Club Arnage

Just a reminder that a fluorescent safety jacket/vest is now required to be carried for the driver in all cars in France.
It must be accessable in the cabin, so it can be put on in the car before you get out.
From the number of French drivers I saw with the jacket visabley hung on the passenger seat while I was in France last August, I presume Les Flics are keen that everybody complies. Drinking vouchers have to handed over if they catch you without one. :(

Am I correct in thinking that there should be one for each passenger in the vehicle too?

Spot on Rex.

No that's in Spain, France only requires one for the driver I believe.

Looks like a raid on the store at work then ;)
Do they have to be yellow or can they be any colour?
Sure Lady PP and Alex will want pink ones and I still have my network rail orange one somewhere...

Barry,
Also required, but little known, is that you have to paint the end of your todger orange (if it's not orange already...) and keep it lying on the seat whilst driving. This, if I'm reading it correctly, could pose quite few Health and Safety questions as far as drivers of roadsters are concerned. I for one, am looking forward to a test case.
I also believe you have to have your bullet-hole painted green (if it's not green already.....)
H

They have to have the CE mark on then Rex.
I don't think pink ones do ;D

Just been checking and a warning triangle is also now compulsary, although that can be kept in the boot.

Everything I've read says driver only, prehaps KPY or Mr Termie can confirm.

No effort required for me then.... what about the ladies?

The rules are a little unclear on this one. Which I suppose, is very French.
To be on the safe side I'd recommend carrying a full pallette of body paint and a fairly comprehensive swatch of tartans. Then just improvise, - the police will understand.
H

It's my understanding that at least one of the occupants of the vehicle MUST wear the jacket/vest at all times, this to facilitate the gendermes checking the presence of such a vest/jacket in every vehicle.

Driver only. Some people here are avin a larf.
Big H is, as ever, entirely serious.

The AA has some advice here http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/overseas/countrybycountry.html?mySelect=%2Fmotoring_advice%2Ftouring_tips%2FAA_France_Monaco.pdf&go.x=58&go.y=10

If you go Halfords a hi-vis vest did cost a fiver & a triangle about 15  :o I checked out our local Tesco & got a pack of 4 hi-vis vests  (2 adults & 2 kids) for about £4.50 & a triangle for about £7

^ I wouldn't wear one of Halford's vests on a bet.

(http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x48/gooniestorm/RobHalfordJP.jpg)

Makes my hips look big.  ;D

Thanks for the link Bentley Boy.   It lead me to this PDF document Compulsory Equipment (http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/touring_tips/compulsory_equipment.pdf) for Europe.

Interestingly enough it makes no mention of spare Bulbs I thought there was a requirement to carry spare bulbs in France.

t.

Or free from Network Rail as Lord PP points out. ;)

I thought that most people reading this would wear a Hi Viz jacket most of the time.  You know, those orange ones with "Community Payback"  written on the back ;D ;D ;D ;D

Or the office of a forklift truck manufacturer where I may just hold the keys to the 'freebie' cupboard.   ;D

Dx

I have a lovely collection of these, including a selection of jackets, from some of the big housebuilders that I used to work for.

They all insist on handing out THEIR PPE when you join.

So that's a variety of boots, hats, jackets and vests all gathering dust in garage & boot of car  ;D

Also, don't forget that you must carry a minimum of 1ltr of fuel in the boot.

My experience from last year:-

I bought 2x 5ltr plastic 'cans', because a 1970's british sports car would not make it without a fill up.

I was first car across the line at Newhaven and, the ffirst car in for a search at customs! What the ***k can you carry in a 35yro Spitfire!

I was asked:-

Do I have any knives, guns, explosives? Only cutlery for knives.

Do I have any spare fuel in the car? please open the boot. 2x 5ltr cans.

Can you put the fuel in the main tank?  No. I just filled up.

The ferry company will not allow you those on board, we'll give a you receipt but hand them over please.

Advice, take an empty fuel can on the ferry, I had 10 ltrs confiscated last year.

So fill the can up over in France.

BTW, on my return when claiming my fuel, one can was EMPTY!!! OK, the Port paid me a fiver for their mistake. But take head.

Frpm the AA's website: -

Ade and I are coming by Jet2.com and SNCF. Will we need hi-vis p.p.e. to get on the tram in LM or is it alright if we just arrive completely p****d ?
Whether it's alright by les Gendarmes or not that's what's going to happen.
Good luck to all you car wallahs out there.
Cheers!!

Hic!

I've got my own special hi-vis p.p.e - a Dfh T-shirt & cap  ;D

Ade

As far as I understood, if a vehicle breaks down, only persons wearing a hi-vis jacket are allowed out of the car.
To me this is a stupid rule, as kids and wife are much safer behind the guardrail, instead of inside the vehicle on the hard shoulder :-\

Guess the option of the cheap jackets at your local Tesco is the way to go...

Paddy - please quote chapter and verse. That is not French law (Code de la Route) as I understand it.

Permit me to help - I've just looked it up. Only those who get out of the car have to wear a fluorescent jacket. If the others apart from the driver stay in the car they don't have to wear them. In other words, since it is prudent to get the hell out of there carry the maximum number. Oh, and the warning triangle. This should be placed 30 metres behind the car and the hazard warning lights left on. That is as comprehensive as I can give you.

Oh, and spare bulbs. Yes you must carry them but the law does not require you to fit one if one breaks. Logical ain't it? ???

What about all the poor sods who have naff all luggage room to start with? Does this require them to fit a luggage/roof rack to carry all the safety gear in case of breakdown? Also, on the subject of spare bulbs - does the law require spares for all the lighting? My car is fitted with HID headlights and I'm not even sure I could fit them if they were available without the assistance of a fully equipped dealer workshop and trained technicians! Jeez.............

Pretzel.

You are forgetting they are laws.  They are therefore devoid of logic or reason.    They are not meant to be understood they are only to be obeyed.

I also have the HID light problem.   I'm not sure what the deal is with regard to the fitting beam deflectors or tape.  I normally just slap a bit of insulating tape on the glass but theses HID light have clear lenses so you can't really guess were to put the tape.

t.

The HIDs on the Omega were easily swapped from left to right dip by means of a lever on the back. Can't find an equivalent on the Mondeo. And I certainly wouldn't consider carrying a HID bulb - didn't someone tell me they are about £600?

Our Ford doesn't have a facility to change the dipped beam either, you have to take it to the garage to adjust.

This is really stupid, apart from the cost of the work at stealer hourly rates, what are you supposed to do if you are leaving for France during the night?

Break the law in UK, or abroad?

Dumb, really dumb.

I suspect they had the decimal point in the wrong place or they were quoting Lira.
A quick google suggest they are less than a ton.   But still pricey.

I'm off to have a poke about under the bonnet for a leaver.

t.

Reflective Jackets, try

http://www.greenham.com/ (http://www.greenham.com/)

they must be the cheapest commercial outlet and you can do it all online.

I have used this company many times through my work and I can recomend them.

Not perfect, but angle the lights down - that works for me.

Has any one produced any stats that compare death or injuries for those wearing Hi-Viz Jackets. 
For example:-

The AA or RAC should be able to say  something like prior to year X we on average N% of our call outs to a recovery resulted in Death or Serious injury to the Patrol man.  Since Year X that average has changed to N-n%.

t.

The thought just crossed my mind.

Your driving along with the Wife and five kids in the car.   The car starts to loose power and you have to pull over.   Next you don the one and  only Florescent Jacket in the Car.   You Get our of the car and open the bonnet.   The engine bursts in to flames.   

Is it still illegal for the Wife and five kids to get out of the car?


T.

Simple in France and a few other EU countries is YES.

Pig Pen Racing will be sporting rather fetching pink Hi Vis vests.... Nothing else... just the vests ;) ;D
There are shed loads on ebay including ones that can have custom text added. Prices range from £3 to £10 depending on what you want.... I think we will... as the old ad campain said, "Be Safe, Be Seen!"

For anyone searching for a 'Dover-Calais' lever on HID headlamps, if they are fitted, you will find them inside the headlamp housing. You will need to remove the back cover behind the low beam unit and have a furtle around to see if there is anything resembling a lever. Some HID lamps have tamper proof fittings on the back cover and are a dealer job to access, however you may be able to get to the lever (if it is fitted) by removing the high beam cover.
If you don't have 'Dover-Calais' levers them the only solution is to use the load level switch on your dash board to drop the level of the lights. Level 1 should be OK, however if you have a heavily loaded boot you may need to drop them further. There is no way to use beam deflectors/ electrical tape on any headlamp, HID or halogen, that uses a PES unit (the sort with a 'bullseye' lens), the only option is to lower the lamps using the load level switch.
Any vehicle that is fitted with self leveling air suspension will not have a load level switch, in this case your only option (if you can really be @rsed) is to pop the bonnet and reaim the lamps down using the vertical aiming adjusters on the headlamps. Oh, you then need to remember to adjust them back up again when you get home.

Hope this helps  :)

I guess I will wear my DFH blouse while driving in france, It's orange and has reflecting stripes on it, well sort off!

(http://gallery.drinkingforholland.com/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=2290&g2_serialNumber=1)

I now wear my DFH hat when driving in France, its Orange (good colour) and has a reflective strip. So when I stop and look out the window - I'm legal  ;D

As I don't appear to have any adjustment on the 'Z' I'll just leave them as is ......... as usual.

I'm not planning on breaking down but will take my bright yellow ACO plastic poncho as usual to ward off the rain - that should double as a high viz jacket if required.

This guy nearly had it covered http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xHDP4exLCes&feature=related  :D

 ;D ;D ;D Nice one!

 :o Does that mean I need 17 jackets for our minibus????

if anybody still requires a Hi Viz vest there were a number of vest in the A14 central reservation between the A1 and the M1/M6 junction yesterday ;D

Are there any requirements to wear the Hi Viz jackets?  What constitutes an "Emergency"?
 
Do I need to wear one while I'm Mowing?

t.

Probably everyone else need to wear one when you are mowing  ;D...

>Martini...LB

Lady PP reports that Poundland are doing Hi Vis Vests for ........ £1.