The latest twist in the French hi vis saga is that the previous French government got it wrong!...Following protests at the proposed laws the French relented and said an area of reflective material of 150 square cm. would satisfy the requirements laid down within the directive.
However, that turned out to be wrong...The EEC directive 89/686/EEC specifies a minimum of 1000square cm...
Directives don't carry the same weight as regulations but if they are to be implemented they must satisfy the minimum requirements.
An EEC statement on the situation says the French..'have made a mistaken reference to the requirements of the harmonised standards and the Commission is to contact the French Government to rectify the mistake'...
That leaves the French Government with two options..Either they can shelve the proposal, which is not compulsory, or they can return to the specification laid down which requires 1000square cm. of reflective material (ie a hi vis waistcoat or similar)..the risk there of course is that the French motorcyclists will go totally ballistic when they are told....
Coincidentally there is another protest in Brussels planned for 22nd. of September involving Belgium and Dutch riders..I wouldn't like to guess which way this one will go now.....Ian
email (option): ian@wright52.plus.com
hi ian,looks like you got your wish from yesterday.
did you see the pm i sent you?
cheers rick
email (option): richardholt@rocketmail.com
Hi Rick..Yes I did..but couldn't find the parts..do you have a number for them?...thanks....Ian
email (option): ian@wright52.plus.com
hi ian,they have finished,but are still in completed listings on left side,
here is one of the items 160873380193
hope they are of use
cheers rick
email (option): richardholt@rocketmail.com
i am not a metric man is 1000cms a square metre so you wouldnt be able to see the bike with a hi vis square metre flag on the back or it could be a ribbon 1 cm wide and 1000cms long
email (option): roger.beck@node6.com
It gets worse...You don't have to have it on a bike of 125cc or under...So I guess it's OK for them to be invisible and get run over. Also if you are riding a Moped of 50cc or under you don't need to have the compulsory 'breath test' device either...So in that case you can be invisible AND over the limit when you get flattened..No doubt on a bicycle it will be alright to be stoned out of your mind as well..in fact it will probably be compulsory
...Ian
email (option): ian@wright52.plus.com
The latest press release from the French 'Motards en Colere' is that they're producing posters warning motorcyclists that this WILL become law from January 2013. They are at least referring to a 'brassard' (armband)
it would seem that nothing has been done to invalidate the original Sarkozy Government decree.
Incidentally, 'brassard' was the BEF GHQ code word for Arras, where it was located.
Well it is all a 'pain in the Arras'... ....The invisible man
email (option): ian@wright52.plus.com
The new French minister has dropped the previous government's proposal !
From the Motorcycle Action Group site :-
"27-11-2012 French bin their Hi-Viz proposals
We've just heard that the French interior Minister Emmanuel Valls has decided to withdraw the 150 square centimetre hi-viz rule.
Apparently he has acknowledged the protests from riders and that there really isn't any basis for the move.
MAG highlighted a few months ago, that apart from setting a dangerous precedent and creating the possibility that blame for accidents could be automatically shifted toward those riders not wearing the hi-viz as required, the French Government had also found itself in possible breach of an EU Directive which stipulated minimum quantities of hi-viz if hi-viz was being prescribed.
Much of what had been included under the previous French Government's 'Road Safety Plan' has now been watered down or thrown out completely. The new Socialist administration does appear to be taking on board the public strength of feeling and perhaps it acknowledges it is there to govern for the people, not over the people. Refreshing indeed."
....So we won't have to parade in 2014 dressed in Dayglo Mufti !
Thanks for the update Rik....F*****g Marvellous!.....apart from the fact I'll have to change the Mk2 version of the paperwork for 2014...but I don't care!
....Ian
email (option): ian@wright52.plus.com