the wee p Posted January 7, 2009 Share Posted January 7, 2009 HelloI was wondering if any one knows why there are no cats eyes in the road in France like in the UK? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suein56 Posted January 7, 2009 Share Posted January 7, 2009 [quote user="the wee p"]I was wondering if any one knows why there are no cats eyes in the road in France like in the UK? [/quote]Could be that the inventor of cat's eyes, Percy Shaw, was English and he sensibly patented the system and French pride being what it is ... they could not/would not bring themselves to use such a system - and, even worse, have to pay for the privilege of using a foreign system.Sue [Www] - ducking quickly from the fallout Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the wee p Posted January 7, 2009 Author Share Posted January 7, 2009 Ah i see, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maude Posted January 7, 2009 Share Posted January 7, 2009 Why would the French want or need cats eyes in the road centre-they are always on the wrong side anyway,especially the 79 platers! Maude Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suein56 Posted January 7, 2009 Share Posted January 7, 2009 [quote user="maude"]Why would the French want or need cats eyes in the road centre-they are always on the wrong side anyway,especially the 79 platers![/quote]Of course, why didn't I think of that - obvious really.Sue [;-)] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dog Posted January 7, 2009 Share Posted January 7, 2009 The french also appreciate motorcyclists and do not treat them as temporary citizens.Cats eyes are not biker friendly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maricopa Posted January 7, 2009 Share Posted January 7, 2009 [quote user="the wee p"]I was wondering if any one knows why there are no cats eyes in the road in France like in the UK[/quote]See this previous discussionhttp://www.completefrance.com/cs/forums/1443236/ShowPost.aspx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnOther Posted January 7, 2009 Share Posted January 7, 2009 Why no cats eyes - have you ever seen a frogs eye reflect [6]Referring back to a comment in the other thread:Whilst it's true that Percy Shaw did invent them as a result of seeing a cats eye allegedly his initial inspiration came when the tram lines were removed in nearby Bradford and he realised that he'd been using them to navigate by and sought a replacement. A great deal of their prevalence in the UK stems from WW2 where theyproved a very effective way of navigating at night without the need forfull headlights in the blackout.They are definitely something I miss on French roads. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suein56 Posted January 7, 2009 Share Posted January 7, 2009 [quote user="ErnieY"]They are definitely something I miss on French roads. [/quote]Me too.Sue Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil & Pat Posted January 7, 2009 Share Posted January 7, 2009 All French drivers have such good eyesight they don't need them. Fog that recently slowed me to 50 to 60kph had no effect on them! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glacier1 Posted January 8, 2009 Share Posted January 8, 2009 On the National 7, there are so many blind corners and bends, I've seen vehicles all over the road, I've had near misses thanks to (mostly) white delivery vans who cut corners well over the double white line! How many times I've driven from my girlfriend's back home, pitch black and the white lines in the center of the road is barelly visable. It's worse when it's pouring with rain, I've had several near misses thanks to the lack of clear markings on the road or faded white lines! They are so damn picky with controle technique, maybe they should "controle technique" their own road system! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glacier1 Posted January 8, 2009 Share Posted January 8, 2009 I lived in Andalucia before coming here.....it's worse over there! I have seen people pushing the car infront with their own bumper because they took too long to drive through a light which had just changed to green.......chaos theory applies when it comes to Southern Spain! I prefer France :D I just wish they wouldn't keep so close to the back of my car when I'm driving at 90kph! One day I'll break hard and they'll crash into me! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iceni Posted January 8, 2009 Share Posted January 8, 2009 [quote user="glacier1"]On the National 7, there are so many blind corners and bends, I've seen vehicles all over the road, I've had near misses thanks to (mostly) white delivery vans who cut corners well over the double white line! How many times I've driven from my girlfriend's back home, pitch black and the white lines in the center of the road is barelly visable. It's worse when it's pouring with rain, I've had several near misses thanks to the lack of clear markings on the road or faded white lines! [/quote]Suggest that you add a new criterion when choosing a girlfriend.Cats eyes, like choice of takeaway food, are something that you have to learn to live without having moved to France.John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyh4 Posted January 8, 2009 Share Posted January 8, 2009 [quote user="glacier1"]On the National 7, there are so many blind corners and bends, I've seen vehicles all over the road, I've had near misses thanks to (mostly) white delivery vans who cut corners well over the double white line! How many times I've driven from my girlfriend's back home, pitch black and the white lines in the center of the road is barelly visable. It's worse when it's pouring with rain, I've had several near misses thanks to the lack of clear markings on the road or faded white lines! They are so damn picky with controle technique, maybe they should "controle technique" their own road system![/quote] Why worry about the blind bends - it's the blind drivers that are the problem. I have had them pull out in front of me (from the left) on the straight bits between Tain and Bourg. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glacier1 Posted January 8, 2009 Share Posted January 8, 2009 Exactly, I know the area between Tain and Bourg les valence. Terrible drivers! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonzjob Posted January 8, 2009 Share Posted January 8, 2009 I tried the pencil sharpener metioned on the other thread. All I finished up with was a smelly pencil and dommed great scratches all up me arm [:'(] !!If motorcyclists had their guide dogs with them they wouldn't have to ride down the white line and therefore they would miss the cats eyes peut etra?[Www][Www][:D] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonzjob Posted January 8, 2009 Share Posted January 8, 2009 I seem to have put this on the wrong thread just now. On the thread mentioned before, so here goes again [8-)]?I tried the pencil sharpener metioned on the other thread. All I finished up with was a smelly pencil and dammed great scratches all up me arm[:'(] !!If motorcyclists had their guide dogs with them they wouldn't have to ride down the white line and therefore they would miss the cats eyes peut etra?[Www][Www][:D]Also, as far as drivers pulling out from the left? Not heard of priority a droit have we? It doesn't matter of there is a stop sign they are crossing cause most don't look at trivia such as that! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frederick Posted January 8, 2009 Share Posted January 8, 2009 There are great cats eyes in France in roads ....the new ones....The newly laid road along the coast just inland between La Tranche and L.Aiguillon sur Mer ....Vendee (85) has flashing cats eyes on the roundbout approaches They must be LED's they are very bright ..very good ..wish there were lots more ..you can see them a long way off ..I cant say how they work as I have never got out to look at them they must get some power from somewhere solar panal maybe ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonzjob Posted January 8, 2009 Share Posted January 8, 2009 Hi, oh lovely Milk Monitors!!! I seem to be causing havoc in the making here because I posted my last bity on the wrong thread!Is there any chance that you could delete my last post and move Fredricks post to the Cats eyes thread on the driving forum? Pretty please [:$][8-)][:$][8-)]!It's me age? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnOther Posted January 8, 2009 Share Posted January 8, 2009 Ideal Christmas present ?[img]http://dbhs.wvusd.k12.ca.us/webdocs/Humor/cat-carrier.jpg[/img] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clair Posted January 8, 2009 Share Posted January 8, 2009 [quote user="Jonzjob"]Hi, oh lovely Milk Monitors!!! I seem to be causing havoc in the making here because I posted my last bity on the wrong thread!Is there any chance that you could delete my last post and move Fredricks post to the Cats eyes thread on the driving forum? Pretty please [:$][8-)][:$][8-)]![/quote]Done [:)][quote user="Jonzjob"]It's me age?[/quote]Do you really want me to answer that?[Www] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glacier1 Posted January 8, 2009 Share Posted January 8, 2009 hahahahahahaha, fantastic advert....my brother has 7 cats, do I get reductions for bulk purchases? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chirpy Posted January 8, 2009 Share Posted January 8, 2009 When I was in paid employment I spent my whole time in the paint industry-one company of which I was their chief chemist were specialising in road traffic marking and the normal paints after the very thick hot melts (thermoplastics)applied during the war were fast drying chlorinated rubber paints which had glass ballotini mixed into it.The ballotini was a glass sphere which gave retroactive reflexion and these paints could be made in white or yellow depending on thier end use.They were naturally cheaper than the original self cleaning cats eyes which were inserted in a rubber mould which had 2 large glass spheres which when a tyre ran over them ,were depressed into the rubber and hence wiped clean.A simple ingenious idea.Their problem was the cost of installationand sometimes a danger to 2 wheeled transport.Aroundthe late 60's an abs plastic tile about 1/4" thick and 4"square was produced with two rows of glass beads (10 in each row) which could be stuck to the road surface with a 2pack epoxy cement.white for marking lanes,yellow for no parking or verge indicaters and red versions were made to show exit to moterways.Today in the U.K. all types are still used.the road paint however needs doing each year.The french version does not seem as good in reflective properties as the U.K. VERSION --NO DOUBT THEY HAVE LESS BEADS OR NEED A GOOD CHEMIST TO SORT IT OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I hope I have not bored you too much but this was my professional life -developing paints for all industries -from shipping,offshore,domesticand heavy industries throughout the world. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonzjob Posted January 8, 2009 Share Posted January 8, 2009 Green on the exits of M/ways too.There you go Ab. You have a job here in France now, all you have to do is convince them of their mistaken wayz??[:D] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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