Driving in France? Regardez bien!

Road accident deaths in France shot up by nearly 4% final year, hitting a total of close to 3,400. And the French government is determined to avert them going up once again in 2015.

To that end, it has introduced a raft of measures made to quit men and women putting lives in danger by drink driving and utilizing their mobile phones at the wheel – one thing you will require to be conscious of if you are driving on French roads this year.

As nicely as lowering the legal alcohol limit for young drivers, the new regime bans the use of hands-free kits utilised by drivers to make calls at the wheel and lowers the age at which teenagers can commence driving beneath supervision.

France – a harmful place to drive

The number of folks who died on French roads in 2014 rose 3.7% year-on-year to a depressingly high 3,388.

Evaluate that to the 1,713 people killed on UK roads in 2013 (the most current year for which statistics are offered). France has a slightly larger population (66 million) than the UK (64 million) but it’s a larger landmass with a lot more roads, so you’d feel the quantity of fatalities would be on a par.

But probably the most telling statistic is that UK fatalities in 2013 in fact fell by 2.3%, and the lengthy term trend in the UK is downwards. Apart from 2011, deaths have fallen in quantity each year because 2004.

So why this evident French malaise.

Drinking difficulty

Maybe it plays to national stereotypes, but it turns out that alcohol-connected accidents came out as the quantity one killer in France.

And as a person who has spent years living in France, that does not come as a excellent surprise to me. French folks have a rather various attitude to us Brits when it comes to drink-driving.

Although getting behind the wheel when you’re tipsy right here is rapidly becoming a deep social taboo, it’s broadly accepted in France – or at least it is in the rural places exactly where I have spent most of my time.

That’s why I welcome efforts to crack down on drink driving. And I reckon the most powerful way to prevent alcohol-associated road deaths, at least in rural areas, would be to invest in much better public transport or find a way of lowering the usually astronomical expense of a taxi ride.

How the government is tackling the dilemma

In February, Bernard Cazeneuve, the French Interior Minister, announced particulars of no fewer than 26 measures developed to reduce the number of accidents and fatalities by 2020:

• Zero tolerance on alcohol for young drivers

The legal alcohol limit is getting slashed from .5mg/ml to .2mg/ml for young drivers, meaning even one particular half pint – the ubiquitous French “demi” – will push them more than.

• Breathalysers in late-night off licences

Shops selling alcohol between 2am and 7am should provide buyers breathalysers or face penalties and possible closure.

• Earphones and headsets no longer permitted

The use of all sorts of earphones, headsets and hands-totally free kits “that limit the interest of drivers” is getting banned for these in the driving seat.

• Much more “double-face” speed cameras

Whilst the quantity of speed cameras in France – 4,150 – is not set to rise, there will be a lot more “double-faced” speed cameras that can snare drivers travelling in each directions.

• Tinted windows to be banned

Only tinted windscreens are forbidden at the moment, but Cazeneuve intends to extend this ban to cover all car windows in the coming years.

• More space around pedestrian crossings

Only mopeds and motorbikes will be allowed to park within 5 metres of pedestrian crossings.

• Younger drivers on the roads

French teenagers as young as 15 will be capable to drive beneath supervision under the new guidelines.

To France?

If you are driving to France this year, make positive you verify what’s necessary and expected of you prior to you set off.

Spend distinct consideration to setting your headlights properly and carrying the appropriate equipment in case of an accident. You should also carry an authorized breathalyzer.

Full specifics can be found in this 2-portion report.

Driving in France? Regardez bien!

Driving in France? Regardez bien!

Road accident deaths in France shot up by almost 4% final year, hitting a total of close to 3,400. And the French government is determined to prevent them going up again in 2015.

To that end, it has introduced a raft of measures created to cease folks placing lives in danger by drink driving and making use of their mobile phones at the wheel – anything you’ll want to be conscious of if you are driving on French roads this year.

As properly as lowering the legal alcohol limit for young drivers, the new regime bans the use of hands-cost-free kits utilized by drivers to make calls at the wheel and lowers the age at which teenagers can start driving below supervision.

France – a dangerous place to drive

The number of men and women who died on French roads in 2014 rose 3.7% year-on-year to a depressingly high 3,388.

Evaluate that to the 1,713 people killed on UK roads in 2013 (the newest year for which statistics are offered). France has a slightly larger population (66 million) than the UK (64 million) but it’s a larger landmass with more roads, so you’d feel the number of fatalities would be on a par.

But perhaps the most telling statistic is that UK fatalities in 2013 in fact fell by 2.3%, and the lengthy term trend in the UK is downwards. Apart from 2011, deaths have fallen in quantity every year because 2004.

So why this evident French malaise.

Drinking dilemma

Maybe it plays to national stereotypes, but it turns out that alcohol-related accidents came out as the number one killer in France.

And as a person who has spent years living in France, that doesn’t come as a excellent surprise to me. French individuals have a rather various attitude to us Brits when it comes to drink-driving.

Whilst obtaining behind the wheel when you are tipsy right here is quick becoming a deep social taboo, it’s broadly accepted in France – or at least it is in the rural areas exactly where I have spent most of my time.

That is why I welcome efforts to crack down on drink driving. And I reckon the most effective way to avoid alcohol-associated road deaths, at least in rural locations, would be to invest in greater public transport or locate a way of lowering the often astronomical cost of a taxi ride.

How the government is tackling the problem

In February, Bernard Cazeneuve, the French Interior Minister, announced specifics of no fewer than 26 measures developed to reduce the number of accidents and fatalities by 2020:

• Zero tolerance on alcohol for young drivers

The legal alcohol limit is being slashed from .5mg/ml to .2mg/ml for young drivers, which means even 1 half pint – the ubiquitous French “demi” – will push them over.

• Breathalysers in late-evening off licences

Shops promoting alcohol among 2am and 7am have to provide customers breathalysers or face penalties and potential closure.

• Earphones and headsets no longer permitted

The use of all kinds of earphones, headsets and hands-totally free kits “that limit the attention of drivers” is getting banned for those in the driving seat.

• Much more “double-face” speed cameras

Although the quantity of speed cameras in France – 4,150 – is not set to rise, there will be a lot more “double-faced” speed cameras that can snare drivers travelling in both directions.

• Tinted windows to be banned

Only tinted windscreens are forbidden at the moment, but Cazeneuve intends to extend this ban to cover all automobile windows in the coming years.

• Far more space around pedestrian crossings

Only mopeds and motorbikes will be allowed to park inside 5 metres of pedestrian crossings.

• Younger drivers on the roads

French teenagers as young as 15 will be capable to drive beneath supervision beneath the new guidelines.

To France?

If you’re driving to France this year, make positive you verify what’s needed and expected of you just before you set off.

Pay distinct consideration to setting your headlights correctly and carrying the correct equipment in case of an accident. You need to also carry an authorized breathalyzer.

Complete information can be identified in this 2-element post.

Driving in France? Regardez bien!

Driving in France? Regardez bien!

Road accident deaths in France shot up by practically 4% final year, hitting a total of close to 3,400. And the French government is determined to prevent them going up again in 2015.

To that finish, it has introduced a raft of measures created to quit folks placing lives in danger by drink driving and making use of their mobile phones at the wheel – anything you will require to be aware of if you are driving on French roads this year.

As nicely as lowering the legal alcohol limit for young drivers, the new regime bans the use of hands-cost-free kits utilized by drivers to make calls at the wheel and lowers the age at which teenagers can begin driving beneath supervision.

France – a hazardous place to drive

The number of folks who died on French roads in 2014 rose 3.7% year-on-year to a depressingly high 3,388.

Examine that to the 1,713 men and women killed on UK roads in 2013 (the most current year for which statistics are obtainable). France has a slightly larger population (66 million) than the UK (64 million) but it is a bigger landmass with far more roads, so you’d feel the quantity of fatalities would be on a par.

But possibly the most telling statistic is that UK fatalities in 2013 really fell by 2.3%, and the long term trend in the UK is downwards. Apart from 2011, deaths have fallen in quantity every single year since 2004.

So why this evident French malaise.

Drinking dilemma

Possibly it plays to national stereotypes, but it turns out that alcohol-associated accidents came out as the number one particular killer in France.

And as an individual who has spent years living in France, that does not come as a excellent surprise to me. French people have a rather different attitude to us Brits when it comes to drink-driving.

Although getting behind the wheel when you are tipsy right here is quickly becoming a deep social taboo, it is broadly accepted in France – or at least it is in the rural places where I have spent most of my time.

That’s why I welcome efforts to crack down on drink driving. And I reckon the most efficient way to avoid alcohol-related road deaths, at least in rural places, would be to invest in better public transport or find a way of lowering the usually astronomical price of a taxi ride.

How the government is tackling the issue

In February, Bernard Cazeneuve, the French Interior Minister, announced particulars of no fewer than 26 measures made to reduce the number of accidents and fatalities by 2020:

• Zero tolerance on alcohol for young drivers

The legal alcohol limit is being slashed from .5mg/ml to .2mg/ml for young drivers, meaning even one half pint – the ubiquitous French “demi” – will push them more than.

• Breathalysers in late-evening off licences

Shops promoting alcohol amongst 2am and 7am should supply buyers breathalysers or face penalties and prospective closure.

• Earphones and headsets no longer allowed

The use of all types of earphones, headsets and hands-free of charge kits “that limit the focus of drivers” is being banned for these in the driving seat.

• Far more “double-face” speed cameras

Although the number of speed cameras in France – 4,150 – is not set to rise, there will be much more “double-faced” speed cameras that can snare drivers travelling in each directions.

• Tinted windows to be banned

Only tinted windscreens are forbidden at the moment, but Cazeneuve intends to extend this ban to cover all automobile windows in the coming years.

• Much more space about pedestrian crossings

Only mopeds and motorbikes will be allowed to park inside 5 metres of pedestrian crossings.

• Younger drivers on the roads

French teenagers as young as 15 will be capable to drive below supervision below the new guidelines.

To France?

If you are driving to France this year, make confident you verify what’s necessary and expected of you just before you set off.

Pay certain interest to setting your headlights appropriately and carrying the correct equipment in case of an accident. You must also carry an approved breathalyzer.

Full details can be located in this 2-part article.

Driving in France? Regardez bien!

one hundred Really Rare Automobiles Found in France, Such as Ferrari 250GT SWB California Spyder [w/ Video]

Fewer than 60 Ferrari 250GT SWB California Spyders were ever built, making the model one of the most prized and pricey classic cars in the world. The lineage of each surviving example is as obsessively researched as the bloodline of a world-class race horse. Which is why the discovery of a previously unknown California Spyder among a secret French collection of 100 classic cars has the automotive world in an uproar. Talk about a barn find.

The jaw-dropping Ferrari is just one of 100 cars in the Baillon Collection, hoarded away by shipping magnate Roger Baillon throughout the 1950s and ’60s. Baillon’s dream was to preserve the finest prewar automobiles for display in a museum, and by the late 1960s he’d amassed a collection of 200 cars.

The collection featured names like Bugatti, Hispano-Suiza, Talbot-Lago, Panhard-Levassor, Delahaye, and Delage, along with achingly beautiful coachbuilt one-offs and more modern vehicles from Ferrari, Maserati, and Porsche.

Unfortunately, Baillon was never able to build his dream museum. Hard times befell his company, forcing him to sell off a number of the vehicles he’d gathered. The rest were left to languish under ramshackle corrugated tin roofs, strewn about a property in western France to succumb to rust and dereliction. Thankfully, the California Spyder was stored somewhat more permanently inside a brick garage—and next to a 1956 Maserati A6G Gran Sport Frua, one of just 3 ever built.

Inexplicably, as the market for world-class vintage cars skyrocketed, the collection went entirely unnoticed for decades. It was just 3 months ago that Pierre Novikoff and Matthieu Lamoure of the auction house Artcurial came across the massive barn find. “When they mentioned a Ferrari California SWB I thought it was a joke,” Novikoff told The Telegraph.

The auctioneers examined the full collection and determined that 60 of the cars are solid enough to sell at auction. The remaining 40 will likely be sold for parts by the family. In a press release announcing the Artcurial auction, Lamoure compared the discovery of the Baillon collection to the moment when Lord Carrington and Howard Carter entered Tutankhamen’s tomb. “Never again, anywhere in the world, will such a treasure be unearthed,” Novikoff adds.

The total collection is estimated to be worth up to €15 million, or just over $ 18 million. Expect a huge portion of that to come from the sale of the Ferrari California Spyder, a model which regularly fetches $ 10–15 million. The auction takes place on February 6, 2015. If your accountant won’t be able to wire the money from your Swiss bank account by then, perhaps this gorgeously crafted video tour of the collection in as-discovered condition will slake your thirst.

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A version of this story originally appeared on roadandtrack.com via Autoweek.

one hundred Really Rare Automobiles Found in France, Such as Ferrari 250GT SWB California Spyder [w/ Video]

Travel Insurance for France

While it is not at the best of our list of most typical holiday destinations, France is nonetheless an really popular option for Australians travelling overseas, with the Australian Bureau of Statistics advising that 138,000 Australians travelled there in 2013. While it’s normally noticed as a serene spot to go on vacation, there are a couple of factors that make having travel insurance a great idea.

 

What does it price?

Information from the most recent Canstar Travel Insurance Star Ratings Report shows that more than a period of 10 days, the average expense of travel insurance coverage for a single traveller, a couple, and a family is $ 99.71, $ 187.37, and $ 193.53 respectively.

	Minimum premium	Maximum premium	Typical premium
Single	$ 41.92	$ 176.00	$ 99.71
Couple	$ 79.65	$ 343.00	$ 187.37
Loved ones	$ 83.84	$ 376.00	$ 193.53

Supply: CANSTAR Travel Insurance Star Ratings 2014. Primarily based on premiums for 10 days.

What does it cover?

Typically travel insurance coverage policies cover a cancellation fee, accidental death, overseas hospital costs, repatriation/evacuation fees, overseas dental, luggage and individual effects, and theft of money.

The most frequent exclusion on policies for those travelling to France was theft of cash exclusions had been much less typical on 3-5 star policies nonetheless exclusions had been nearly universal on 1 and 2 star policies. This is most likely due to the prevalence of petty theft in some common tourist places of France.

The other exclusion occasionally noticed was cover for accidental death, which in contrast to theft of cash exclusions, was comparatively evenly distributed among 1 to 5-star policies.

In France…

France carries fewer dangers to travellers than some other countries, getting a green rating on the internet site for Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The only widespread threat is petty theft, which can be simply avoided by exercising caution and possibly investing in an anti-pickpocket pouch. Nonetheless the Division also warns of a heightened threat of terrorist attack in France, due to motivations connected to the conflict in Iraq and Syria.

Travel Insurance for France