Going to Le Mans - 12C headlamp beam deflectors req'd?

[moochofun]

Hi,

Looking to tap into the forum knowledge - I'm heading to Le Mans in June and am wondering what I need to do (if anything?) about the beam direction e.g. sticky on beam deflectors, change something in the OBC or flick a switch - what do you do? I'm not near my car or handbook to check the manual...

Ta in advance...

[mb1]

moochofun said:

Hi,

Looking to tap into the forum knowledge - I'm heading to Le Mans in June and am wondering what I need to do (if anything?) about the beam direction e.g. sticky on beam deflectors, change something in the OBC or flick a switch - what do you do? I'm not near my car or handbook to check the manual...

Ta in advance...

If you do it by the book, I believe you need the headlamp stickers, the GB sign at the back (if not on your number plate) and then all the safety gear (alcool test, safety jacket in the car and not in the boot, hazard triangle...).
I have been to France before and I do not really pay attention to the first 2.... But the safety gear is important and the police will fine you if you do not have them with you. Especially the alcool test....

Another thing to know is that France and UK do not have any agreement in place to share driver's details so if you get caught speeding, they cannot fine you... Unless they catch you.... In which case they will nicely accompany you to the nearest cash machine.....

See you there next month !

[johnnyreggae]

Pretty sure they are flat beam so not required

[flyingjolly]

I'm pretty sure the alcohol test isn't required anymore.

[mb1]

flyingjolly said:

I'm pretty sure the alcohol test isn't required anymore.

Looks like you are right: "January 2013 - Drivers in France have been required to carry a self-test breathalyser since July 2012 with enforcement by fines originally planned for 1 November but subsequently postponed to 1 March 2013. Now the French government has announced that the implementation of the sanction (fine) for drivers not carrying a breathalyser – a fine of €11 – has been postponed indefinitely."

And that the only requirements are the high-vis, warning triangle and GB sticker.

[flemke]

Having driven UK-reg cars in France literally hundreds of times in the last decade, and having had a fair few conversations with gendarmes, I can say that never once have my headlights been scrutinised, never once has the fact that my car had no "GB" sticker been commented on, and never once have I been asked to produce a first-aid kit or warning triangle.

IME, the authorities care about speeding, drink driving, and the reflective vest because those are political issues. Regarding the other, more technical rules, they can't be bothered.

[breadvan]

flemke said:

Having driven UK-reg cars in France literally hundreds of times in the last decade, and having had a fair few conversations with gendarmes, I can say that never once have my headlights been scrutinised, never once has the fact that my car had no "GB" sticker been commented on, and never once have I been asked to produce a first-aid kit or warning triangle.

IME, the authorities care about speeding, drink driving, and the reflective vest because those are political issues. Regarding the other, more technical rules, they can't be bothered.

what this fella said......

.....and make sure your hi-viz is within arm's reach, you must be able to put it on before you leave your vehicle.

[chilistrucker]

breadvan said:

flemke said:

Having driven UK-reg cars in France literally hundreds of times in the last decade, and having had a fair few conversations with gendarmes, I can say that never once have my headlights been scrutinised, never once has the fact that my car had no "GB" sticker been commented on, and never once have I been asked to produce a first-aid kit or warning triangle.

IME, the authorities care about speeding, drink driving, and the reflective vest because those are political issues. Regarding the other, more technical rules, they can't be bothered.

what this fella said......

.....and make sure your hi-viz is within arm's reach, you must be able to put it on before you leave your vehicle.

Another plus 1.
They are keen on the speeding thing if they catch you, as it=money, and they are good at catching people Always handy to keep an eye out for very plain and random cars just parked on the side/edge of the autoroute.
I did also here that they used to also fine you for speeding by working it out on your toll booth tickets from point a, too point b. This could be an old wives tale though? So if you were making "decent progress" on route, always handy to stop midway at a services for a cafe au lait or 2 just to lose 10-15 minutes

As mentioned def keep the hi-viz handy, mine was always under the seat in the wagon and if you are unfortunate enough to breakdown, get a puncture etc, get the warning triangle out, and a good distance back, asap.

[moochofun]

Thanks for the info guys, much appreciated

[flemke]

chilistrucker said:

Another plus 1.
They are keen on the speeding thing if they catch you, as it=money, and they are good at catching people Always handy to keep an eye out for very plain and random cars just parked on the side/edge of the autoroute.
I did also here that they used to also fine you for speeding by working it out on your toll booth tickets from point a, too point b. This could be an old wives tale though? So if you were making "decent progress" on route, always handy to stop midway at a services for a cafe au lait or 2 just to lose 10-15 minutes

As mentioned def keep the hi-viz handy, mine was always under the seat in the wagon and if you are unfortunate enough to breakdown, get a puncture etc, get the warning triangle out, and a good distance back, asap.

I have specifically asked gendarmes about the timing-between-peage-stations story, and have been assured that it is a misconception.

I think the notion arose because often a speed trap team will set up their radar somewhere between the last junction prior to a peage station and the station itself. After clocking a specific car too far above the speed limit, they will radio ahead to colleagues waiting at the peage station. The speeding car will necessarily have to stop at the peage station, which makes the gendarmes' job of handing out the ticket and collecting the fine as simple as pie.

The gendarmes have told me that the only time that elapsed time between stations might be taken into account would be if there had been a fatality in which excessive speed was suspected as a factor. In that case, investigators might be interested in evidence that the crime of speed had been committed by a driver involved in the subsequent fatality.

[chilistrucker]

Thanks flemke, I'd often wondered if it was just driver waffle that came out after a few beers in a French truck stop.

[Pau1]

Ross, have you considered applying the yellow film over your entire headlights?

Matt did that to his 360 last time we went and it looked awesome with the rest of the livery.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Yellow-Headlights-Tail-L...

[Riversides150]

Ahhh - some great memories!

Only 4 weeks to go now...you'll love it Ross!