Angles mortes and other french questions

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suffolk man

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We are heading to france next month for our first time abroad. Van is plated to 3850kg so do we suck it up and stick the angles mortes stickers on the van or do we wing it??
Same question re motorway tolls. As I understand it we can't get any of the toll tags as over 3500kg. We don't intend using motorways much so I assume we just pay as we go by card. What do all you experienced people think?
 
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Northernraider said:
Children shouldn't be on roads in the first place.

Whats the purpose of a " warning left hand drive " sticker?
most of the world is lhd and don't need advised of a lhd vehicle.

In the UK you're just advertising the fact you're not confident driving a lhd vehicle and wish others to make allowances for you
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"Children shouldn't be on roads in the first place"

I beg to differ. Primary school children should be accompanied by a responsible adult. (Mine always were). But secondary school children absolutely should be on the road to built up road awareness skills so that they become better car drivers and to get healthy exercise - much better than being taxied everywhere by car. It is about them achieving independence. Are you seriously suggesting that nobody should be on a bicycle on a road until they are 18? Actually reverting to your original post I think you are and you go further and would ban bicycles from the road whatever the age of the rider. Hmnn!

"Whats the purpose of a " warning left hand drive " sticker?" (a) I did not put it on but (b) I am unsighted at a T junction with poor visibility to my right where the road to my right is a much narrow angle than 90 degrees. It does no harm to let vehicles behind know that may be the position.

"In the UK you're just advertising the fact you're not confident driving a lhd vehicle and wish others to make allowances for you" - So what is the harm in that? In reality, save as above, that is not the case but it is a simple and polite way of saying that I may be slow out of difficult T junctions. It has damn all use in the EU. My sole point in mentioning it was that people can voluntarily warn of restrictions in their visibility. Where is the harm in that? As it happens I am not in the least lacking in confidence as many a slow car driver in front of me on single carriageway road will attest!!
 
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Had our van up plated to 4060 so fall into the Angles Mortes category. Had them with us on the last two European trips but not used them. Seems such a farce that prior to updating it was ok without them, nothing about the mirrors, view, blind spots etc has changed.

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Northernraider said:
Personally I'd like to see all cyclists off the road. They're an inconvenience and a danger to insured users
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That is an elitist perspective. I have got the money so sod the rest of you that have not or are too young to drive. I am so sorry for your inconvenience!

All other road users are a danger to you and I alike so we have to keep a proper look out and give them room according to the nature of the "vehicle" being drive/ridden.

The question of whether they should be insured is a different matter. I would at least like bikes registered. However there is many a car on the road with an uninsured driver behind the wheel. What is the difference? Perhaps more should be done about them?

P.S. I am all in favour of cycle paths and the like separating cyclists and motor vehicles.
 
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Apacheman said:
Had our van up plated to 4060 so fall into the Angles Mortes category. Had them with us on the last two European trips but not used them. Seems such a farce that prior to updating it was ok without them, nothing about the mirrors, view, blind spots etc has changed.
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Yes that is a nonsense. As someone has already said it should be based on length not weight.
 
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Deepingvet said:
I just don’t understand people who don’t have them, for one it’s the law and it’s also a good safety feature….Its a bit like idiots who still don’t wear seatbelts or still use their phones whilst driving…🤬🤬🤬
They should be compulsory on all Motorhomes in all countries.
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I think your analogy of seat belts and AM signs is pushing it a little far 😂😂 Using your phone whilst driving puts both driver and other road users at risk due to potential loss of concentration or distraction. Not wearing a seat belt prevents you having protection in the event of a collision. Explain to me what a piece of card stuck to the side of my Motorhome is physically going to do to provide protection. If someone can’t see a huge 10m x 4m white slab next to them they are not going to be noticing a little picture are they?
 
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The law disagrees about the status of cyclists. (They are vulnerable road users and you need to give them adequate space.)
The law also disagrees about the Angles Morts signs. (They are based on weight and need to be displayed.)

In each instance there was a deliberative legislative process that the government of the day embarked on to decide it.

I may, and do, disagree with some laws that I regard as stupid. But I nonetheless need to comply or risk the consequences.

Like that time I barbecued a swan and was arrested. "But no-one said anything when I ate a Labradoodle last week!" I wailed. Turns out it was the law. And the law of course won.
 
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suffolk man said:
We are heading to france next month for our first time abroad. Van is plated to 3850kg so do we suck it up and stick the angles mortes stickers on the van or do we wing it??
Same question re motorway tolls. As I understand it we can't get any of the toll tags as over 3500kg. We don't intend using motorways much so I assume we just pay as we go by card. What do all you experienced people think?
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Yep. but I don’t bother stuff macrcn and stupid laws I’ll pay the fine rather than damage my motorhome I’m 4600kg. Think the french police have more to worry about than stickers like the threat of terror on the french public
 
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Northernraider said:
Personally I'd like to see all cyclists off the road. They're an inconvenience and a danger to insured users
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If that’s your attitude to vulnerable road users, and to road safety legislation in general, you should consider whether or not you should be on the road.
You might be amazed just how many cyclists are insured and are qualified/licensed to drive and ride on the roads. Quite often the reason that they take out insurance is to provide financial protection against injuries, harm and other losses caused by other road users (both insured and uninsured).
Perhaps you should reacquaint yourself with the Highway Code. After all that is what you’ll be judged against if you ever end up in court.
 
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Scottish Scrutineer said:
If that’s your attitude to vulnerable road users, and to road safety legislation in general, you should consider whether or not you should be on the road.
You might be amazed just how many cyclists are insured and are qualified/licensed to drive and ride on the roads. Quite often the reason that they take out insurance is to provide financial protection against injuries, harm and other losses caused by other road users (both insured and uninsured).
Perhaps you should reacquaint yourself with the Highway Code. After all that is what you’ll be judged against if you ever end up in court.
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Very useful and informative in relation to insurance. What are your thought on registration and traceability on cycles so the insurance can be utilised and claimed upon by the many third parties suffering dings, dents and scuffs from cyclists who then disappear into the night? I’m all for following the law and compliance but it needs to be an even playing field and regretfully from where I sit it feels extremely one sided at the moment with far too many on one side only too willing to play the victim far too easily. We need to get on and look after and protect each other on the road, but that cuts both ways.
 
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The Saints said:
I don't see a problem with fitting them. They cost pennies.

How would we feel if foreigners came to the the UK and ignored our laws..?
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I bet plenty do

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Scottish Scrutineer said:
If that’s your attitude to vulnerable road users, and to road safety legislation in general, you should consider whether or not you should be on the road.
You might be amazed just how many cyclists are insured and are qualified/licensed to drive and ride on the roads. Quite often the reason that they take out insurance is to provide financial protection against injuries, harm and other losses caused by other road users (both insured and uninsured).
Perhaps you should reacquaint yourself with the Highway Code. After all that is what you’ll be judged against if you ever end up in court.
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If they're so vulnerable then why are they on the road cycling alongside big trucks and buses etc ? As i said most have no brains , common sense or responsibility. They lounge pavements to avoid traffic lights, cycle through pedestrian crossings etc etc . They're a liability.

I'd hang the lot of them ....some of them twice
 
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Morts held on by suction cups, also the new breakdown lights for Spain.

Not had any mort signs fall off but have increased the suction cups on the side ones so far covered nearly 20,000 miles with them on.

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Northernraider said:
Children shouldn't be on roads in the first place.

Whats the purpose of a " warning left hand drive " sticker?
most of the world is lhd and don't need advised of a lhd vehicle.

In the UK you're just advertising the fact you're not confident driving a lhd vehicle and wish others to make allowances for you
Click to expand...
it's all to with hand signals .
 
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Northernraider said:
Personally I'd like to see all cyclists off the road. They're an inconvenience and a danger to insured users
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I wouldn't go that far BUT they all should be registered and insured that way plod can stop them and fine them if they weren't and that would be more money for MS Reeves so she wouldn't have to tax us pensioner's more !!!!
 
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PaulW2 said:
The law disagrees about the status of cyclists. (They are vulnerable road users and you need to give them adequate space.)
The law also disagrees about the Angles Morts signs. (They are based on weight and need to be displayed.)

In each instance there was a deliberative legislative process that the government of the day embarked on to decide it.

I may, and do, disagree with some laws that I regard as stupid. But I nonetheless need to comply or risk the consequences.

Like that time I barbecued a swan and was arrested. "But no-one said anything when I ate a Labradoodle last week!" I wailed. Turns out it was the law. And the law of course won.
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with chips i hope !!!!

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Upvote 1
suffolk man said:
We are heading to france next month for our first time abroad. Van is plated to 3850kg so do we suck it up and stick the angles mortes stickers on the van or do we wing it??
Same question re motorway tolls. As I understand it we can't get any of the toll tags as over 3500kg. We don't intend using motorways much so I assume we just pay as we go by card. What do all you experienced people think?
Click to expand...
Sorry , didn't take the time to read all the posts , but deffo I say : PUT IT ON ! You don't want to meet a gendarme who's had a bad day, and use you as a punch ball, do you!?? Are you fluent in French? Do you think you can decently argue (even with calm) with a gendarme??.... I can, but I've got boobs to help me !!!:gum::pop:
 
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Sneds said:
I shouldn’t think this should be up for debate, it’s the law?
What’s the issue here?
Are people really that precious about a bit of glue on their vehicle?
It peels off for goodness sake, get over your selves!
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Look, sometimes I do think and say so, that some rule don't need to be obey cause mainly no one cares and it is not a matter of life or death. When I say put it on, I do mean it, and I tend to think that it's such a little (ok ugly) thing to do, that it would be silly not to. And ..... I'm FRENCH!
EDIT: All this to say I totally agree with you!
 
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stewartwebr said:
I think your analogy of seat belts and AM signs is pushing it a little far 😂😂 Using your phone whilst driving puts both driver and other road users at risk due to potential loss of concentration or distraction. Not wearing a seat belt prevents you having protection in the event of a collision. Explain to me what a piece of card stuck to the side of my Motorhome is physically going to do to provide protection. If someone can’t see a huge 10m x 4m white slab next to them they are not going to be noticing a little picture are they?
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I don't think it is the point! The point is that YOU big and heavy stuff CAN'T see the cyclist as YOU have an Angle Mort, and mainly it is because the cyclist doesn't realise, as HE can see everything including you, that YOU can't see him. Reading the warning, he will straight away take some respectable distance from your vehicle. It's not really for you it is for him. He can read the label 2 metres away from it
 
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yodeli said:
I don't think it is the point! The point is that YOU big and heavy stuff CAN'T see the cyclist as YOU have an Angle Mort, and mainly it is because the cyclist doesn't realise, as HE can see everything including you, that YOU can't see him. Reading the warning, he will straight away take some respectable distance from your vehicle. It's not really for you it is for him. He can read the label 2 metres away from it
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But I can see him I have 360 Degree camera and blind spot warning. If anyone or anything enters the blind spot I get an alarm and flashing red light on the relevant side, standard Mercedes truck system
 
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I am always amazed when this topics crops up on this site with some of the responses.

My view is it is their country - their rules, I don’t particularly agree with them, but as they make the rules I will obey them.

I honestly don’t understand the issue, I would imagine most of us would complain if foreign drivers visiting the UK break the rules.

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stewartwebr said:
But I can see him I have 360 Degree camera and blind spot warning. If anyone or anything enters the blind spot I get an alarm and flashing red light on the relevant side, standard Mercedes truck system
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YOU....may be! Ok fair enough! But not all the big vehicles are equiped with all the actual electronic help, especially the old MHS, and you'll find many more of the latter on the road. And in small villages, where you'll find many more cyclists, it is even more dangerous. The rule stands for all. At least if you can discuss this all with a gendarme, you might... just might, be dismissed , and run away without a fee.
EDIT: Oh and as I said before, it doesn't change the fact that still, the cyclist doesn't realise that most (if not you) big vehicles can't see him
 
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