to be fixed (probably 1 April 2012) all cars must carry an alcohol breathalyser test. Simple test kits can be bought from pharmacies, service stations and some supermarkets for under 2 euros, or electronic ones from about 10 euros. There are even small electronic key ring versions for about 6-8 euros. Motorists who fail to carry an alcohol test device in the car will incur a fine of 17 euros. The breathalyser joins the list of existing mandatory equipment for vehicles – safety vest and triangle emergency warning. The existing fine for missing these is 135 euros for (90 euros if the fine is paid on the spot).
Failure to use, disabling or failure to maintain in working order an alcohol lock where the vehicle is fitted with one is now punishable by a fine of 750 euros. The Highway Code states that any driver of a vehicle equipped with a mandatory alcohol lock device must use this prior to starting the vehicle.
Motorcyclists
Not later than 1 January 2013, all riders or passengers of a motorcycle with a cylinder capacity exceeding 125 cc or a vehicle of category L5e (e.g.trike) exceeding 15 kW, must wear reflective clothing complying either to French standards or to other standards of an equivalent level of safety.
The reflective area can be divided in several parts over the clothing, but must have a total surface area of at least 150 cm2 visible to other road users. The material does not have to be fluorescent – only reflective - and the colour is not fixed – it is likely that material that appears red, green or even black in daylight will conform as long as it reflects in headlights at night.
The reflective material must be worn on the upper body, between the belt line and the shoulders, so as to be visible to other road users.
The Ministry of Transport might in 2012 also make compulsory the wearing of gloves and shoes deemed suitable for driving a bike – this has to be decided.
Source material (in French)
The measures are laid out in the speech given by the Minister of the Interior on the 5th January here :
http://www.securite-routiere.gouv.fr/article.php3?id_article=4025
and there is a good summary here:
http://www.net-iris.fr/veille-juridique/actualite/29047/entree-en-vigueur-de-nouvelles-mesures-ameliorant-la-securite-routiere.php
btw what about alcohol breathalyzer in UK or anywhere else such germany or holland? is it existing or obliged too?
No – once again, France leads the world! LOL!
I can’t see anywhere where it says drivers need to carry theses breathalizers, but it does state that anyone serving alcohol has to have ..
Hi Tim – if you read the article I mentioned then after talking about the existing law for bars & restaurants that you refer to the Minister says:
Since this announcement, the ethylotest has been and continues to be discussed on radio phone ins etc. and it is currently assumed that the law will come into effect in spring exactly as planned. Of course, this is France and things can change, but that’s how it stands at present.
Hope that clears away any doubt
Phil
Thanks for the information Phil. Do you know of a French government website which will have these regualtions on it, particularly for the breathalyser and radar warning devices. I have several drivers in France during the summer so could do with the new regulations printed out.
Hi Mike – yes, the new laws are on the Legifrance website but they take a bit of digging out and are not in one place. However, the measures are laid out in the speech given by the Minister of the Interior on the 5th January here : http://www.securite-routiere.gouv.fr/article.php3?id_article=4025 and there is a good summary here http://www.net-iris.fr/veille-juridique/actualite/29047/entree-en-vigueur-de-nouvelles-mesures-ameliorant-la-securite-routiere.php
Thanks for this information. Looks like we will need to buy a breathalyser kit. however as I never drive having drunk alcohol it seems a bit of an extra expense. If you are the type of person who would have to use this you probably shouldnt be drinking and driving….? In fact the alcohol limit in France is so low I think that as opposed to in the UK, in France you are wiser to avoid alcohol altogether if planning to drive. Is that correct ?
Personally, I think this measure is a complete waste of time and money. The gendarmes carry breathalyser kits for if they pull a driver over, they aren’t going to rely on a kit the driver has bought, so what purpose carrying a test kit in the car is supposed to serve is a mystery. The limit in France is 0.5g alcohol per litre of blood (or 0.25mg of alcohol per litre of air breathed out). As the effect of alcohol and the amount in the blood depends on a variety of factors it’s recommended not to drink at all before driving, nor to drive the morning after an evening of substantial drinking.
Thanks for this, I’ll forward it to my parents who’ve just booked their next trip over!