As of the 1st July 2008 it is a requirement in France to carry a high visability jacket or vest in the car as well as the emergency triangle.

The vest or jacket must be EU approved

Failure to carry one will result in a 90 euro fine.

I've not seen any offered for sale locally, so perhaps the ferry's are selling them onboard.

Don't know if this new law applies to any other countries in the EU.

Hope this helps anyone avoid paying the fine.

Dougal

variations of this law are enforced across europe, in italy you need first aid kit, spare bulbs, high vis vests for ALL passengers in the car a triangle and a fire extinguisher as well as headlight convertors, and think germany is not far off either for kit required. You can buy all this stuff cheaply in france in most supermarkets or service stations for much less than it costs on the ferry or at halfrauds!

Not a bad thing really anyway, just incase....i always have that stuff in my car!

I'll be over there at 0900 tomorrow !

I'll check to make sure its in my day sack.

According to the AA website, you also need a bulb kit, but not a fire extinguisher !

Nick

I thought these requirements were already in force, but maybe it was just recommended. I certainly got high vis vests, triangle, bulb kit and extinguisher before my France trip last year. All pretty sensible to have in the car all the time really...

The requirements do vary throughout Europe. Two triangles required for Spain, for example! One at 100m and the other by the vehicle IIRC.

Steve

I know most of that has always been needed for driving in Germany - Have always taken that stuff with me anyway, when driving on the continent. Best be safe than sorry, being caught in some random country failing one of their rules.

exactly, it seems a bit over the top at first however its all stuff that comes in handy and i have used most of them in the past at sum point or another. Most of its in force, policing can be quite regional in europe country to country so some places enforce it more than others. I noticed the aa requirements, and they dont seem up to date as i lived in italy last yr and know some of the things they state on the aa website are not required actually are:confused:

i have hi viz's, warning triangle, spare bulbs, not yet got round to getting an fire extingisher.

i have hi viz's, warning triangle, spare bulbs, not yet got round to getting an fire extingisher.

I really think the skoda fit extinguisher is a good one and it's a doddle to fit out of the way.

ill wait till i get round to going abroad first out of all my kit i only had to pay for the bulbs as the triangle is from my old astra and the high viz kindly from work

our hire car had a hi viz vest in the glovebox when we were in spain earlier this year

As of the 1st July 2008 it is a requirement in France to carry a high visability jacket or vest in the car as well as the emergency triangle.

The vest or jacket must be EU approved

Failure to carry one will result in a 90 euro fine.

I've not seen any offered for sale locally, so perhaps the ferry's are selling them onboard.

Don't know if this new law applies to any other countries in the EU.

Hope this helps anyone avoid paying the fine.

Dougal

The fine could actually be up to 135 euros. However there is a period of grace until the 1st of October 2008 before which date the police will not issue any fines. So OK for summer hols...

The law is a bit silly in that it states that you should wear the jacket before you get ou to f the car when stopped on the hard shoulder. Like most people I keep mine in the boot. But I guess you'd have to be remarkably unlucky to get fined for that...

I'll be over there at 0900 tomorrow !

I'll check to make sure its in my day sack.

According to the AA website, you also need a bulb kit, but not a fire extinguisher !

Nick

The spare bulb kit is indeed a requirement - much older law.

Previsouly warning triangles were only required in the car if you were towing something.

In spain, you must keep the reflective jackets in the car, the boot is no good and any occupent leaving the vehicle must be wearing one. This is why, you see most spanish registered cars driving around with them hung over the seatback.

On my recent trip to spain, I put the 2 I had in the underseat storage compartment.

Yep, my hi-viz vests are in the passenger underseat compartment as well. Good use of it I thought

I've just left them in there, as I'd use them in Britain if I ever had an issue at the roadside. A genuinely good idea I feel.

Steve

The one that gets me is the bulb kit. Why?

Well I had a new shape Megane for a few months, and the access to the headlight bulbs was through a tiny little aperture in the wheel arch liner. Being nowhere near big enough for a human hand, I can only assume this arrangement was the brainchild of a manufacturer keen to ensure future business for their retailers.

So if changing a bulb requires a dealer visit, whats the point in carrying a bulb kit?? :confused:

Hi Tom . we carry spare bulb sets here in Croatia as well as all the vests and tow rope , medic things. My wife would if a bulb has blown, go to the nearest garage and they would fit the bulb, using ours or from their own stock. Most garages only charge a small amount for this type of thing, some not at all.

After, if they had used our own bulb we would replenish the kit where and when we find a bulb.

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Octy 2, 1.9 TDI PD Ambiente 4x4 Combi and Nissan Sunny 2.0 DLX, Company Octy 1.9 TDI Tour Combi.

The one that gets me is the bulb kit. Why?

Well I had a new shape Megane for a few months, and the access to the headlight bulbs was through a tiny little aperture in the wheel arch liner. Being nowhere near big enough for a human hand, I can only assume this arrangement was the brainchild of a manufacturer keen to ensure future business for their retailers.

So if changing a bulb requires a dealer visit, whats the point in carrying a bulb kit?? :confused:

The French law is the reason that little hole thingy was there I think. By law you have to be able to change your headlight bulbs at the roadside. I did manage it on my megane, but my arm was scratched and cut all over at the end of the 90 minute ordeal - never again! The manufacturer charged me £70 I think to replace it the following time...