Tom Morgan Posted 3 July , 2008 Share Posted 3 July , 2008 How does this affect motorcyclists? I ask on behalf of a good pal, a regular battlefield visitor who drives a Harley. I don't think are any changes to the laws regarding motorcyclists' clothing. As far as I know the only rule is that you must wear a helmet. So presumably you could ride naked but for a helmet and not get done for any traffic offence. Though you might get done for indecent exposure. I've never tried this. I always wear a flouresecent waistcoat all the time when riding, anyway (in addition to all my other clothes). Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul@bolton Posted 3 July , 2008 Share Posted 3 July , 2008 Funny that changing a bulb on a Megane should come up. I visited the local Renault dealership to get an indicator bulb yesterday. Bought one for £3.00 and was then told it would cost £14.98 to fit it - who works these prices out? I asked why and apparently they have to get the car up on the ramp to replace a bulb. Should be fun on a french motorway. To get back on topic, I suggest getting off the main road, finding a suitable shell hole or, better still, a trench, parking with front wheels on the parapet, rear wheels on the parados and, not forgetting to don one's hi vis jacket, crawl underneath. I've seen a lot of photos of tanks on the forum trying to do this - didn't realise they had lights, spare bulbs and the same problem. Seems a bit much if they had to wear the hi vis jackets as well! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kaisersoffensive Posted 3 July , 2008 Share Posted 3 July , 2008 I tied to change a light bulb in a Ford Escort last year, it took me an hour to figure out how to do it , by then I had removed most of the headlight assembly. Its near impossible unless you have very strong and thin fingers as there is no room in the engine comparments thesedays. It used to take 10 minutes in my old Fiesta 8 of which was the drive down to Halfords to get a new bulb. Not a problem experienced by Gynaecologists! I am told they are also able to paper the front hall throught their letterbox. Can you imagine! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest KevinEndon Posted 3 July , 2008 Share Posted 3 July , 2008 It was camoflagued hi vis they wore in 1916 not bright yellow. The French haven't thought this through because when you are standing at the side of a road with the bright yellow vest on, you are attacked by a swarm of wasps and whilst trying to escape from them you run onto the road and get squashed like a hedgehog. Next years new rule will be that you have to carry a hi vis vest and a can of insect killer in the car. K Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steven Broomfield Posted 3 July , 2008 Share Posted 3 July , 2008 Centurion mentioned yellow headlamps. I used to love those days at Dover docks when you'd be frantically painting what looked like nail varnish on your headlamps; followed by those equally fun times at Calais when you'd try and wash it off again. I do miss the great "will we....won't we" debate before setting off. Is it true, as I read somewhere, many years ago, that the French introduced them in the late 1930's so that when the dastardly Hun invaded, they'd be able to spot the German vehicles because they had white headlights? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keithfazzani Posted 3 July , 2008 Share Posted 3 July , 2008 Centurion mentioned yellow headlamps. I used to love those days at Dover docks when you'd be frantically painting what looked like nail varnish on your headlamps; followed by those equally fun times at Calais when you'd try and wash it off again. But do you miss the time in between when you couldn't see a thing even with your lights full on because your headlights were rendered useless due to painting yellow stuff all over them? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
auchonvillerssomme Posted 3 July , 2008 Share Posted 3 July , 2008 Those nice young men and ladies at Halfords will change your bulb for a couple of quid, or if its a real easy one they have done it for nothing. Mick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul@bolton Posted 3 July , 2008 Share Posted 3 July , 2008 I suspect those 'nice young men and ladies at Halfords' would struggle with a Megane as it definitely needed an inspection pit/ramp and 30 minutes, but I'll give them a go next time. Unless it happens in france, in which case the trenches at the Newfoundland Memorial Park might be an option. Anyone seeing a bright blue Megane parked across them, feel free to lend a hand Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
healdav Posted 3 July , 2008 Author Share Posted 3 July , 2008 1. At the moment the requirement is only for the driver to have a jacket, the thinking being that in principle the passenger will get out on the side away from the road. However, it is only sense to have jackets for two people in the car, so two can help change a wheel. 2. It will come in the UK as your government helped frame this EU legislation (doubtless they will require car seats to be painted as well) and possibly a spare jacket for each person. This will be the fault of the EU, naturally. 3. You can try being a sea lawyer with a French Gendarme, good luck. When they let you out, do post and tell us what the cell was like. 4. You can actually be banned from driving in France even though your car is foreign registered, and you may well get the ban notice sent to you several months after an on the spot fine, when the case has been reviewed. 5. If stopped for speeding in Belgium, you have to pay an on the spot fine, and if you don't your car can be impounded until the case comes up in court, nd then even if found not guilty you have to pay the pound fee. 6. In Germany you have to carry two triangles. One to be placed at least 50 metres in front of the vehicle and the other 50 metres behind. 7. Yes, these things are compulsory in hire cars, and you should check you have them before you go. The Gendarmerie won't take, 'I didn't look' as an excuse. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
truthergw Posted 3 July , 2008 Share Posted 3 July , 2008 I am seriously thinking of taking driving lessons, passing the various tests, purchasing a car and going to France. I don't see why you lot should have all the fun. ( I already have 2 hi-vis waistcoats, 1 lightweight summer and 1 heavyweight winter. Seems a shame not to get full use out of them) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
green_acorn Posted 3 July , 2008 Share Posted 3 July , 2008 Chris...globes??? couldnt you get the proper maps? Mick Mick, light bulbs, light globes different time and place and use of our, thankfully, common tongue. The law is pointless now everything in modern cars is LED, you have to replace the unit, not just the thing with the broken filament. cheers, Chris H Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geraint Posted 3 July , 2008 Share Posted 3 July , 2008 As mentioned, I have had three car hires over the last two months. 2Avis 1 Herz. None had hi vis gillets. They all had a triangle and a spare bulb kit. One didn't have a spare wheel but a tin of this frothy stuff which is OK for a slow puncture - but absolutely useless in a blow-out! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egbert Posted 3 July , 2008 Share Posted 3 July , 2008 6. In Germany you have to carry two triangles. One to be placed at least 50 metres in front of the vehicle and the other 50 metres behind. What utterly rubbish! Pare 34 Traffic Regulation requires one -always had always will. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George Armstrong Custer Posted 3 July , 2008 Share Posted 3 July , 2008 This will be the fault of the EU, naturally. Well you got that right. No wonder the Irish voted 'No' to their bloody Lisbon Treaty. Between our home-grown nanny-state and the EU our traditional UK concepts of freedom from unnecessary state intrusion are caught between a rock and a hard place. Sensible safety legislation is brought into disrepute with draconian laws such as the one you cite which states that "even if found not guilty you have to pay the pound fee." ciao, GAC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete1052 Posted 3 July , 2008 Share Posted 3 July , 2008 I still own the warning triangle and first aid kit I was required to have for driving in Germany in 1978. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egbert Posted 3 July , 2008 Share Posted 3 July , 2008 Where is the Brit sportsmanship? C'mon a hi vis jacket -what the heck, it saves lifes, but uhh in the UK they still drive on the wrong side of the road. BTW why bother about a life saving French regulation just check these top 10 Brit laws: 1. It is illegal to die in the Houses of Parliament 2. It is an act of treason to place a postage stamp bearing the British monarch upside-down 3. In Liverpool, it is illegal for a woman to be topless except as a clerk in a tropical fish store 4. Mince pies cannot be eaten on Christmas Day 5. In Scotland, if someone knocks on your door and requires the use of your toilet, you must let them enter 6. A pregnant woman can legally relieve herself anywhere she wants, including in a policeman’s helmet 7. The head of any dead whale found on the British coast automatically becomes the property of the king, and the tail of the queen 8. It is illegal to avoid telling the tax man anything you do not want him to know, but legal not to tell him information you do not mind him knowing 9. It is illegal to enter the Houses of Parliament in a suit of armor 10. In the city of York it is legal to murder a Scotsman within the ancient city walls, but only if he is carrying a bow and arrow Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimSmithson Posted 3 July , 2008 Share Posted 3 July , 2008 You tell me to get out more. You lot have been discussing hi vis jackets all day! :rolleyes: Oh of course - it's Wimbledon and it's raining! Getting out of here now before I'm sucked in again. Cheers Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruce Posted 3 July , 2008 Share Posted 3 July , 2008 Egbert...what is wrong with number ten on your list??? Incidentally....any Welshman (but not welshwoman) found withing the walls of Chester after dark with a sword can be put to death forthwith. There is also a sign in the middle of the North Yorks Moors stating that it is an offence to throw stones at the notice........ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eparges Posted 3 July , 2008 Share Posted 3 July , 2008 It has been calculated here that the averidge 'survival'time on the 'bande d'urgence' (hard shoulder??? that's why british women come to the continent...) is about 22 minutes...if the jacket will help... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George Armstrong Custer Posted 3 July , 2008 Share Posted 3 July , 2008 It has been calculated here that the averidge 'survival'time on the 'bande d'urgence' (hard shoulder??? that's why british women come to the continent...) is about 22 minutes...if the jacket will help... That's an interesting statistic - I wonder what the equivalent survival time on the hard shoulder is in the UK. I'd be surprised if it wasn't quite a bit longer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eparges Posted 3 July , 2008 Share Posted 3 July , 2008 You probably don't have so many 'eastern' truckers on the road..and drinking & drivin is still considered a national sport here Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
59165 Posted 3 July , 2008 Share Posted 3 July , 2008 Chris, tell your mate to carry a vest if he's on the continent. Chantal said that she thought it was the same reg.for bikers but wasn't sure.No harm done when they cost peanuts anyway. She also said that 1 per car is ok. Eg. We dont drive on the wrong side of the road,neither do the Indians,Bangledeshi's,Pakistani's ,Japanese,all the Anzacs & probably Iceland. If it were so,your German trains are running on the wrong side of the tracks . Emmigrate here now,mate! I'm sure we can find you an appartment in the Tower. Bring your own gas.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steven Broomfield Posted 3 July , 2008 Share Posted 3 July , 2008 I like driving in my car It's not quite a Jag-u-ar I feel better now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eparges Posted 3 July , 2008 Share Posted 3 July , 2008 I like driving in my car It's not quite a Jag-u-ar I feel better now. Isn't that Tata now? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egbert Posted 3 July , 2008 Share Posted 3 July , 2008 We dont drive on the wrong side of the road,neither do the Indians,Bangledeshi's,Pakistani's ,Japanese,all the Anzacs & probably Iceland. If they'd driven on the correct side, they probably could log in to GWF already. Surely they do not require any hi vis jackets here. And yes, are these all Brit, Indians,Bangledeshi's,Pakistani's ,Japanese, Anzacs & probably Iceland drivers here? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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