The Crittenden Automotive Library

Blue And White Van Man 8 - Driving In France

Topics: Porsche Cayenne

Blue And White Van Man 8 - Driving In France

Stan Potter
DriveWrite
December 19, 2013

Stan Potter writes: Every trip in the van is an adventure. It is 15 years old but well looked after. It is carefully checked over before each trip and gets oil and filter change every fifth trip. Any problems are dealt with as they occur. I am lucky that the majority of them I can deal with myself as I keep a selection of tools in England and France.

Because of the regulations in France I have found it easier to assemble a bag containing hi-viz jackets, warning triangle, set of bulbs, first aid kit and a fire extinguisher, which are all required items according to “Le Code de Route.” Not having these items to hand could be subject to an on the spot fine, in fact the hi-viz must be accessible before exiting the vehicle. The regulation requiring each car to have on board two French recognised breathalysers seems to have been quietly forgotten.

Apparently there were big supply problems and some of the approved devices did not actually work. If you see some in a supermarket it may be a good idea to buy two, The ones I purchased were only €0.80 each in my local Hyper U (Other supermarkets are available). I make these items easily transferable so that I can move them from van to car as needed.

Our next trip to the house will be in our Kia Rio as we have plenty of jobs to do and have all the materials we need already there. Using the car will be a lot cheaper and quicker. The van normally averages about 28mpg and the car 55-60 mpg depending on how quickly you drive. The van cruises at around 65mph but the car is capable of cruising at the motorway speed limit of 130kph (80mph). It will be interesting to see how much time this saves us. If we do need to buy anything bulky, we have a 5cwt trailer we can pull with the Rio.

Many people who live in rural France have trailers for hauling logs for the almost compulsory wood burning stove or rubbish to the tip. The small camping type trailers are no problem as they use the same registration as the towing vehicle. But any trailer with a capacity exceeding 500kgs needs to have its own registration document (Carte Gris) and index number. The speed limit for trailers in Europe is much higher than the UK. It is the same as the solo vehicle. On the motorway during the holiday season it is common to be overtaken by a large car or 4x4 towing a twin axle caravan at or over the limit.

Many years ago I was driving back from Spain in a Fiat Strada towing a camping trailer, we were running late for our ferry booking and on the French motorway we were holding a steady 80mph with no problems. On some German autobahns there is no speed limit. I do not know the normal response to this lack of restriction but it perhaps why most large German cars are electronically limited to 155mph (250kph). Many of the small trailers appear to be of not very competent home construction, but this is in line with the French attitude to officialdom in that it does what is needed and has not fallen to bits yet. A common sight in rural France is the logging lorry towing a trailer stacked high with logs to feed the saw mill. These can be found on some of the narrowest roads and there is only one person who is going to reverse!