Can anyone educate me on HI-VIZ DECALS requirement when riding through France.. after hearing the french have been clamping down on the ridiculous law of having front/back/sides reflective stickers on helmets. I've done some research and can't seem to find a definitive answer if we need them or not. surely riding with a "HI-VIZ waist over coat" should be ample. also do we need these stickers on a yellow HI-VIZ helmet :undecided: with all of the mad laws that the french come up with and tolls every where and the fact they eat frog legs sometimes I ask my-self why I bother spending my hard earned cash with them.
I'm in France now but not on a bike. I can categorically say that I haven't seen any bikers with hi viz of any sort on. Also, I am reliably informed by my mate who has a house here that if there is a toll road then there also has to be a national (free) road, although it will be slower and go through some towns and villages... The scenic route so to speak. Hope that helps.
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https://www.drive-france.com/faqs/motorcycling-france/
Most important to have a hi-viz jacket in case of emergency it seems... We also need that in belgium (car or bike)
Good luck
You only need a hi viz if you break down .then put it on at the side of the road . Stick to the speed limits in the towns and you will be lucky if you even see any police unlike the uk now where every village there's a copper with a speed gun . France is easy and relaxed to ride about in . traffic free and better roads go have fun . The minute you come back into the uk it's nose to tail traffic and bloody cameras everywhere . That's why so many go France or Scotland . :biker3:
Regarding Tolls it all depends what you're trying to achieve.
Couple of years back I just wanted to get down to Monaco as quick as possible (was there for the F1 before continuing down into Italy for a week), it that case using the tolls made it doable in one long day(from Calais) and saved 6 hours riding , although at a cost
https://en.mappy.com/#/5/M2/TItinerary/IFRCalais%2062100%20(France)|TOMonaco%2098000%20(Monaco)|MOmotorbike|PRmotorbike/N0,0,4.63574,47.46924/Z6/
went this time last year.I only took a bulb kit and breathalyser kit.I got pulled over for speeding which landed me with a £80 fine.No points. Police never checked any of the above and were ok to deal with.Had all my docs ect on hand to show.The toll roads were great to ride on.Off again in a couple of weeks :clap:
Thanks for the replies :smiley: like most of you.. I've toured France on bike and in car many times and I'm familiar what's needed to keep on the right side of the law but recently heard that the french police are cracking down on reflective stickers on helmets. as you know reflective stickers on helmets as been a legal requirement for French nationals for years but very rarely enforced. can't see how they can fine us.. but is it worth the 135 euro fine that I've heard they are starting to hand out to bikers with out reflective stickers on helmets :angry: for French riders it is mandatory but European law states.. motorcycle helmets must comply with the European country were they were purchased and the UK government dose not require motorcycle helmets to have reflective stickers. so one law says you do and one law says you don't just wish they would make their bloody minds up and give us a definitive answer :hammer: if you are unlucky to be tug by a keen French copper and you try to educate him on what European law states for that countries motorcycle helmet safety laws then this is going to make him very :angry: and he's got more time than us to waist at the side of the road so the sensible option would be spend a few pounds and apply some reflective stickers after all they don't need to be boring round or square stickers :no: providing they are reflective you can choose your design which should do the job and keep you rolling and give you more beer tokens :smiley:
If high viz was compulsory and everyone had to wear high viz arm bands and jackets, gloves etc this wouldn't be problem would it Dave? :popcorn:
The problem with everyone wearing hi viz is that it then becomes part of the scenery and is no longer seen.
Why does everyone think that legislation is the solution to everything?
Reminds me of incompetent managers who bring in new rules because one person is taking the piss.
Education, not Legislation!
Quote from: Lonewolf on April 08, 2018, 07:40:28 PM
If high viz was compulsory and everyone had to wear high viz arm bands and jackets, gloves etc this wouldn't be problem would it Dave? :popcorn:
Steve.. We seem to be going of topic here :laugh: and I'm no exception :whistling: but I do like a discussion so here is my thoughts :smiley: Boomer as a good point.. if all bikers start wearing HI-VIZ this and HI-VIZ that! then us bikers will become less visible as it will become the norm making us less noticeable to other vehicles. most cars now have running lights which I believe Volvo started the trend off so vehicles now are use to seeing vehicles lights on in the day time which as done us bikers :no: favours. but bikers like to look cool and HI-VIZ dose not fit into that category. I do wear a HI-VIZ sleeveless light jacket and recently replaced my Aria helmet with a b.m.w system 6 HI=VIZ fluro helmet I also ride with led running lights and spotlights day and night will that prompt the driver to take the time to have a second look.. your guess is as good as mine :wink: but I would rather look less cool than look even less cooler as a ornament on a vehicles bonnet :sweatdrop: at the end of the day it makes sense to look as visible as possible to other vehicles.
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Going off topic.....on THIS forum? Never, I can't believe that would ever happen. :whistling:
My comments Dave were very tongue in cheek!! I was not being serious. :mfr_lol:
I have a good friend who spent 30 years as a police rider and he will testify that High Vis has little or no benefit these days as everyone sees it all the time and no one really associates it with danger or a warning. As a road user it's better to be more aware of what's going on and what other people are doing as a life saving measure.
Back on topic....High Vis stickers on helmets are not compulsory for other nationals, the law is a French law and only applies to French nationals. Though for £1 you can get 3 or 4 stickers which are easily removed after a trip. I personally have toured with and without stickers on my helmet, never wear anything High Vis and have never had a problem in France, I've had 5 or 6 routine stop checks of documentation over the years but that is all.
TBH Hi Viz is probably more useful off the bike at the side of tha road than when you''re on it given screns & top boxes etc obscure most of the vest.
That said I do have one, handy clear pocket on the front I keep my driving licence in, little pocket for keeping spare ear plugs in, an inside pocket for my ecig and a bum pocket thats handy for keeping some spare gloves in.
Quote from: Boomer on April 09, 2018, 06:47:37 PM
The problem with everyone wearing hi viz is that it then becomes part of the scenery and is no longer seen.
Why does everyone think that legislation is the solution to everything?
Reminds me of incompetent managers who bring in new rules because one person is taking the piss.
Education, not Legislation!
:agree:
Now there is something our global modererater and azif could look into .
How about a helmet Hi-Viz GTR Forum Sticker a bit smaller than our normal sticker :popcorn:
two penny worth,
Reflective stickers on Helmets;- don't have to be retro fitted to helmets that haven't come with them already fitted, those visiting France from other countries don't have to comply with the helmet sticker rule, those selling stickers near the ports would like to convince you otherwise.
High Viz;- it's compulsory to have it available to put on without leaving the vehicle. i.e I have mine under the grippy mesh that covers the rear part of my seat. Others have their's in a tube fitted to the base of the topbox carrier.
Speeding;- Since May 2017 you can now be traced. DVLA now give out your details to foreign countries trying to track down offenders.
If travelling further afield
As an asside Austria is the only country where you can be found guilty of speeding, without appeal, solely on the opinion of a police officer.
Austria and Switzland have very strict rules regarding photographs and dashcams, read up if travelling that way.
Nitty Gritty..... High Viz;- it's compulsory to have it available to put on without leaving the vehicle. i.e I have mine under the grippy mesh that covers the rear part of my seat. Others have their's in a tube fitted to the base of the topbox carrier.
I assume your Hi.viz is a water proof long sleeve jacket :undecided: because if it was like the one I use which is a netted breathable lightweight sleeveless Hi.VIZ which most riders use then I can't see why you would not just wear it over your summer jacket. also I find this way I can leave my summer jacket just fastened at the bottom and zip the HI.VIZ up.. this keeps you cool and stops you needing to ring your t/shirt out every fuel stop :laugh: also you don't stink as much :yes: and you have got to be more visible to other vehicles when wearing the HI.VIZ than having the HI.VIZ under your rear seat.
Hi 2kwacks,
I ride in Halvarssons gear which has a yellow reflective removeable bib. I'm not sure if it complies with the French requirement. So keep a sleeveless HiViz in a waterproof bag under the mesh cover of my seat.
I wouldn't have the choice of a summer jacket being so far from home (France) it's three season vented and waterproof gear for me on longer trips.
I think the jury's still out as far as reflective gear goes. "Sorry mate I didn't see you". You may have read an article in ride Mag some years ago, authored by a fighter pilot. Sacades apparently are the reason fighter pilots move about in their cockpits when searching the sky for enemy aircraft. Your eyes take snap shots from scene to scene when moving your head when looking around, this is to stop vision bluring as your head rotates. The brain fills in the missing parts with what it expects to see. If some one doesn't expect to see you, regardless of HiViz, they may just not see you as your in the gap the brain is making up. Moving your lane postioning can eleviate this when approaching junctions. Or as pilots, when at a junction, move your torso to and fro when looking around can help spot something moving which you may otherwise miss. I never stink! :laugh:
Any rule on what colour hi viz in france.?I have an orange vest ime taking As for speeding in france .I was fined for the offence.
Quote from: Nitty Gritty on April 18, 2018, 04:31:59 PM
Hi 2kwacks,
I ride in Halvarssons gear which has a yellow reflective removeable bib. I'm not sure if it complies with the French requirement. So keep a sleeveless HiViz in a waterproof bag under the mesh cover of my seat.
I wouldn't have the choice of a summer jacket being so far from home (France) it's three season vented and waterproof gear for me on longer trips.
I think the jury's still out as far as reflective gear goes. "Sorry mate I didn't see you". You may have read an article in ride Mag some years ago, authored by a fighter pilot. Sacades apparently are the reason fighter pilots move about in their cockpits when searching the sky for enemy aircraft. Your eyes take snap shots from scene to scene when moving your head when looking around, this is to stop vision bluring as your head rotates. The brain fills in the missing parts with what it expects to see. If some one doesn't expect to see you, regardless of HiViz, they may just not see you as your in the gap the brain is making up. Moving your lane postioning can eleviate this when approaching junctions. Or as pilots, when at a junction, move your torso to and fro when looking around can help spot something moving which you may otherwise miss. I never stink! :laugh:
I'm not saying that wearing a HI-VIZ will make other drivers see you :nono: I'm saying that wearing HI-VIZ as got to help other drivers to see you :yes: BUT... of course the best way to be more visible when approaching side roads/pathways/ vehicles overtaking on your side of road heading towards you is to move position side to side a few times every experience rider should know this but remembering to move position every time is a other matter. I for one.. will admit that most of the time I do move position but I would be telling porkie pies if I said I move position every time. the way I see it the more you stand out the more chance of being seen :smiley: with the netted HI-VIZ I don't stink either :smiley: but I do after a good curry and a few beers which makes my :shit: ter stink :laugh:
Quote from: wildybeast on April 19, 2018, 07:21:20 AM
Any rule on what colour hi viz in france.?I have an orange vest ime taking As for speeding in france .I was fined for the offence.
I'm not sure if the vest as to be a certain reflective colour :undecided: but the best colour to go for is the more popular yellow Fluorescent Reflective vest with the white reflective strips something like this would be fine and keep you legal in in Europe.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mens-Motorbike-Motorcycle-Hi-Vis-Viz-Visablity-Vest-Waistcoat/173232314594?epid=2172422415&hash=item28557358e2:m:mAN1c-yjVnH4H3sfHYZIWvA
I'm with the general consensus.
Quote from: Nitty Gritty on April 14, 2018, 05:23:45 PM
Reflective stickers on Helmets;- don't have to be retro fitted to helmets that haven't come with them already fitted, those visiting France from other countries don't have to comply with the helmet sticker rule, those selling stickers near the ports would like to convince you otherwise.
High Viz;- it's compulsory to have it available to put on without leaving the vehicle.
Speeding;- Since May 2017 you can now be traced. DVLA now give out your details to foreign countries trying to track down offenders.
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Nitty is spot on as far as I'm concerned, having chased up every bloody site on the France biking laws last year...when we went on holls there....also..
Quote from: PRD on April 10, 2018, 02:50:46 PM
:agree:
Quote from: 2kwacks on April 19, 2018, 08:32:11 PM
I'm not saying that wearing a HI-VIZ will make other drivers see you :nono: I'm saying that wearing HI-VIZ as got to help other drivers to see you :yes:
The problem with everyone wearing hi viz is that it then becomes part of the scenery and is no longer seen.Quote from: Lonewolf on April 08, 2018, 07:40:28 PM
If high viz was compulsory and everyone had to wear high viz arm bands and jackets, gloves etc this wouldn't be problem would it Dave? :popcorn:
Education, not Legislation!
This is where you become part of the street furniture..just like any other street sign that most folks don't take any notice of.. :2guns:
After all of this just get on the damn bike and enjoy yourself matey.....that's what it's all about....have a good un. :cool: :biker3:
Try a bright pink one , sure you will get noticed then :mfr_lol: :mfr_lol:
Quote from: nightrider on May 08, 2018, 10:53:29 PM
Try a bright pink one , sure you will get noticed then :mfr_lol: :mfr_lol:
yea.. but for the wrong reason :whistling:
Quote from: nightrider on May 08, 2018, 10:53:29 PM
Try a bright pink one , sure you will get noticed then :mfr_lol: :mfr_lol:
I'm reliably informed that the pink high vis does stand out most as people aren't used to seeing it. Pink High Vis jacket, Red helmet!!! Riding along like a :censored: surely would get you noticed. :mfr_lol: