France.... What an odd place

[ogden]

Originally Posted by dizzyblonde

hmmm interesting, as one resident who is a biker and trucker would disagree there....

Every French resident I know, whether ex-pat or native, tells me the same thing - the clocks at the péage gates aren't synchronised so there's simply no way to tell from the ticket what speed you were doing. Besides, all you have to do is stop at an aire for a coffee and some gogo-juice and you've skewed the numbers straight away.

I understand that what does happen is they sit by the side of the road with a speed gun and radio your reg ahead to cars waiting at péage gates further along. If you've been spotted by one and are unfortunate enough to come off at an exit with a car waiting, you'll be nicked. Nothing to do with the timing. I've seen them sitting there myself, checking plates against a list (luckily we were taking it uncharacteristically easy when we went past the speed trap.)

I think everything has been covered but from my experience, I saw a couple of police on the side with radar guns but found truck drivers would flash their lights warning you even though they are not allowed to do this.

We made a sprint for the ferry and nothing happened to us and er all bikers seem to wave which is nice.

Just be sensible and use your head!