French reflection
DRIVING in France this summer? Then be prepared for their new safety laws which put Britain in the shade.
Since last week all cars in France must carry both a warning triangle and high visibility jacket which must be used in the event of breakdown.
This year nine million Britons are expected to be motoring in France.
The official Securite Routiere website says the rules have brought France in line with other European countries.
Both the jacket and triangle have to conform to EU standards, and the jacket has to be worn by the driver when they exit the car while the triangle has to be placed at least 30 metres from the vehicle.
Failure to have a triangle or jacket in your car will mean a fine of 90 euros (more than £70) for each offence and the Securite Routiere website says that car accessory shops and supermarkets will stock them.
From September 1 cyclists will be required to wear high visibility (hi-vis) jackets when outside towns, as well as during the night or when visibility is poor.
From October the motorists' fine will rise to 135 euros (more than £100), 90 if paid promptly.
Carrying hi-vis jackets or waistcoats has been compulsory in Italy for five years. It is also mandatory in Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Portugal and Spain.
In Spain you must also carry two warning triangles, spare bulbs and tools to change them, and spare spectacles if you need them, and in both France and Spain radar detection devices are illegal.
Last year in the UK car care specialist Comma launched a campaign to make carrying a high-visibility vest in the car compulsory, in an attempt to reduce the 250 people killed or seriously injured every year on the hard shoulder.
Fatalities on the hard shoulder in the UK account for 12.7 per cent of all motorway deaths.
That is more than twice the average number of fatalities under similar circumstances in several European countries where legislation requires carrying a high-visibility vest.
Comma launched an online petition to make hi-vis vests a compulsory boot item' at safeandseen.co.uk.
Spokesman Mike Bewsey said: "Comma has always been on the side of the motorist and this seemed like an issue we could directly impact for the better. The simple precaution of carrying a visi-vest in the boot of the car can really help to save lives."
Neil Greig, director of the Institute of Advanced Motorists Motoring Trust said: "This new legislation means any person planning to drive in France must carry a reflective jacket.
"It's worth investing in one, before you leave, to ensure you don't end up with a nasty fine when you're on holiday. It would be a shame to get your collar felt for the lack of a legal jacket."
From experience I know that wearing a hi-vis vest generally makes passing traffic slow to a sensible pace.
12:33pm Wednesday 9th July 2008
Print 
Email this 
Comment
What are these links for?
If you liked this article and would like to share it with others on the web who might be searching for good content we've made it easy for you to do it.
At the bottom of all articles, you'll see links to six sites. These sites - commonly called 'social bookmark' or 'social news' sites - have large communities of web users who share and rate interesting, useful and fun things on the web.
Clicking the links will automatically add the address of the story you are reading to one of these sites, letting you share it with others. Each site will ask you to register to share stories. Registration is free and once a member, you can store, recommend and search for stories that interest you.
More on Digg
More on del.icio.us
More on Furl
More on reddit
More on NowPublic/
More on Yahoo!
