French Road Law

[Mr Toad]

Fellow team member Swiss has aquired a 1945 jeep that we will be using to get to Carrefour this year.

I popped down to our base to have a look last week (photo on the way). Plan to trailer it down to LM...although it is "air mobile" if we come across a Hercules or similar on ebay...

Question is - is it road legal in that it has no seat belts? Although in its defence it does have a canvas sling to stop you falling out the side when you go round corners!

Anyone got a view about if we will be paying a fine to local Gendamerie?

[Steve Pyro]

As far as I recall, UK Construction and Use Regs were modified in 1971 to include things like seat belts, proper lighting, no La Cucaracha air horns etc.

I had a 1962 Cadillac 10 years ago without seat belts and it passed it's MOT every time.

Our LM support vehicle is a 1965 Cadillac convertible, plus we have a 1932 Ford open top pick up hot rod coming along.  They definately don't have seat belts and are perfectly legal (if not a little hairy!).

[BigH]

The law, as I understand it, apart from being an arse and all that, runs along the lines of: if the seatbelts weren't fitted as mandatory at the time of manufacture, then you don't have to fit them now. In other words, the law isn't backwardly compatible, which I would have thought came as read what with all the arse business and all that.
Seeing as your vehicle was built in 1945 you can also bribe policemen with silk stockings and legally shoot anyone in a Messerschmitt.
Donner und blitzen.

[Mr Toad]

Great stuff - Swiss... - get the .30 calibre fitted back on please! Oh, and while you are there could we retrofit some baguette holders where the pick axe handles should have been?

[SpriteII]

BigH is right, in the UK new regulations never apply retrospectively.

My Sprite does not need belts to be fitted, I think they were first mandated in about '65.  Interestingly though if they are fitted you do have to wear them.

As we are now one big happy family in Europe, I guess if your motor is OK with Mr Blair then it will be OK with his mate Jacques.

If the jeep has no rollover bar then you are probably better off without belts anyway.

[Gilles]

Yes you can drive a jeep without any seatbelt in France

[Steve TTTD]

Our LM support vehicle is a 1965 Cadillac convertible, plus we have a 1932 Ford open top pick up hot rod coming along.  They definately don't have seat belts and are perfectly legal (if not a little hairy!).

Steve,
With a Caddy, a Deuce Pickup and my 289 Zodiac the main drag of Arnage will be the place to cruise on Friday...

[Steve Pyro]

Steve,
With a Caddy, a Deuce Pickup and my 289 Zodiac the main drag of Arnage will be the place to cruise on Friday...

Yes Steve, plus a train of cobras snorting and farting behind  

[Mr Toad]

A suitable distance behind you will be the Wild Choppers, pedalling in diamond formation at a top speed of 10mph!!

[Perdu]

And guarding the rear for the Red Choppers Display team will be Lara the Midget (MG, OK?)

Bill

 

[Robbo SPS]

Steve,
With a Caddy, a Deuce Pickup and my 289 Zodiac the main drag of Arnage will be the place to cruise on Friday...

Yes Steve, plus a train of cobras snorting and farting behind  

Unless you break down AGAIN

[Steve TTTD]

Steve,
With a Caddy, a Deuce Pickup and my 289 Zodiac the main drag of Arnage will be the place to cruise on Friday...

Yes Steve, plus a train of cobras snorting and farting behind  

Unless you break down AGAIN

There's a major tradition here Robbo...
Since 1999 I haven't EVER got to Le Mans without breaking down...
Last year we missed the ferry at Poole by 8 hours because we were rebuilding the ignition system on Putley way..