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From July all drivers in France must carry a breathalyser says IAM


The IAM is warning that from 1 July this year all drivers visiting France will need to carry a breathalyser kit in their cars, as French drivers will have to. From November there will be an €11 fine for not complying with this.

With a start date for the new measure of 1 July 2012, the rules will apply for anyone traveling to or through France by car in the summer holiday season, even just for a day trip.
Single-use breathalyser kits will satisfy the requirement. The legal limit in France is 50 mg per 100 ml of blood, lower than in the UK (the UK limit is 80mg). They cost between £1 and £2 and they will be available at ferry and tunnel terminals for crossings to France. It is intended that people will be able to test themselves to check whether or not they are over the French limit.

The IAM is advising motorists in France to have at least two breathalysers at all times, so that if one is used you still have one to produce for the police if you are stopped.
Anyone driving in France is already required to carry a warning triangle and a fluorescent safety vest to use in an emergency. Additionally UK motorists must display a GB plate and have their headlights adjusted to the right.

IAM director of policy and research Neil Greig said: “The new French rule is a genuine attempt to reduce the number of alcohol related-accidents. France’s lower limit means it’s very easy to be over the limit the morning after as well. As always, the best advice for motorists is not to drink and drive at all.”

Additional Info

1. IAM Motoring Facts 2011 shows that in 2009:
More than twice as many UK residents travel overseas than people from abroad visit the UK

❚ Three times as many UK residents take a car abroad than visitors from overseas bring a car to the UK
❚ 80 per cent of UK residents’ trips abroad were by air, 13 per cent by sea and seven per cent by the Channel Tunnel
❚ Of the almost six million trips by private vehicles from the UK to other EU countries, two thirds did not go beyond France, nine per cent went to Ireland, seven per cent to Belgium, six per cent to Netherlands, 4½ per cent to Germany, three per cent to Poland and two per cent to Spain.
Source: http://www.iam.org.uk/images/stories/downloads/Policy_and_Research/JourneysWeMakev2011.pdf.
2 The IAM is the UK’s largest independent road safety charity, dedicated to improving standards and safety in driving, motorcycling and cycling. The commercial division of the IAM operates through its occupational driver training company IAM Drive & Survive. The IAM has more than 200 local volunteer groups and over 100,000 members in the UK and Ireland. It is best known for the advanced driving test and the advanced driving, motorcycling and cycling courses. Its policy and research division offers advice and expertise on road safety.

[Source: PRWeb UK]

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