Repressive French laws softened.....

It seems like the vigorous opposition by the centre-right parties in France to the Government's hastily brought in and poorly thought out new laws on speed cameras and the fact that the presidential elections are less than 12 months away have had some effect.

Advance warnings about speed cameras have already started being removed in an attempt to cow drivers/riders into a permanent state of paranoia. Howver and with immediate effect, every warning that is removed is being replaced with one of these:



Not stupid and the way to go in this country. But now that the French motards have smelt blood, let's see how long the other vindictive measures stay in place .

The laws were never enacted, so there is nothing to rescind.

Les Frogs (just like us) put forward numerous green and white papers on assorted proposals and topics, most of which will never see the light of day. Whether what remains will pass through their legislature remains to be seen.... and whether anyone then ever takes any notice is another matter entirely. Dark visors are illegal in the UK and have been for a number of years. No doubt Monsieur Le Biker en gay Paris (when planning his adventure to Jockland) sits in trepidation of falling foul of every British bobby from the moment he arrives on our balmy shores.... but is the law enforced, here? Is it feck, as plod has better things to do.

I'd be more worried about the current (and enforced) penalties for speeding through a French village.

Wapping said:

The laws were never enacted, so there is nothing to rescind.

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Well according to Le Monde, the warning signs to speed cameras are being taken down already. The Minister of the Interior has just announced:I am sure Wapping speaks the lingo, but for those who don't I have underlined the key phrases which refer to active automated vehicle speed warning displays and say in simplistic terms ".........will replace signs warning of the presence of speed cameras........." and ".......at distances varying from 400 meters to several kilometers before the camera...".

But things appear to be going slowly because the Government has realised the size of the hornets in the nest it has just poked . That said, why not give us a report on the state-of-play on your next jaunt .

Quote Wapping " I'd be more worried about the current (and enforced) penalties for speeding through a French village. "

And the thought of all those french motards in reflective vests

I think I have just gone off the idea of going to France ever again.

Strike one for the 'New laws'



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PS Re. The 'State of play' enquiry. No evidence on my recent jaunts of mass protest, increased police presence, arrests for riding with a helmet raised (see another thread), Hi-vizzed police motorcyclist type men (they still seem to manage in their standard gear inc. shirt sleeves) or anything much at all.

Getting softer here too

Wapping said:

The laws were never enacted, so there is nothing to rescind.

Click to expand...

Except that the removal of camera warning signs didn't require legislations and has already been effected in some areas (round here for a start). No sign of them being put back either.

Not a problem for visitors, but the locals aren't impressed - one unmarked camera near me is being defaced as fast as they can replace the glass windows

I'd be more worried about the current (and enforced) penalties for speeding through a French village.

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Quite, on the other hand if you speed significantly through villages you generally get what you deserve.

Loads more 30 kph (19 mph) limits in villages these days

Plus the growing introduction of 'priorite a droite' as a traffic calming measure in towns and villages - now that can really spoil your holiday

On the upside, the quality of the roads and, especially, markings is imrpoving all the time - puts UK roads to shame.