Driving in France

[Andy Milne]

In the UK we must test blood sugar every 2 hours, does anybody know the rules for France or where I might find the information

Andy

 

[Northerner]

I can't answer your question Andy, but it might be worth contacting the Diabetes UK Helpline to see if they can direct you to the information. Unless the rules are more stringent I would think it's best to stick with the UK guidelines.

 

[HOBIE]

Hi Andy. I have driven & road my Motorbike a bit in Europe. You need 2 blow in the bag alcohol testers (about £15) & have driven a van through the middle of Paris on a fri nt rush hour ! MAD. Enjoy

 

[mikeyB]

The simplest way is to ask your insurance company, if it’s just for a visit.

If you are going to live there, you need a doctors letter to state that you are fit to drive. I don’t think there’s any further additional regulation as in the UK.

 

[HOBIE]

Hi Andy. I have driven & road my Motorbike a bit in Europe. You need 2 blow in the bag alcohol testers (about £15) & have driven a van through the middle of Paris on a fri nt rush hour ! MAD. Enjoy

Different rules apply there. You need a high vis jacket & warning sign. Gps is a no no.

 

[trophywench]

High viz jackets (gilets jaune) in or on every single vehicle driven in France - and they must be within immediate reach of the driver not 'in the boot' in a car, motorhome, van or lorry or worn by rider and pillion (if carried) on a bike since you aren't supposed to get out or off your vehicle onto the public highway without wearing it in the event of an accident - are compulsory, but they never enforced the breathalyser regulation and completely scrapped it a while ago, before it was due to be enforced anyway. French traffic cops hand held devices can detect substances that shouldn't be on your breath without blowing into anything - they merely engage you in conversation by greeting you politely after they've stopped you and you've rolled your window down - saying Bonjour is enough for them to know pretty damn well whether you need any further investigation. So far nobody I know has needed the latter - so I dunno what happens if you qualify for that!

GPS is not illegal in France - only speed camera warnings ON your GPS. It is also illegal in France to publish any footage of an accident you may witness or be involved in - on things like Facebook etc - I believe the law says you have to hand it over to the police - but we haven't looked into that, not owning a dashcam when it was announced on the Motorhome forum we belong to. Incidentally the info I give here has actually been confirmed by various French members and ex Pats resident in France so it isn't misinfo by some panicking individual who might have got hold of the wrong end of the stick. If you use a webcam - just be aware.

Unfortunately it's no good asking the DVLA what the driving laws are abroad for diabetes - they tell you to check in the countries you will be visiting and when you ask 'Who do I contact for that?' they're sorry, but they don't know!

 

[HOBIE]

A few years ago the French coppers where in the paper. REMOVING English peoples GPS. Might be they did not want them on the non tariff roads ?