Temporary speed limit changes

[Steve Last]

Posted here as well as in travel, as you won't necessarily go looking there routinely!

A word of caution - according to our local paper, here in the south at least the speed limits may be reduced in periods when there is high air pollution - e.g. on autoroutes down from 130 to 100 kph, 110 down to 80, 90 down to 70 and so on. Bouche du Rhone round Marseilles is a typical area. This happens on a pretty unpredictable basis for both times and places concerned. They may put written notices on the autoroute toll boths and have the overhead signs illuminated but the same applies on the RNs etc. where you have no such information although it may be in the local paper that day or on the radio. Tough if you just arrived and didn't know about it - the gendarmes are quoted as saying "it's our job to enforce the law not to inform people about it". Seems to have caused a bit of a local reaction. Be warned, though I don't know what you can do about it!!

Steve L

[Deimos]

I can see the autoroutes one working but I would have thought local papers and local radio would not be adequate to stop and fine/points somebody for speeding. I guess it depends on the nature of “air pollution” as to the gendarmes having a couple of days notice. However, as far as I understand it there is no legal requirement to have nor to listen to a radio in the car nor to read the local papers. I could see one being stopped and given a “tough time” but no fine/points.

However, I have no experience of “air pollution” nor how obvious it is to a driver. The “reduced speed limits in bad weather” seems to work OK and I guess that if it is a obvious as the “poor weather” then maybe it would not be an issue (but then they would not need ads in local papers, etc.).

Useful to know. Many thanks for the info.

Ian

[Steve Last]

Exactly the points being made by the locals!! The air pollution definition is basically ozone parts per million I think, so they do have a "scientific" basis to do it which is what triggers the change, but how l'homme dans la rue is supposed to be able to know is a bit doubtful to say the least.

Steve

Steve

[BJSLIV]

It is a well established practice that comes into effect whenever the Ozone levels rise.

The main areas affected are the big towns in the south and Paris.

The rules are well known and the restrictions are given plenty of publicity in the newspapers and the main evening news broadcasts, the day before the restrictions are introduced.

The following day the same broadcasts usually feature reports of gendarmes fining people for contravening said regs.

It is the responsibility of the Prefect to decide when and where the restrictions are imposed.

Another good reason for watching French TV!

 

 

[Alcazar]

Another good reason for watching French TV!

So what's the other one then?

Alcazar

 

[Richard-R]

I read in one of the local rags that there could be plans be ban HGV's and caravans on some RN's unless they can show that they are taking there sardine cans with beds to a local sight to pitch it ( or whatever they do with the things?) and HGV need to show that they are making a local delivery. The police will set up camp near the entrance to Auto Routes and any one not passing muster will be sent to the tolls if there journay can be made on the Auto Route. Seems the accident rate involving crappervans and HGV's soars in the summer months when they take over the roads. A good idea thought up by a share holder in Autoroute de Sud, it sounds like to me.