Foreign reg in France - Lights on? - Less accidents on French roads

- Still driving a car with a foreign registration and identity plate from within the EU — GB, D, NL or what have you? No problem in theory, but the cops are keeping a special eye out for such vehicles following an official claim that one in ten of all road accidents in France is caused by foreign drivers. Brits should note that if they’re disqualified here the penalty is automatically applied in the U.K. Negotiations are afoot to create a similar system regarding penalty points.

- The Ministry of Transport is recommending drivers to keep their headlights on during the day outside of urban areas from the 1st of November. This, it’s estimated, could avoid up to 1100 road deaths over a year! Meanwhile, there’s a crack-down on “the excessive use of a horn”. This is an offence carrying a fine of 35 euros. A third of drivers surveyed admitted they habitually sound off “to show their impatience”.

- There’s been much positive comment — including in these pages — over last year’s cut in road deaths in France which fell to 5731. On an annual basis that meant 104.3 fatalities per million of the population. That compared with 60.5 in the U.K. and 161.1 in Portugal, the country with the EU’s most dangerous roads. However, it’s not certain that next year’s French figure will show all that much progress. Why so? France has decided to come into line with all other EU states (except — er — Portugal) and count as fatalities all deaths within 30 days of an accident; currently “road deaths” must occur within six days. This change will certainly produce a different total and slow down the hopes for progressive reduction in the death toll.

- To go back to our first item, the contribution of foreign drivers to the accident figures is largely the result of their unfamiliarity with French roads, driving habits and regulations. Anyone wanting to bone up on the basics of French roadcraft can consult: www.discover-france.info/gettingaround_driving_safety.htm

From Reporter 105 - Oct/Nov 2004

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