Motorway Speed Limits in France - Is my SatNav wrong?

[GeeCee]

Travelling through France at the mo. My van is 3.8 tonnes. The SatNav says I can only do 90 kph on alll motorways. On a detour round Rouen was on a stretch of dual carriageway where the SAtNav said I could do 110 kph. Then on A 10 south of Tours there was a sign at the side of the motorway saying the limit for over 3.5 tonnes was 110. But the SatNav still said 90. So is the SatNAv wrong and can I do 110 on the motorways?

 

[gus-lopez]

the sat nav might still be thinking that the limits that were reduced are still in place?

 

[yodeli]

Autres questions posées



Quelle vitesse pour un camping-car poids lourd ?

Niveau vitesse, il doit respecter le maximum de 110 km/h sur autoroutes, 100 km/h sur les routes à deux chaussées séparées par un terre-plein central lorsqu'elles sont à caractère prioritaire et 80 km/h sur les autres routes. Et comme pour les autres véhicules, la vitesse se limite à 50 km/h en ville.

110kms/h on motorways; 100 on dual carriages separated by a wall and with the yellow diamond indicating you have priority, and then 80 on the other roads , finally 50 kms/h in towns ... all this unless you have other indications on spot

 

[jongood]

Travelling through France at the mo. My van is 3.8 tonnes. The SatNav says I can only do 90 kph on alll motorways. On a detour round Rouen was on a stretch of dual carriageway where the SAtNav said I could do 110 kph. Then on A 10 south of Tours there was a sign at the side of the motorway saying the limit for over 3.5 tonnes was 110. But the SatNav still said 90. So is the SatNAv wrong and can I do 110 on the motorways?

80kmh on regular roads, 100kmh on non motorway dual carriageways and 110 on the peage. remember that a town or village with a sign with a red surround means 50kmh

 

[Verteuil Man]

These are the speed times for France taken directly from CAMC website.

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[Lenny HB]

These are the speed times for France taken directly from CAMC website.

View attachment 718316

They always get it wrong.

 

[Lenny HB]

Under 3.5t same as cars, if over 3.5t on Autorutes if 130 or 120 it is 110 on dual carriageways if 110 it is 100.

 

[GeeCee]

Autres questions posées



Quelle vitesse pour un camping-car poids lourd ?

Niveau vitesse, il doit respecter le maximum de 110 km/h sur autoroutes, 100 km/h sur les routes à deux chaussées séparées par un terre-plein central lorsqu'elles sont à caractère prioritaire et 80 km/h sur les autres routes. Et comme pour les autres véhicules, la vitesse se limite à 50 km/h en ville.

110kms/h on motorways; 100 on dual carriages separated by a wall and with the yellow diamond indicating you have priority, and then 80 on the other roads , finally 50 kms/h in towns ... all this unless you have other indications on spot

Thanks do you have a reference for this - Google search not helpful. I want to report it to the SatNav manufacturer - Garmin.

 

[jongood]

Thanks do you have a reference for this - Google search not helpful. I want to report it to the SatNav manufacturer - Garmin.

tbf I think you're better off not relying on a third party for that level of info.

 

[TerryL]

Just back after travelling through France on various roads using a TomTom and the satnav quite often disagreed with posted speed signs. I think it may be due to the confusing limit system where it can be different in opposite direction on the same road! Being over 3.5t doesn't help!
I just stuck to the posted signs and kept a sharp eye open for cameras - plod sees a m/h and assumes it's 3.5t as "all French ones are........!"
Incidentally it's illegal in France to have any equipment that identifies speed camera locations, that's why TomTom warns about so many danger areas.....

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[GeeCee]

I've been researching this further. There are two sites which seem to agree with the 80, 100, 110 limits mentioned above. These are:
https://campingcarsite.fr/campingcar-poids-lourds.html which says -
A motorhome with a GVW of more than 3500 kg is a heavy weight; as such, it is subject to an annual technical inspection.

In addition, it should be affixed to the back of it:

• * if its GVW is greater than 3500 kg without exceeding 12000 kg, the speed limit discs 80, 100, 110
• * if its GVW is greater than 12000 kg, the speed limit discs 80, 90.

Of course, these speed limits should be observed on ordinary roads (80, 80), on expressways (100/80) and on motorways (110/90).

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And this site - https://ffcc.fr/ which is what Yodeli above quotes:

Heavy-duty motorhome regulations​

In terms of traffic, a heavy-duty motorhome is subject to the same regulations as a heavy-duty truck. In terms of speed, he must respect the maximum of 110 km/h on motorways , 100 km/h on roads with two carriageways separated by a central reservation when they are of a priority nature and 80 km/h on other roads. And as with other vehicles, the speed is limited to 50 km/h in town.
It is also necessary to take into account the regulations and traffic bans relating to weight: narrow roads, bridges, safety distance... However, a heavyweight motorhome is not subject to the ban on vehicles transporting goods (example: restrictions in some cities or in the summer). For limitations, refer to the sign mentioning a PTAC limit .
The speed limit discs must be affixed to the rear of the heavy vehicle ( article R413-13 of the Highway Code ). Finally, motorhomes over 7 m long must comply with the rules in force ( Article R412-12 and R412-25 of the Highway Code) under penalty of fines.

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Those two articles mentioned immediately above are worth a read as it says you should only use the first 2 lanes of a 3 lane motorway and you should leave 50 metres between you and th vehicle in front, amongst other lesser conditions.

So from now on I'll stick to the 80, 100, 110 rule and if I get fined I'll report back.

 

[Widge]

Under 3.5t same as cars, if over 3.5t on Autorutes if 130 or 120 it is 110 on dual carriageways if 110 it is 100.

Also remember that speed limits get reduced automatically in wet weather.

 

[Brains]

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Those two articles mentioned immediately above are worth a read as it says you should only use the first 2 lanes of a 3 lane motorway and you should leave 50 metres between you and the vehicle in front, amongst other lesser conditions.

If you are over 3.5t you should never be in the 3rd lane in any EU country, including the UK, Switzerland and Scandinavia!

This is a regular reason why larger vans and tipper trucks get pulled by the Plod on UK 3 lane motorways and dual carriageways.

Not sure how many tens of thousands of miles I have driven vans over 3.5t, but I doubt I've gone into the 3rd lane more than once a year, and that is usually for a very good reason.

 

[Blue Moon]

If you are over 3.5t you should never be in the 3rd lane in any EU country, including the UK, Switzerland and Scandinavia!

This is a regular reason why larger vans and tipper trucks get pulled by the Plod on UK 3 lane motorways and dual carriageways.

Not sure how many tens of thousands of miles I have driven vans over 3.5t, but I doubt I've gone into the 3rd lane more than once a year, and that is usually for a very good reason.

You can go in lane 3 (outside lane) in a Moho over 3500kgs gvw. It’s not a goods vehicle, it’s not a minibus carrying more than 8 passengers and it doesn’t have a speed limiter. Trucks and vans or vehicles used for hire and reward over 3500kgs gvw can’t, I agree.
Differing speeds limits also apply to vehicles over 3050kgs unladen in the UK including Motorhomes, although we can still do 70mph on a motorway.

 

[L' Hobo]

Incidentally it's illegal in France to have any equipment that identifies speed camera locations, that's why TomTom warns about so many danger areas.....

I think that applies to Sat-Nav's CAPABLE of identifying speed camera location, or so I was told by a very nice Gendarme when he told me to turn my satnav off. (Didn't make much sense as that facility was already turned off)
Luckily I knew the area around Paris quite well!

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[jongood]

If you are over 3.5t you should never be in the 3rd lane in any EU country, including the UK, Switzerland and Scandinavia!

This is a regular reason why larger vans and tipper trucks get pulled by the Plod on UK 3 lane motorways and dual carriageways.

Not sure how many tens of thousands of miles I have driven vans over 3.5t, but I doubt I've gone into the 3rd lane more than once a year, and that is usually for a very good reason.

You can in a motorhome.

 

[jongood]

I've been researching this further. There are two sites which seem to agree with the 80, 100, 110 limits mentioned above. These are:
https://campingcarsite.fr/campingcar-poids-lourds.html which says -
A motorhome with a GVW of more than 3500 kg is a heavy weight; as such, it is subject to an annual technical inspection.

In addition, it should be affixed to the back of it:

• * if its GVW is greater than 3500 kg without exceeding 12000 kg, the speed limit discs 80, 100, 110
• * if its GVW is greater than 12000 kg, the speed limit discs 80, 90.

Of course, these speed limits should be observed on ordinary roads (80, 80), on expressways (100/80) and on motorways (110/90).

---

And this site - https://ffcc.fr/ which is what Yodeli above quotes:

Heavy-duty motorhome regulations​

In terms of traffic, a heavy-duty motorhome is subject to the same regulations as a heavy-duty truck. In terms of speed, he must respect the maximum of 110 km/h on motorways , 100 km/h on roads with two carriageways separated by a central reservation when they are of a priority nature and 80 km/h on other roads. And as with other vehicles, the speed is limited to 50 km/h in town.
It is also necessary to take into account the regulations and traffic bans relating to weight: narrow roads, bridges, safety distance... However, a heavyweight motorhome is not subject to the ban on vehicles transporting goods (example: restrictions in some cities or in the summer). For limitations, refer to the sign mentioning a PTAC limit .
The speed limit discs must be affixed to the rear of the heavy vehicle ( article R413-13 of the Highway Code ). Finally, motorhomes over 7 m long must comply with the rules in force ( Article R412-12 and R412-25 of the Highway Code) under penalty of fines.

---

---

---

Those two articles mentioned immediately above are worth a read as it says you should only use the first 2 lanes of a 3 lane motorway and you should leave 50 metres between you and th vehicle in front, amongst other lesser conditions.

So from now on I'll stick to the 80, 100, 110 rule and if I get fined I'll report back.

Tbf I dont think you are likely to have a problem as What the French expect to be 3500kgs encompasses much larger mhs than the one in your avatar. I do try to adhere to the limits as discussed and have frequently been flashed, presumably as breaking the beam for HGV but never had any follow up.

 

[Lenny HB]

If you are over 3.5t you should never be in the 3rd lane in any EU country, including the UK, Switzerland and Scandinavia!

That is not correct in the UK you can use the 3rd lane upto 7.5t.

 

[Lenny HB]

Also remember that speed limits get reduced automatically in wet weather.

Only on Autoroute & dual carriageways.

Another thing in France over 3.5t 70kph limits are reduced to 50kph in towns & villages.

 

[VXman]

Do the French authorities have anyway of telling what a weight of a vehicle is other than looking at the V5? I thinking if you are a standard 3500kg but have been upgraded. Do they have anpr with access to details?

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[Lenny HB]

Do the French authorities have anyway of telling what a weight of a vehicle is other than looking at the V5? I thinking if you are a standard 3500kg but have been upgraded. Do they have anpr with access to details?

They would have to put a request into DVLA not clear if they respond since Bx.

 

[Minxy]

Do the French authorities have anyway of telling what a weight of a vehicle is other than looking at the V5? I thinking if you are a standard 3500kg but have been upgraded. Do they have anpr with access to details?

I doubt it.

 

[Verteuil Man]

I doubt it.

If you are over 3500kg you should have Angle Mort stickers. So that a giveaway.

 

[Minxy]

Only if you fit them ... We saw numerous large/heavy MHs in France and very few had them and many were French registered.

 

[Mick and Ruth]

They would have to put a request into DVLA not clear if they respond since Bx.

I believe since Brexit there is no agreement to disclose UK registered keepers of vehicles for speeding in Schengen areas. To prosecute you they have to deal with you there and then i.e. hand held radar or follow you with calibrated vehicle. Apparently UK vehicles are leading the "League" in camera related speeding offences in France however the French do not have any power to demand DVLA disclose details so just don't bother.

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[Blue Moon]

Do the French authorities have anyway of telling what a weight of a vehicle is other than looking at the V5? I thinking if you are a standard 3500kg but have been upgraded. Do they have anpr with access to details?

I very much doubt it.

 

[Widge]

Only on Autoroute & dual carriageways.

Another thing in France over 3.5t 70kph limits are reduced to 50kph in towns & villages.

Sorry you are wrong, maximum speed on normal 2 way national and departmental roads is 80kph maximum in wet weather, 50kph if visability is less than 50m.

Réglementation de la vitesse au volant

La vitesse est limitée sur l’ensemble du réseau routier. Cette réglementation s’applique à tous les conducteurs et à tous les véhicules. La vitesse doit être adaptée aux conditions météorologiques (pluie, autres précipitations, visibilité inférieure à 50 mètres).

www.securite-routiere.gouv.fr

 

[grumps147]

That is not correct in the UK you can use the 3rd lane upto 7.5t.

yes that’s right, Highway Code with references to legislation here ..

265
The right-hand lane of a motorway with three or more lanes MUST NOT be used (except in prescribed circumstances) if you are driving

• any vehicle drawing a trailer
• a goods vehicle with a maximum laden weight exceeding 3.5 tonnes but not exceeding 7.5 tonnes, which is required to be fitted with a speed limiter
• a goods vehicle with a maximum laden weight exceeding 7.5 tonnes
• a passenger vehicle with a maximum laden weight exceeding 7.5 tonnes constructed or adapted to carry more than eight seated passengers in addition to the driver
• a passenger vehicle with a maximum laden weight not exceeding 7.5 tonnes which is constructed or adapted to carry more than eight seated passengers in addition to the driver, which is required to be fitted with a speed limiter.
  Laws MT(E&W)R reg 12, MT(E&W)AR (2004), MT(S)R reg 11 & MT(S)AR (2004)

 

[TerryL]

So good that clears that up!







Not!

 

[Widge]

I doubt it.

There are systems as i mentioned before for dynamic weighing built into the roadsurface. They are widespread in many countries including france, although they are really used to catch overweight and badly loaded comercial vehicles, so the technology is out there.