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quoteThe advice given in the following article has now changed. Please note, you are still required to carry a self-test breathalyser when driving in France but there is no current legislation demanding a fine for non-compliance. The Telegraph published further details.
A new law which came in to force on the 1st July makes it a legal requirement for all motorists, including those visiting from the UK, to carry at least two breathalyser kits in their vehicle when driving on French roads.
French Police have said they will be spot checking motorists coming into France via the Channel Tunnel and Ferry Ports and issuing spot fines for people who do not have two of the breathalysers on board (though there is a grace period until the end of November to allow people time to buy the devices).
The same rules apply to motorhome and caravan owners, though if you tow a small car with your motorhome then it may be a good idea to buy two sets of breathalysers and keep one in the car and one in the motorhome.
It is also important to remember that the French drink-driving limit is lower than the UK at 50mg of alcohol to 100ml of blood, 30mg less than over here, and that the breathalyser kit you purchase should be compatable with this limit. Digital breathalyser kits are reusable but more expensive so our advice is to opt for a set of at least two disposable breathalysers in order to adhere to the new law, and to wherever possible avoid drinking at all if you are intending to drive.
Ensure the breathalyser kits you buy are “NF Approved”, meaning they have been accredited by the French government as suitable for use and have an NF mark on the tube. They can be picked up for around £5 for a set of two breathalysers from a number of online retailers including Riversway Leisure.
Finally, don’t forget that under existing French law you must also carry a high visibility vest and a warning traingle for use in the event of a breakdown. The vest must be accessible in the front of your vehicle and used by anybody who stands outside the vehicle when broken down, so our advice would be to buy two and keep them in your glove compartment.
i have just read the april 2013 issue of “The Camping and Caravanning Club” magazine and it states that the French Interior Ministry have accepted that there are problems with the reliability of the “alcotest” devices and that the fining of motorists who do not comply has been postponed indefinitely.
Thanks for the update Andy.
Kind regards
Craig
Caravan Guard
Instead of paying over the odds for breathalysers at the ferry ports when we were in St Valeray in May we tried to buy them at the local chemist. The counter assistant stated we did not need them until July and stated we were wasting our time buying one now. It was a real struggle (and in my broken French) to buy one and she certainly was not going to let me buy two! Again in July we were in Bretignolles sur mer, I went into the local chemist and the assistant stated in broken English that we did not need to buy any until November as we were tourists! We gave up. On our next trip I will dip my hand in my pocket and buy from the port!
don’t forget that from next year, speed camera warning devices(including satnavs with the feature). will be illegal too
when you hire a car in France, are these breathalysers included in the package?
Hi Alex,
that’s exactly what we wrote above!
But thanks for the comment anyway.
Neil
Caravan Guard
Hello Neil.
You’ve put together a great post here. I think it’s worth noting – with the new driving laws in France, you’ll need to carry a breath testing kit when traveling on French roads. But be sure that it displays the “NF” logo on the packaging to ensure that it’s a model which complies with the new French driving laws.
Best wishes, Alex.