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France To Ban Sale And Use Of Speed Camera Warning Systems
Article by: Darren Griffin
Date: 12 May 2011
In a surprise move, news is beginning to filter through of a proposal to ban on the sale and use of speed camera warning systems in France.
A number of french news sites have posted the news this evening citing the move as an effort to curb the rise in the number of road accidents on Frances roads in recent years.
Detailed information is not yet available but some have mentioned the possibility of a €1,500 fine if caught flouting the ban once it comes into effect..
This is certain to cause a stir amongst a number of companies, Coyote and Inforad are both French companies that specialise in the manufacture and sale of speed camera warning systems.
www.gpsbusinessnews.com are reporting that manufacturers held a press conference today and called on the French Government to reconsider this move.
| Comments
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 Posted by sussamb on Thu May 12, 2011 9:01 pm |
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Wonder if they'll go the way of Germany where it's illegal to have speed camera warnings on your satnav?
Where there's a will ... there's a way. |
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| Posted by Darren on Thu May 12, 2011 9:08 pm |
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| sussamb Wrote: | | Wonder if they'll go the way of Germany where it's illegal to have speed camera warnings on your satnav? |
That appears to be exactly what this will cover. It's the sale and use of warning devices of all types, be they dedicated units or POIs on satnavs.
As for the situation in Germany it is far from clear. The use of GPS warning POIs is not illegal under German Federal law, it has been forbidden in some Landé (counties) but this only carries weight if it is backed by Federal legislation.
Many manufacturers and services continue to offer data in Germany which suggests that it is being largely ignored.
Darren Griffin |
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| Posted by Darren on Thu May 12, 2011 9:15 pm |
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More background and comment from the manufacturers in this article from French motoring magazine AutoPlus.
Autoplus.fr (Translated)
Darren Griffin |
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| Posted by Pieman1972 on Fri May 13, 2011 7:15 am |
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Will def keep an eye on this......considering two trips to France this year.....
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Tomtom 720
App = 8.350
Maps = WE 715.1703 |
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| Posted by Darren on Fri May 13, 2011 7:17 am |
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We'll be following the story closely as you'd expect.
Darren Griffin |
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| Posted by pdfbt40 on Fri May 13, 2011 7:24 am |
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As usual, its back to the level of enforcement rather than the actual legislation.
Take the (urban myth) LGV strikes in France when speed limits started to be strictly enforced upon them. Or being invited to drive over a UK, non EU CB transceiver in the past......
Martin
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| Posted by Poin on Fri May 13, 2011 7:28 am |
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Will keep a eye on this I go to France 3 or 4 times a year will ask some of the locals to watch out for news on this as well - thanks for the info
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| Posted by Darren on Fri May 13, 2011 7:32 am |
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Whilst enforcement is always going to be problematic in the main, the move to ban the offer or sale is the biggest news.
That will prevent the import and sale of devices in France. GPS based POIs are impossible to 'see' without close investigation and a familiarity with the current range of satnavs. But a hardware based SCD is easily spotted if you have been stopped by police.
It's interesting that our Road Safety Bill chose to explicitly permit passive devices (i.e. not radar/laser detectors) as they are believed to aid road safety whereas the French (and Swiss amongst others) take the opposite view.
Darren Griffin |
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| Posted by galoubet on Fri May 13, 2011 7:33 am |
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All seems a bit pointless as the French authorities themselves advertise well in advance the position of speed cameras. If you fail to notice the huge roadside signs several hundred metres before the cameras you deserve to get caught!
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| Posted by Wazza_G on Fri May 13, 2011 7:38 am |
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It sounds like the same lame excuse as they use here, when in reality it's probably down to the government is running a littlle short of money, due to financial mismanagement.
So let's screw the motorist. 
Be alert.. This country needs more lerts. |
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| Posted by Darren on Fri May 13, 2011 7:45 am |
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| galoubet Wrote: | | All seems a bit pointless as the French authorities themselves advertise well in advance the position of speed cameras. If you fail to notice the huge roadside signs several hundred metres before the cameras you deserve to get caught! |
They only apply to fixed speed cameras, not mobiles, which are often well hidden.
And one French web site is claiming that the signage will be removed as part of this crack down anyway.
Darren Griffin |
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