Rules for riding in France ??

harley-metisse

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Hi everyone,
It's a bit late I will admit, but can I ask forum members, "what's the current french requirements for riding a motorcycle on their roads" ??
I'm away on tuesday next, and thought that I had everything sorted in my mind, what to do and what not to do etc.
However one of the trip crew has said he thinks that we should have reflective helmet stickers ???
We've got breathalysers, spare bulb packs etc, even one or two of have refelective vests etc, but no one has any of these bloody stickers........do we need them ?
Help
Cheers
 
No you don't.
You don't need breathalysers either.

Worry about priorite a droite if you're looking for something to stress over.
 
You should have spare bulbs, hi viz vest insurance and ownership docs. It does not matter if it's the law or not the gendarmes will want to see it and if your not fluent French it's easier not to argue about the subtle differences between what you need in a car or on a bike over there. You don't need helmet stickers that law never made it into power.

A few years ago the gendarmes had a purge out side St Malo stopping all the jersey bikes. Several did not have spare bulbs or hi viz and the were made to get their bikes towed back to the port and we're not permitted to ride them. I kid you not!

As far as I am aware it is still a legal requirement to have breathalyzers. It is just that they never enacted the second part of the law which permits them to fine you if you don't.

Enjoy your trip. I have carried all this stuff for years and never needed it and never been asked if I have it but it can all be packed into a little pouch and tucked away without too much bother.
 
JerseyNeil said:
You should have spare bulbs, hi viz vest insurance and ownership docs. It does not matter if it's the law or not the gendarmes will want to see it and if your not fluent French it's easier not to argue about the subtle differences between what you need in a car or on a bike over there. You don't need helmet stickers that law never made it into power.

A few years ago the gendarmes had a purge out side St Malo stopping all the jersey bikes. Several did not have spare bulbs or hi viz and the were made to get their bikes towed back to the port and we're not permitted to ride them. I kid you not!

As far as I am aware it is still a legal requirement to have breathalyzers. It is just that they never enacted the second part of the law which permits them to fine you if you don't.

Enjoy your trip. I have carried all this stuff for years and never needed it and never been asked if I have it but it can all be packed into a little pouch and tucked away without too much bother.
Click to expand...
No requirement to have a hi viz on a bike.

I think this stuff is carried almost exclusively by UK visitors. I don't know any French bikers who even think about it. if your documents are in order, you're very, very unlikely to get any problems from the GDs.
 
Reflective stickers .....?

Thanks everyone, the opinions seem to be that they're not really required...........................so that's that then.
Where I'm a little embarassed is that this is my 9th trip to France in as many years and I've not even heard of these stickers being needed.
No defence I know, but what can I say - I'm a dipstick !!
Cheers
 
Believe the reflective material and breathalyser all got canned, laws were never passed!! Never heard about helmet stickers either! Just plead ignorance and remind them who liberated them!! Enjoy your trip!!:thumby:
 
Helmet stickers is the "real" one. Always has been. I put stickers on my old arai last year but I'm not putting them on my new schuberth this year. Not sure if it's a common offence to be pulled for but I did it anyway.


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Vieilles dames........cinq points
Vieilles dames avec bâtons de marche.....neuf points
Vieilles dames avec bâtons de marche et une petite chien fou-fou.......vingt points
Jeune homme.....trois points
Jeune homme avec décote stupide .....cinq points
Chien fou-fou- dix points
L'oignon vendeur- dix points
L'oignon vendeur avec décote stupide......vingt points
L'oignon vendeur avec décote stupide et un chien fou-fou..........Cinquante points
L'oignon vendeur avec décote stupide et un chien fou-fou et une bâtons de marche.......Cent points!!!!
L'oignon vendeur ancien avec décote stupide et un chien fou-fou et une bâtons de marche, Vêtu d'un maillot à rayures........Un million points

:thumb2


Those, mon ami, are the rules for riding in the land of the cheese eating surrender monkeys :)
 
Quite a lot of helmets (and clothing) has the reflective area built into them from new. My Shoei Neotec does, for instance. It was done to assuage the 'I would never wear any reflective sticker / clothing, as it's an infringement of my biker rights. Biker rights enshrined in the biker charter, mate' brigade, whilst enabling the gear to be sold in France.

Another example is Rukka, who started to build the reflective panels into their jackets much more widely, when it was anticipated that the French / EU would mandate it. That the mandate never came to pass is another matter.

Will you get stopped in a police check on helmets in France? The simple answer is: No, it's incredibly unlikely.

Might you get stopped for the more obvious and easier to enforce breaches of the French motoring laws, which are broadly similar to our own? Those, really simple ones, like speeding, failure to comply with traffic lights and stop lines...... Maybe, yes. Will they ask to see your papers (V5, insurance, driving licence and passport) before they hit you with a probably inevitable cash fine on the spot? Very likely, yes. Will they up the fine if you cannot produce the correct papers, then and there? Almost certainly, yes. Will they breathalyse you if they are called to attend an accident you are involved in, whether your fault or not? Almost certainly. Will they prosecute you if you are over the limit? Yes. Will they do the same if you are stopped in a random document and drink-drive check? Yes.

Helmet stickers really are the least of your worries as you hoon your awesome steeds across France.

Enjoy your holidays everyone.... And report back with your Fanum points at the end. Pictures required or it never happened.
 
I have this question almost weekly here from people visiting us, so I have a list of tips (my tips from my experience of living and riding here all year round) I also am a member of the local motorbike club, and also speak frequently with the local Gendarme in the region it is at www.ridersrest.eu/tips.htm
 
My self and 3 other lads were there this time last year for 10 days! We did have reflective jacket but that was it! The cops there never once bothered us! As long as u stick to speed limits I'd say Ul be hassle free! Enjoy the trip
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
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