I share the same concern/attitude and accept that the law is as it is. . I know 110 in a 90 could get me fined and points, however safe I might think it is.
1 Like
The problem with that is roadkill….
I’ve been driving on four wheels since 1981, before that on a motorbike for a few years.
In all that time I have hit one squirrel, which decided to turn round and run under my moving wheels, one pigeon which I assumed could fly up but didn’t, and one blackbird which was fighting another one.
But whenever I am out driving I often see roadkill. I can only assume people are going too fast. Animals either wild or domestic do not fit well with vehicles travelling at 110 kmph.
I pass all pedestrians and animals slowly. As a dog owner I wish other people would do the same, some do, most don’t.
I have never had a speeding or other endorsement, though once got a ticket on the M3 smart motorway at 3am when the limit was apparently 50mph without my knowledge on an open road with no evident reason for it. I attended the reform class and avoided it on my record.
I have never even had a UK parking ticket or a French one. I had a few in the CI where it’s actually impossible to go anywhere without getting one at some point.
The saving grace on my part has been driving mainly old or commercial vehicles. Many saloon cars are simply too fast and too quiet.
I am also really into risk assessment (having worked on dangerous construction sites often solo) and do not drive beyond safe stopping speeds if at all possible, and maintain a much larger distance between myself and the vehicle in front than most people.
My no claims discount is off the scale, as the only road accidents I have ever had is other people running into me. But now I am 70 + no doubt my insurance will be going up pretty quick regardless 
I’m ashamed to write I haven’t had speeding ticket in probably twenty years. As the BHP of the cars I drive went up, my use of the power went down. It’s embarrassing to say, but I am now a safe driver (don’t tell my friends).
The i4 has 340bhp and while she is a superb car, I’ve had more fun in 34bhp Minis (or especially my 100bhp rally Mini) or in 13bhp FIAT 500s. IMHO, for a real petrol head (comme moi) there is more fun going flat out in a little car at moderate speed than in driving a 1,000bhp Porsche down the Promenade des Anglais.
You got caught in a trap @billybutcher . The last time I was caught was on the A7/A8 around Lyon where it went 130 to 110 to 130 to 110 to 130 and I sailed through on cruise control and picked up two tickets - now that’s a money spinning trap.
1 Like
Garmin does “danger zones" - they seem to be 1km ahead and 1km after a camera
2 Likes
I’m finding that with the new, smaller motorbike. I find myself thinking that, with the old, much more powerful bike, I’d need to be going much faster to have the same fun.
2 Likes
I can’t speak for French wildlife, but animals in the UK can get hit by a car travelling at 20mph/30kph, including deer which leap out in front of vehicles on the edge of villages, pheasants from the verges of twisty country lanes where 110kph would be beyond the ability of most drivers.
1 Like
I spend a lot of time slowing down in towns to avoid hitting birds. Even at 20kph, it makes for an uncomfortable series of sudden decelerations. French wildlife doesn’t seem to be very vehicle-aware.
On small country roads, that should be automatic behaviour from all drivers. Some drivers treat speed limits as a target to be achieved at all costs.
1 Like
If I am killed in a car crash it will because OH swerved to avoid a beetle, or similar.
6 Likes
Brake first and only swerve if the thing in the way is big enough to kill you and braking isn’t working.
A friend got 3 consecutive tickets on the same road . She had been carefully staying under 90. The limit was 80. They should have kept them all at 80 (imo) anf not given in to the howls of protest. As has been said, it can be confusing.
1 Like
OH knows that but instinct overrides sense. He must have been a Buddhist in a former life.
.
3 Likes
TBH braking suddenly when driving on what appears to be a clear road is reckless and dangerous - you might get away with it if everyone is keeping distance and paying attention, but it is creating the conditions for an accident.
Or maybe even more extreme - a Jain?
OTOH some would argue that they should have kept them all at 90kph in the first place, instead of spend millions changing the signs and then in the majority of cases changing them back again, while leaving national roads at 80 kph.
4 Likes
I treat the open road speed limit as 80 unless a sign tells me otherwise.
Ditto…
In my experience the French are a bit ‘American’ in their use of cars. e.g. driving to the boulangerie instead of walking 3-4 minutes. ( I don’t know how respectful of speed limits are Americans. ) French public transport is wanting outside large towns.
I’ve visited and driven there a few times over the last 30 years. They are like people everywhere: some creep around, most stick to the speed limits give or take a bit and some drive above the limits. Habits may vary across the states: I’ve been to Illinois, Michigan, Kentucky, DC and Texas, but that’s a small fraction of the country.
Ain’t that the truth. And where it exists, it can be uncoordinated. I looked at a journey of 100km which crossed dept lines. It would have involved 2 buses and an overnight stay half way. I took my car.
I’m sure everywhere has such instances btw, but it made me chuckle.
2 Likes