Speed Limits - France

Kontiki

Kontiki

Full Member
Posts
2,268
Likes
760
We are in Capbreton, we travelled down the N10 for quite a long way. From about Poitiers there were signs restricting 3.5 ton to 80kph (50mph) & signs showing no overtaking for 3.5 ton. These were all the way down, every time there was a sign showing 90 or 120 kph then just after it was the 80 kph for 3.5 & above & the no overtaking. This was no use when you have a great big truck behind you ignoring the limit. Someone reckoned that it was to try to push the wagons & motorhomes to use the toll motorways. What used to be an easy if not boring drive now much longer & possibly more unsafe. The French motohomes we saw seemed to ignore the signs & also many of the wagons.
 
It's actually more about freeing the outside lane of a two-lane motorway from lorries that take several miles to overtake another lorry and block the lane for faster traffic. I've come across this in northern Germany as well and I think that, in principle, it's a good idea.

I remember a journey from the north down to Ipswich a year ago. There was a dual carriageway road that was a nightmare. Lorry after lorry, going to Felixstowe presumably, would pull out to overtake and then there'd be a slight slope. The lorries being overtaken would never ease off a little to allow the other to get past quickly and sometimes the maneuver would take ten minutes and a few miles, whilst a huge line of frustrated drivers queued up behind them.

Yes, I know that lorries have a job to do but this behaviour saves them very little time. The overtaken lorries catch up with them at the next lights and the overtaker has gained about two minutes at the end of his journey.

It is unfortunate that motorhomes weighing a bit more than 3500kg are caught in this trap, as they're not normally the problem. Perhaps the limit needs raising to 4500kg? This would still catch the big slow lorries but allow lighter and faster vehicles to overtake as normal.
 
It's not more than 3.5 ton it is saying anything 3.5 & above which covers most of the coachbuilt motorhomes, at 80 kph I can't get into 6th gear on my Renault automatic, I need to be doing a min of 55 mph & ideally about 60 mph. The 90 kph limit was just about ok but doing 80 on a long straight dual carriageway & motorway is really slow.

BTW We signs restricting caravans to 70 kph!!
 
Northerner said:
It's actually more about freeing the outside lane of a two-lane motorway from lorries that take several miles to overtake another lorry and block the lane for faster traffic. I've come across this in northern Germany as well and I think that, in principle, it's a good idea.

I remember a journey from the north down to Ipswich a year ago. There was a dual carriageway road that was a nightmare. Lorry after lorry, going to Felixstowe presumably, would pull out to overtake and then there'd be a slight slope. The lorries being overtaken would never ease off a little to allow the other to get past quickly and sometimes the maneuver would take ten minutes and a few miles, whilst a huge line of frustrated drivers queued up behind them.

Yes, I know that lorries have a job to do but this behaviour saves them very little time. The overtaken lorries catch up with them at the next lights and the overtaker has gained about two minutes at the end of his journey.

It is unfortunate that motorhomes weighing a bit more than 3500kg are caught in this trap, as they're not normally the problem. Perhaps the limit needs raising to 4500kg? This would still catch the big slow lorries but allow lighter and faster vehicles to overtake as normal.
Click to expand...


That was the A14, its much better know, there are overtaking restrictions in place.
 
those signs have been on the N10 for at least a couple of years to my knowledge, no worries , ours is a leisure activity after all, why the hurry ?
 
Kontiki said:
We are in Capbreton, we travelled down the N10 for quite a long way. From about Poitiers there were signs restricting 3.5 ton to 80kph (50mph) & signs showing no overtaking for 3.5 ton. These were all the way down, every time there was a sign showing 90 or 120 kph then just after it was the 80 kph for 3.5 & above & the no overtaking. This was no use when you have a great big truck behind you ignoring the limit. Someone reckoned that it was to try to push the wagons & motorhomes to use the toll motorways. What used to be an easy if not boring drive now much longer & possibly more unsafe. The French motohomes we saw seemed to ignore the signs & also many of the wagons.
Click to expand...

Is this the sign you're referring to? Poitiers, France - Google Maps

It just appears to prohibit lorries overtaking cars ...
 
I remember seeing signs like that on the drive down tp Biarritz last year , it kept the HGV's from overtaking but i still kept to 60-65 and used the outside lane . I did keep a good lookout in the mirrors though:drive:
 
You will find that if your van weighs 3.5 tons or under then you will have no problem, as long as drive sensibly, it is to restrict HGVs from causing long tail backs as no doubt you have experienced on the N10, it is also a nightmare when you get south of Bordeaux with HGVs in convoy's of ten or more, as any French driver will tell you just use a bit of common sense and you will be ok
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Users who viewed this discussion (Total:0)

Back
Top