breathalyser France

Neckender

Neckender

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I just saw this on another motorhome forum............


..."From next Spring, in France it will be obligatory to carry a Breath Test Kit in all cars, apparently 31% of fatal accidents in France are caused by drivers being over the limit, so this is a measure being taken to try to reduce this.
So anyone driving through France from next Spring should carry a kit...

Could Spain be next to introduce the obligatory kit ?
I dread to think how many accidents in Spain are caused by over the limit drink drivers, so perhaps a good idea ?

They are also experimenting with a device that you have to blow into, attached to your car, if you are over the limit the car won't start...now there's a good idea..."

If true will of course apply to Motohomes [I think]. How will it work and will just carrying a kit have any effect?

John.
 
but how accurate are they? i heard not very...............
 
will it make a difference ? probably not , the French enjoy a wine or two at lunchtime.

i suspect if you are over prescribed limit , test kit or not that pithed cant be bothered or I will get away with it this once is the attitude that will prevail.

When you visit the local tabac and witness Douanes drinking on duty albeit on a break ..I think there is a lot of work to do.

In Britain now I do believe there is a stigma acceptance it is antisocial to drive OPL .....But I am a mile away of believing that is true of the French

Although I have to say their attitude is far more balanced than Britain particularly in respect of young people

Channa
 
Whatever next? Carrying Condoms? Sick bags? not allowed to smoke while driving? Not allowed to sleep at the wheel???:D
 
It'll be interesting to see how it pans out and if it will make a difference. I try to stop driving in France by lunchtime and never carry on after a 'good lunch'

Just not worth it.

Anyway, what's the rush?
 
donkey too said:
Whatever next?not allowed to smoke while driving?
Click to expand...

We already have it, Failure to have proper control of a motor vehicle or along those lines...........a couple of years back outrage when a woman was charged with said offence for eating an apple whilst driving.

Whether there were tennis racquets involved or indeed if they would have added to the fun cant possibly say

Channa
 
Is it actually true, or a rumour that's been picked up by some tiny little expatriates' newsletter and then gained credence by forums such as this? I only ask because I would have thought that something as radical as this would have made the real headlines and I've heard nothing on radio or TV nor read about it in my quality broadsheet newspaper.

Time will tell I suppose, but it is odd that there's been little or nothing about it anywhere else. Or have I somehow missed it? If I have it's odd, as I'm a bit of a news hound.
 
I do carry a breath kit in the van, purely as I travel long distance in my job as well as in the van.
There has been many a time that we have taken the van to go to someone's party, or gone away to meet up with friends at rallies or a "Wildy Spot". This normally involves a glass or 10, so I will check after 12 hours from the last drink (If I can remember when that was :rolleyes: ) before I set off just to give me a bit of re-assurance that it is safe. If I can't remember when the last drink was or if the test is negative, I simply call in sick and stay put. As far as I am concerned A) not worth the risk of it still effecting my ability in driving, B) Cannot afford to be banned and C) Perfect excuse for staying away longer.
 
Can't see the point of carrying a breath test kit :rolleyes2: are you supposed to use it each time you drive or when are you required to use it. Surely if you got stopped by the police they would test you or would they accept the kit you had?
 
Kontiki said:
Can't see the point of carrying a breath test kit :rolleyes2: are you supposed to use it each time you drive or when are you required to use it. Surely if you got stopped by the police they would test you or would they accept the kit you had?
Click to expand...

They would never accept the test kit I carry (it clearly says on the packet that it is a guide). It's just my personal way of just "Double checking". After all, the old ale effects us in different ways, I just would like to just reassure myself that I have a fair crack at being Ok before setting off, personal preference really I guess. However giving the government their chance, I will stop altogether drinking the night before any drive being short or long, if they lower to zero % as suggested the other day.
 
Hi vis jackets and triangles at least make sense, even if France has gone a bit further than other countries, but carrying a one use breathaliser is pointless. I can't see how it could be of any conceivable benefit. Even Scandinavian countries, not noted for their tolerance of alcohol and driving, don't insist on it.

(Differences in people's tolerance to alcohol means that it is not the fairest of tests anyway. Mr Smith may be absolutely fine on 3 units and Mr Jones might be an accident waiting to happen with no units of alcohol inside him, but that it is a whole different discussion. Apart from the very occasional glass of wine, I don't drink if I am driving. I save it till the evening!)
 
I have heard that in Eireland (North or South, not sure) if you work in a brewery, it is compulsory to carry a kit. Infact you must have two (like the visual jackets we have) You have to blow into both of them at the same time. The reason being is, one tells you if you are over the limit and the other if you are an alcholic.
How far this is true I am unsure.☺☺☺
 
I can't see the point....
The driver who wants to drink and drive still will....:idea-007:
 
David & Ann said:
I have heard that in Eireland (North or South, not sure) if you work in a brewery, it is compulsory to carry a kit. Infact you must have two (like the visual jackets we have) You have to blow into both of them at the same time. The reason being is, one tells you if you are over the limit and the other if you are an alcholic.
How far this is true I am unsure.☺☺☺
Click to expand...

Anything is possible in Ireland. After all did they not put the emergency telephones down the central reservation of their M1 when they first biult it?:(
 
donkey too said:
Anything is possible in Ireland. After all did they not put the emergency telephones down the central reservation of their M1 when they first biult it?:(
Click to expand...

That is precisely why we have traffic jams on the M1 because some fool is making a phone call to his Mrs, telling her, he will be home late due to a traffic jam.
 
Having searched around I can find only one source for this story - an English language newspaper published in France. I am always suspicious when there is only one source and the more I think about it the less I can see the point. What weight could a self-conducted test have in court? How do you ensure that the kit hasn't been tampered with by the purchaser? It doesn't make a great deal of sense - unless Sarkozy is now the proud owner of a company selling breath test kits :)
 
donkey too said:
Anything is possible in Ireland. After all did they not put the emergency telephones down the central reservation of their M1 when they first biult it?:(
Click to expand...

I think you'll find that this story is in the same league as the old one about the person in the Winnebago who put it on cruise control and went into the back to make a cup of tea! Repeat a tale enough and people will believe it! :):) And I'm beginning to believe that this story about compulsory breathalysers is also in the same vein! Perhaps the reporter who thought he heard it was p*ssed?
 
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