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Holidays in France – watch your speed!
- Thread starter LizziePope
- Start date
SteveW77 said:
No but I get the feeling they target tourists as easy money. Frankly 1 kph is simply not worth talking about and is just targeting motorists.
The article is not very helpful at all as it does not state speed limits on motorways when towing and this is supposed to be a magazine for caravanners? We have a twin axle and the length of the combined unit is over 12m so i guess we are restricted to 90kph on motorways.
I thought the gross train mass was the deciding factor in France, as per this 2010 article, or has it changed?
https://www.caravanguard.co.uk/news/french-speed-limits-950/
Happy to be corrected.
https://www.caravanguard.co.uk/news/french-speed-limits-950/
Happy to be corrected.
When your driving on the motorways in france , there are plenty of signs telling you off the speed you can do if under or over 3,5oo kg , and even lower speed when it rains !!
The CAMC site says 90 mph if over 3,5t, which I believe applies to the cars maximum rather than the actual MTPLM of the caravan so those who are actually lighter than 3.5t may still have to keep to the lower limit. If I am wrong someone will correct me.
Check all limits on https://www.caravanclub.co.uk/overseas-holidays/planning-your-route/european-speed-limits/?ref=top_nav&id=speed_limits
Check all limits on https://www.caravanclub.co.uk/overseas-holidays/planning-your-route/european-speed-limits/?ref=top_nav&id=speed_limits
Raywood said:
We had some posts on this mot long ago. In France it's based on the combined maximum weight of car plus caravan. It matter not one jot if the car and caravan are unladen. It's the cars MAM plus caravans MTPLM. If the combined mass exceeds 3500 kg you are restricted to the lower speed limits as published. They will also change when it's raining. Don't know why people make such heavy weather of this issue. It's similar to the B E licence conditions where all weights refer to plated maximum weights not actual ones.
Craigyoung said:otherclive said:
Thats what i meant but in a shortened versioned anwser !!
Agreed but you did not differentiate between the actual weight of the outfit and the "plated" weight of the outfit. And it is the latter that governs your speed limits in France. So even an unloaded car and unloaded caravan if their plated weight exceeds 3500 kg then it is restricted to the lower speed limit. I know this and you know this but it's incredible how many times this topic crops up as many are unaware of the details. Despite the fact that they are readily available.
Just make sure you are familiar with the speed limits and anything else the French want you to do in their country that is within their laws before you shove off over there,, and stop whinging if you get pulled , I can't stand Brits that moan all the time,
Just stick to 55 and you'll be ok anyway, it's a safe and steady speed to tow , that's all I stick to anyway now since we've gettin our new van as its 1.5 mtres longer and a bit heavier , if i go above 6o i get a thump off my wife ! If you speed , face the fines !! B)
Happy towing !!!
Happy towing !!!
There are still a lot of French police on the ground compared to U.K. They set up mobile camera positions almost anywhere and they will have a team ready to stop you further on. I would think it's quite within their capability to know the speed limit/ weight rules. In France they also have random breath tests. I was stopped once one mid morning and breathalysed in a small village.
Their enforcement of speed limits combined with the drink drive rules and education have greatly reduced road deaths. In many respects their driving is now better than here in U.K.
Their enforcement of speed limits combined with the drink drive rules and education have greatly reduced road deaths. In many respects their driving is now better than here in U.K.
Stick to the French speed limits, if your car can tow 3.5 tonne you should not exceed 90 kph. But have a Paege Tag. Saves you, all the hassle of stoping at the barries. £ 70 from Dunkirk to Basle. Saved 2 hours on the tow through Belgium and Luxemberg. But lovelly sites to be found in the Alsace area.
EH52ARH said:
It's not "if your car can tow 3500kg" it's the combined plated weight of car and caravan as described in posts earlier in this thread. The cars towing limit is irrelevant to French speed limits but is of course relevant to other legal requirements.
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