France & Germany what are the real world speed limits?

[ducatiparts.110mb]

Planning a trip to Germany, taking in a bit of France, What are the real world speed limits?

Not the legal ones, but what can you realistically expect to get away with before getting pulled over?

Thanks, Mark

 

[Mr K]

With regard to Germany - The limits that are posted.

For France, on a GB plate - The limits posted.

 

[Michael R1150GS Adventure]

With regard to Germany - The limits that are posted.

For France, on a GB plate - The limits posted.

100% agree with both comments.

France at the minute is getting beyond a joke. Worse than the UK.

 

[ChrisK]

French police are nearly as bad as North Wales mob in and around Calais and down as far as Troyes. Was stopped 4 times in space of 8 hours. In all cases under the speed limit and only got off after showing each copper the trip stats from my TomTom. So big tip make sure you stay under the limits and have a Sat nav that records stuff.

 

[mfish]

In France, I think that the fixed and mobile cameras are set at speed limit plus 3%.
The fixed cameras may be of less interest if you have a GB bike, but as a matter of interest, unlike UK, all fixed cameras have warning signs, so there will be a fixed camera or two after the sign - including in tunnels, 4 metres up on a post etc.
The mobile traps are difficult to see before it is too late - as here if oncoming cars/bikes flash you, slow down!
If stopped, be very polite, take helmet and glasses off, speak as much French as you can. Its helped me!
Cheers, Michael.
PS I've hardly ever found mobile traps on mountain roads, or off the beaten track.

 

[rodsharp]

Be Warned Its not like it used to be, The good old days are over !!

 

[MasterDabber]

Also random breath tests in France. I got pulled over and breathalyzed in Gourdon in the Lot a couple of weeks ago after I'd been to a restaurant a few miles away. There were about 4 gendarmes who were pulling over people all the time.

I'd been careful and only had a small glass of vin rouge with dinner but it made me nervous even so. The gendarme was very polite and quite pleasant but it was still a relief to be told I could drive on. These checks are getting more and more common.

 

[ducatiparts.110mb]

Sounds like the fun is going out of it.

We had a family holiday in Germany last month (in the car) and I was impressed enough by the place to plan for a bike trip there next spring. What didn't impress me though was the number of villages and junctions along the main roads, having low speed limits so that we were never at 60mph for more than a minute or so at a time - at that rate it would take days to get down to Munich.

 

[NeilDD]

If you're going down the A3 past Wurzburg then beware of roadworks, especially at weekends, speeds down to 50 kph with police watching
I got caught last weekend, and ended up going x-country to avoid the 2-3 hour jams
They're basically replacing loads of the old bridges, which will be going on for another year or so

Neil

 

[stolzy]

I don't think its as bad as pictured here.

If you stay off the autoroutes (why you would ride autoroutes in France on holiday is a mystery), take great care in villages, keep an eye out on the busy N roads and look out for people flashing you you'll probably be OK - you have to play the percentages.

On country roads the limit is 90kph and you could be nicked at 93kph, or less, but its unlikely and the fines are relatively good value. If you're polite and respectful you'll likely get away with a reduced fine, play the arse and you'll be walking home.

Anything above 30kph over the limit is likely to land you in a world of shit.

Remember the Gendarmes don't need a speed trap or photographic evidence, their word is essentially law, especially if you're a foreigner.

 

[Loiq]

if your destination is munich and the holiday starts there, then I'd have it down the motorways at sensible speed it's about 1,000Km from calais so it's doable in 12-13 hours so it's a good days work. But you need to be lucky with the weather, traffic, the bike, passenger and all that...

 

[Mutley]

I just drove from Calais to Zurich and back, mostly on the Peage and N routes.

I tended to drive at around 90 and wasn't the fastest thing on the road. I saw one copper sat at the side of the road and he wasn't using a speed trap, just watching.

There are more signs for speed traps than there are actually speed traps.

If you just keep your eyes peeled just as you do in the U.K. then you'll be fine. If you speed inappropriately you'll get done.

 

[mike61]

Hello!

The official information you can get here:

www.bussgeldkatalog.de

If they flash you by bike in Germany you should know that most of
the flashs take front pictures. No problem for bikes.

There are many fix flashes.
You can check your route with the help of this:

http://www.radalert.de/blitzer

The cops have started to use a new generation of 2 direction flashes (without a visible flash). You shouldnt take them!

Watch LASER pistols everywhere.

The rest depends of o bit luck and the cops you meet.
Some are ............. and some .................
Like everywhere.
Most of them are very friendly but you have to pay anyhow.

Respect the RIGHT lane, please!

If you need any other information or support on your trip
you can contact me.
I live in the North near the Baltic, not the most prefered area for foreign bikers. But beautiful too! Especially the Baltic coast with beautiful small
towns like Lubeck, Wismar, Stralsund, Schwerin(not at coast).

http://www.schwerin.de

And a plenty of lakes in the Muritz district.

mike

 

[ducatiparts.110mb]

All good info, thanks guys,

 

[er-minio]

Not much difference. Really.
Driven with the bike so many times with UK and Italian plates all over France.

Just slow down, as usual everywhere, when approaching towns. I mean... general "common sense".
Never ever had any issues, even without driving "under the speed limit" all the time.

The highway (if you need to) it's full of hidden policemen with lasers. They'll stop you at the next toolboth. I'd be more cautious over there.
I've seen them pointing the laser at me (car, and bike) a lot of times.

I've been stopped around Calais (with the car only) twice but it was border control... and my car looks like a pikey's car

 

[sven]

I've spent a lot of time in Germany and you're no more likely to get pulled there than here. Just respect the limits in villages and keep it reasonably sensible on the A and B roads. I just ride at the same 80-ish I ride in the UK.

We just came back from a 2552 miles trip around the Alps and saw two speed traps, both in France & both in 50kph zones.

We also went to Normandy in the car in may and didn't see any speed traps at all, although there were lots of speed cameras, all of which have warning signs (plus Tomtom warnings). The speed limit on the motorways is 81mph anyway, which is fast enough for a loaded GS

 

[mike61]

Hello!

I´ve forgotten to say that the speed limit cameras and other traps are not
forecasted by signs or other way like in most of other european countries.
A German special, sorry!

mike

Several specials all over Europe;-)

 

[stolzy]

Couple more things:

30kph limit zones are becoming very common in towns and villages in France. They're usually associated with speed humps or chicanes, often in the centre of villages.

GPS camera location detectors are still legal in France, but not in Switzerland (nor I think Austria), don't know about Germany, maybe Mike61 could confirm.

 

[sven]

Couple more things:

30kph limit zones are becoming very common in towns and villages in France. They're usually associated with speed humps or chicanes, often in the centre of villages.

GPS camera location detectors are still legal in France, but not in Switzerland (nor I think Austria), don't know about Germany, maybe Mike61 could confirm.

They're no longer legal in Germany...although I forgot to deactivate them on my Tomtom last month. Considering they're forward facing, it's not really an issue on bikes except nearly getting blinded by the flash, which wasn't fun at naughty speeds going around a bend

 

[flytoolow]

GPS camera location detectors are still legal in France, but not in Switzerland (nor I think Austria), don't know about Germany, maybe Mike61 could confirm.

.

Quite right, My TomTom picks up all fixed cameras in France, but in Switzerland it wasnt allowed...Aparently GPS manaufacturers were told, if you place the camera locations in the software...we wont allow you to sell any GPS navigation stuff in Switzerland...Still trying to find a "patch".

In France (about 3 years ago), I was told that since I have a Swiss plate - no worries, the fines dont cross the border (sort of a treaty)...but that IS changing (another treaty!). Apparently now..the fines ARE sent to your country of authority....

Also, I heard last night that the French now have "hand-held radar" - apparently it looks like a man with binoculars...and your speed/details are sent directly to another copper or directly into the "system"....

But from the last time I was in England I doubt that it is that bad over here...

My advice...be sensible, play it easy within / near towns / built up areas and you shouldnt have a problem...

Came back from the Route Napoleon (2 weeks ago) and didnt see any that I remember - 600kms of fantastic roads...

My tupence...

F2L