Motorcycles on the Radar
Behind you!
John Newman
One example of how French citizens have a higher regard for motorcyclists, is how motorists in the opposite lane will flash warning headlights. Then a couple of kilometers down the road you'll spot a possee of Gendarme half concealed at a tree lined crossroads on a long stretch where it's difficult to keep the throttle hand under control?
Allo, allo, allo!
They point the radar gun, but you've heeded the warning and avoided tipping over a portion of the Euro holiday budget towards their speeding fine targets. The other scenario is that you've
not had any warning, have transgressed the speed limit, and 'le flic' have halted your progress.
If your speed is not too excessive it's possible to adopt a submissive demeanour and rely on another human, albeit a police one, to minimise the penalty, or let you off with a warning.
They've got your back
The siting of these (human) speed traps may become a thing of the past as news reaches us that new French radar speed traps placed to take pictures of the front and rear of a speeding vehicle are being put out in three experimental areas. Until now French radar traps have been front facing, meaning us bikers have avoided our registration plates being recorded. In future the authorities will hope to expand their revenue by ensnaring more two wheelers.
The three areas for experiment are said to be: Rhone, Gironde (2 locations), and Nice. And such is the development of Europe wide technology that both fines and licence penalty points will soon be pursued across national boundaries.
So watch out next time you visit France - they're coming up behind you!
EN