From the 1st July, the speed limit on many, but not all, single carriageway roads is being reduced to 80kmh (50Mph). The signs will still say 90Kmh but the speed cameras will be recalibrated to 80Kph so be careful, especially in the Normandy/Brittany area as speed checks have been contracted out to private companies (tax collectors).
The bright spark in government who though this up claims it will save over 300 lives a year. He has clearly never driven outside Paris. No one sticks to the 90Kmh limit, so no notice will be taken of the 80Kmh limit.

So how is one supposed to know the correct speed limit ???

You need to understand the French people to follow the rules

tanis8472 said:

So how is one supposed to know the correct speed limit ???

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Safest to assume that if there is no sign to the contrary 90 will mean 80. Everything else apart from dual carrigeways/motorways will be 80kph.
Probably.
Or maybe not, but it is only about 6mph difference so not worth risking it.

So wheres' the gallic shrug smilely when you need it??

tanis8472 said:

So how is one supposed to know the correct speed limit ???

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It's more about tax collecting than safety, someone has to pay for all the immigrants.

frog hopper said:

Safest to assume that if there is no sign to the contrary 90 will mean 80. Everything else apart from dual carrigeways/motorways will be 80kph.
Probably.
Or maybe not, but it is only about 6mph difference so not worth risking it.

So wheres' the gallic shrug smilely when you need it??

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In my experience, th 90kph limit is widely ignored, the same will apply to the 80kph limit after the initial purge by the Gendarmes with laser guns.

Datatek said:

In my experience, th 90kph limit is widely ignored, the same will apply to the 80kph limit after the initial purge by the Gendarmes with laser guns.

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Hi Datatek, I haved noticed that the ladies are the worst offenders flying around the country lanes never thinking there may be a tractor coming around the next bend. BTW which side of Poitiers are you? I am on the Le Blanc-Chauvigny side.

Another very good reason not to go to France (except in a bomber)

Col

Colthebrummie said:

Another very good reason not to go to France (except in a bomber)

Col

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France is a great place to be despite the flying madams. Just be aware that there may be one coming around the next bend whilst trying see between the dashboard and the lower part of the steering wheel.

Colthebrummie said:

Another very good reason not to go to France (except in a bomber)

Reminds me of the joke about the old British gent engaged in a modern day German bar-room conversation with equally aged locals … ''it takes so long to get here by car these days complains the old boy, last time I dropped off a package here I was back home in bed before breakfast''... ''Impossible said the Germans, even in one of our Mercedes .. what were you travelling in?''... the old boy smiled & said ''a Lancaster''

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As an aside, what sort of legal system do you have out there? In the UK any half decent solicitor would have such a conviction thrown out if the signs were displaying incorrect info.

Paulindre said:

Hi Datatek, I haved noticed that the ladies are the worst offenders flying around the country lanes never thinking there may be a tractor coming around the next bend. BTW which side of Poitiers are you? I am on the Le Blanc-Chauvigny side.

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The school run mums are the worst and my farming neighbours wife in her Audi, she only has 2 speeds, flat out and stopped!
I'm 28Km due west of Poitiers. We were in Chauvigny last Tuesday, been here in Latille 18 years and it was the first time I had been to Chauvigny, the bird display was interesting..

Colthebrummie said:

Another very good reason not to go to France (except in a bomber)

Col

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Great place to retire to.

norseman said:

As an aside, what sort of legal system do you have out there? In the UK any half decent solicitor would have such a conviction thrown out if the signs were displaying incorrect info.

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Different to the UK, it's still based on Napoleonic law. Only the guillotine is missing

The latest info on the speed limit is that on single carriageway roads where there are 2 lanes in one direction and 1 lane in the other direction, the 2 lanes will be 90 and the 1 lane 80kph. Talk about confusing, you couldn't make it up.

There is an interesting story of a guy that was in court for speeding he was accused of doing 140 kph in a 90 kph zone. As all of the road signs are just marked 50, 90 or 130 not 90 kph he asked the judge what is the official measurement of distance in France, the meter the judge replied. What is the official measurement of time in France asked the defendant," the second" replied the judge. The defendant pointed out that as the signs are not marked in KPH he must assume that France uses the only OFFICIAL legal time and distance ie MPS which allows him to do 90 meters per second ie 8,400 KPH

Datatek said:

The school run mums are the worst and my farming neighbours wife in her Audi, she only has 2 speeds, flat out and stopped!
I'm 28Km due west of Poitiers. We were in Chauvigny last Tuesday, been here in Latille 18 years and it was the first time I had been to Chauvigny, the bird display was interesting..

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Hi yes the birds of prey a quite a spectacle, did you notice that Chavigny is twinned with Billericay in Essex, for the life of me I cannot see the connection, unless Ian Dury and the Blockheads were born in Chauvigny, which I doubt. I see that your village is taking action against those using drills, mowers and noisy machines at the weekends, so if you work full time when are you supposed to do these things. I thought the general rule was that you could only make a noise until noon on a Sunday, I mean, in many villages the noise is the only way you can tell that anyone is alive. But we love it, we have been in France since 1989 and would not want to be anywhere else except Borneo which we visit every few years to remind us what life is really all about. Our transport is a Freelander 2003 Mk1 TD4 BMW diesel which we were given as the owner was fed up with getting quotes like telephone numbers for the slightest repairs. It suits us as I have done them myself with the aid of the forum members, I suppose now I have spent about €150 in bits, oils and filters. She was kept in a garage as the owner was scared to take it out in case he wore something out and got a massive bill. I saw a few bills for servicing but I am positive nothing was done as ALL of the oils and filters were black and stinky and the sump and level plugs were virtually welded on. Now she has a new lease of life with a complete service and a recon A/C pump, I was very surprised at what an enormous difference it has made. The body and interior are in fantastic condition for a 15 year old SUV perhaps the 1st owner was really a hairdresser.
Warm regards
Paul

Paulindre said:

There is an interesting story of a guy that was in court for speeding he was accused of doing 140 kph in a 90 kph zone. As all of the road signs are just marked 50, 90 or 130 not 90 kph he asked the judge what is the official measurement of distance in France, the meter the judge replied. What is the official measurement of time in France asked the defendant," the second" replied the judge. The defendant pointed out that as the signs are not marked in KPH he must assume that France uses the only OFFICIAL legal time and distance ie MPS which allows him to do 90 meters per second ie 8,400 KPH

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and no doubt he got an even bigger fine for taking the micky.

Datatek said:

and no doubt he got an even bigger fine for taking the micky.

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I think he got the guillotine

Datatek said:

The school run mums are the worst and my farming neighbours wife in her Audi, she only has 2 speeds, flat out and stopped!
I'm 28Km due west of Poitiers. We were in Chauvigny last Tuesday, been here in Latille 18 years and it was the first time I had been to Chauvigny, the bird display was interesting..

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I see where you are, not far from my second home CHU Poitiers, I am back there on the 10th July for a week. Nothing serious, I have an aggresive form of Rhumatiod Arthritis which slows you up a bit and they can't get their heads around the fact that i have stopped all of their lethal treatments and am still mobile. I am slowly proving to them that it can be controlled by your diet rather that their 1-2,000€ per month poisons which can make you feel worse than the effects of the illness .

Paulindre said:

I see where you are, not far from my second home CHU Poitiers, I am back there on the 10th July for a week. Nothing serious, I have an aggresive form of Rhumatiod Arthritis which slows you up a bit and they can't get their heads around the fact that i have stopped all of their lethal treatments and am still mobile. I am slowly proving to them that it can be controlled by your diet rather that their 1-2,000€ per month poisons which can make you feel worse than the effects of the illness .

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I sympathise, my wife has bad arthritis in her hands, she now manages most of the time without medicament. Nothing like as bad as your problem though.

Datatek said:

I sympathise, my wife has bad arthritis in her hands, she now manages most of the time without medicament. Nothing like as bad as your problem though.

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This is the diet and it works, there is an english version on the net.
https://www.seignalet.fr/fr/le-regime-seignalet/comprendre-le-regime/la-methode-seignalet.html
https://professeur-joyeux.com/2014/04/29/lincroyable-regime-seignalet/
You must be very strict, the problem is when we were young cereals contained 7 chromosomes now they contain 21-23, mainly to increase production and protect against diseases. The proteins they produce are totally foreign to our bodies and cause in many people, an auto immune reaction. Have a read and contact me if you need further info.
Paul