Safe Speed Forums

AFPC, a French road safety organisation have urged the French to look at British for the safest standard in driving in Europe.

They state "British courtesy behind the wheel is Legendary"

Seems we are to be the role model, or an excuse to stick in loads of cameras

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Steve

There's a strong underlying point here. (NB: I drive a lot in France, often through Paris. I live in London. I feel able to compare the different driving styles).

What the French see as the primary British attribute in our road safety is THE WAY WE DRIVE.

And while they do have an increasingly strong approach to speeding, it is not the primary plank of their road safety programme.

Without wishing to fall into the usual cliches, I would argue that the French do drive more aggressively than the British, they have less discipline on the roads (especially motorways), and the average French person does see driving as a macho sport, at least more so than the average British person.

It is interesting, therefore, to observe that in trying to reduce their high accident rate, they see driver behaviour as a critical road safety component. This is a position that endorses the approach of this web site, I would argue.

It is worth remembering that the permitted speed on French motorways is 130kph (approx 82mph). If speed were the determining factor in accidents, an easy win for them would be to reduce the speed limit to 110 or 120kph. But as is often the case, the French have looked more closely at the underlying causes. Vive la France!

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Most people are stupid, most authority is malignant, God does not exist and everything is wrong