It’s official: as of 1 January 2013, motorcycle drivers and scooters of over 125 cm3 and motor tricycles over 20 hp should wear retro reflective equipment, under penalty of a fixed fine of 68 Euros and a withdrawal of two points!
The Ministry of Interior has published in the Official Journal Decree No. 2012-3 of 3 January 2012, specified by an order of January 3, 2012, on retro reflective equipment that will be mandatory from 1 January 2013 for drivers and passengers of a motorized two-wheelers of over 125 cm3 “or L5e category vehicle of over 15 kW” (20.4 hp, Ed).
Specifically, if it is almost expressly MP3 drivers, this obligation does not touch – for now – the drivers of mopeds and 125 cm3. Which greatly surprising, inasmuch because of their smaller size and less powerful lighting, cyclists and 125 are even less visible than the big guns …
Reportedly, this was explained by the fact that these vehicles operate primarily in urban areas, where fatal accidents are fewer. On the other hand, users of mopeds and 125 have already been sufficiently “cooled” by previous decisions of the IRB, respectively Technical Supervision and training of 7:00 …
There is however likely that this obligation will extend in future to all two and three wheel regardless of displacement, according to the same pattern as the helmet (first made compulsory in 1973 for large engined open road, then gradually extended to all motorcycles).
Is my jacket compliant?
According to the decree published today in the Official Journal, the equipment can be retro-reflective “in one or more parts” but must always “is a total area of at least 150 cm2.”
Waiting to see on our roads – with a certain perverse forward, let’s face it! – The “security forces” out their tape measure, it is necessary to accurately measure all reflective vest parts of your current jacket to see if it will pass the 2013 bug …
If the retro reflective equipment does not comply it will be changing jacket or him “superimpose by any means” provided that it is “focused on the upper body, except the helmet, from the waist to the shoulder line, so as to be visible to other road users.”
Clearly, a Reflective Armband 30 cm by 5 slipped over the handle will do … which is surprisingly not the case for one distributed to journalists by the Ministry of Transport! With 25 cm of 5.8 (or 145 cm2), the official armband “Road safety all responsible” (photo above) is simply not consistent …
Fine of 3rd class and withdrawal of 2 points
Too bad, because “the fact for any driver or passenger of a motorcycle or tricycle under the first paragraph of contravening this section is liable to a fine for offenses of the third class”, provides the new Article R. 431-1-2 of the Highway code … Besides “the breach when committed by the driver, leads automatically to a reduction of two points of the driving license!”
To start the year, the interior minister also took several other decisions creating or aggravating traffic violations.
Between whatnot, “possession, transportation and use” not in accordance with warning radar (read MNC including 25 October 2011) is now punishable by a fine of 1,500 Euros (!)
Tougher penalties and new offenses
The “traffic on an emergency lane” passes for its 35 to 135 € (by the way, the same sanctions is extended to simple “crossing the emergency lane”) and “detention from improper license plate “will now cost € 135 (instead of 68).
Only real step for road safety: the use of a phone “hand-held” are now fined € 135 (instead of 35) and a withdrawal of three points (instead of two), while “watching a television screen” from 135 to 1500 € with one out of three points instead of two. Failing to “TV,” our friends the road will they rush en masse on the iPod or laptops 16 / 9th with integrated DVD player?