joidevie Posted April 5, 2019 Share Posted April 5, 2019 Having been caught out a couple of years ago, I was wondering if there is any definitive rule as to when you 'jump' a light, or are simply making a sensible decision. Since having been fined once, I am absolutely paranoid about crossing (that same) traffic lights with cameras - to the point of slamming my foot on the brakes at the mere whiff of a change of light. Dangerous in my opinion!In the UK it's clear, if you cross on orange, that's considered OK. However in France, on asking around, I get very mixed and confused responses.. Many say 'if your front wheels have crossed on orange...' etc etc.Is there a definitive rule? Anyone have a link to any sites?Many thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idun Posted April 5, 2019 Share Posted April 5, 2019 Motoring has certainly changed in France over the years. And I understand your concern.Should be a live link.http://www.securite-routiere.gouv.fr/en-parler-agir/info-intox/code-de-la-route/le-passage-au-feu-orange-est-autorise.-vrai-ou-faux2Article R412-31 du Code de la route. Vous devez obligatoirement vous arrêter au feu orange, sauf si cela doit vous conduire à un danger. Mise à jour le 02 août 2017 And that last bit will always be up for dispute, won't it!Motoring used to be madness in France, and I used to find it frightening and exciting too.When we used to have friends or family over, this is what I told them years ago about approaching lights and what I saw as the french approach to them.IF on red, don't slow, they may change. Braking hard at the last minute is OK. IF on green, go and don't suppose that they will change.IF on orange go.And for friends and family, ALWAYS, keep an eye on who is behind you and how close they are, because they will assume that you are going to go, practically no matter when. These days, unless everyone is disciplined, I would suggest that tailgaters are the danger, as ever they were, are there still so many of them around?Friends have cameras in the front and back of their car now. Not done it myself, but I understand why. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joidevie Posted April 5, 2019 Author Share Posted April 5, 2019 Thanks Idun.. It seems to be what I've 'heard'..In truth, the UK 'rule' is probably not far off this but people tend to take as much as they can..When I got a fine, I was definitely on a red light, so fair enough. I was stressed with a heavy load sticking out of the back of an estate car, and I was paying more attention to looking in the rear mirror than the lights..So you er on suggesting your visitors to not slam on the brakes on orange? It's a fine line - you could have crossed with your front wheels just as you notice in the corner of your eye the light change from green to orange.. Then what? Split second decision the check no one is 10cm off your rear and arrête!I'm truly paranoid, especially at that particular light, and even take detours to avoid it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idun Posted April 5, 2019 Share Posted April 5, 2019 No idea what I would say now. I'd have to assess where I lived before giving such advice. I have known me to stop at a red and the car behind overtake me to go through. Used to happen often.And you must remember that in ye olde days there were next to no roundabouts in France and the ones there were had priorite a droit on them, so you drove straight onto a roundabout and then, if you were on the roundabout, braked like hell to stop.So a game of hard braking, was simply normal, as it always is with priorite a droit anyway.The distractions of driving eh, doesn't take much for us to do something we shouldn't, any of us[blink] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BritinBretagne Posted April 5, 2019 Share Posted April 5, 2019 I regularly drive in a town with traffic light cameras. The locals are very wary of them and tend not to jump the lights. Once bitten? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lehaut Posted April 6, 2019 Share Posted April 6, 2019 The new cameras currently being installed appear also to watch crossing the red light, amongst many other things including, it would appear, tailgating!Des radars capables de contrôler plusieurs infractionsCes nouveaux radars ont la particularité d’être multifonctions. Ils sont capables de contrôler la vitesse de circulation en fonction du type de véhicule, le respect des feux rouges et des distances de sécurité, le franchissement d’une ligne continue, le dépassement par la droite, le port de la ceinture de sécurité et l’usage du téléphone portable au volant.https://www.dossierfamilial.com/actualite/securite-routiere-400-radars-nouvelle-generation-seront-installes-en-2019 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idun Posted April 6, 2019 Share Posted April 6, 2019 How french driving is going to change, in fact those things will be put up everywhere so people will have to change their driving habits in every country. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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