Tuesday, 27 November 2012

BREAKING NEWS: FRANCE THROWS OUT HI-VIZ FOR BIKERS!

This morning, the French Interior Minister, Manuel Valls, announced the suspension of a new regulation which would require all motorcyclists riding a machine of 125cc or above in France to wear a reflective armband (or high visibility vest) with a reflective area of at least 150 square centimetres. Campaigning from the FFMC – France’s equivalent of MAG – has led to the government backing down, at least for the foreseeable future, on this piece of legislation. Bravo à nos amis! Many thanks to Paul at JtheB’s Biking Weekends, Normandy, for giving us a heads up.
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8 comments:

  1. Am I missing something here. After all these years of motorcyclists getting killed through car drivers who always said, " I didn't see him", so we had a campaign to ride with dipped headlights which helped to some degree, but now to read that the French have campaigned to not wear a reflective arm band or "High Viz" vest.

    I cannot believe that I am reading this crap,is freedom to do just as you like, more important than protecting your own life and the life of your pillion passenger when you are out on your motorcycle doing what gives you immense pleasure.

    I always said the French have got a few screws loose.

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    1. The cause of cars hitting motorbikes is NOT caused by the bikes and riders not being easily and clearly visible, it's caused by car drivers not paying proper attention, not taking proper care and most of all simply not looking.

      High Vis does nothing to address the root causes and would have added to costs for no reason to motorcyclists!

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    2. Well said!! Car drivers should have motorcycle awareness training during their tests,

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  2. Hi -Viz should be left up the rider.
    ya need car drivers to do an Eye sight test every 5 years,(yes i drive cars as well.

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  3. Get it right. There never has been a requirement to wear a Hi-Viz. It's always been a reflective surface of 150cm2.

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  4. Sorry. When we wrote 'a reflective armband (or high visibility vest) with a reflective area of at least 150 square centimetres', we should have made it clearer that it was a reflective area of at least 150 square centimetres... Careless... ;)

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  5. Wow, an apology. I don't get many of those. Screen dump done...

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  6. If you know how to ride, Hi-Vis should not be an issue! I drive a car and have been riding for over 30 years, driving tests should include biker awareness tests!

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