France to ban Headsets

[lew600fazer]

Just found this little nugget on the CBF forum, so if you are touring to France this summer this may affect you.

I'm copying this verbatim from another forum.
No further updates available at present

Just had this in response to the question " are they (French Government) going to ban the use of motorcycle headsets?" from a French member on another forum. He has been a good source of information and clarification about the true state of French laws in the past...

"Starting 1st July 2015, every hand-free device will be prohibited (be it wired, BT or whatever), whatever function it is installed for (music, phone, GPS...). This applies to cars and bikes. The only authorised devices will be... you guessed it... those sold by car manufacturers which can be voice operated. This is the current state of debility of our current government...".

So, no Sat nav or rider to pillion or bike to bike comms in France from July onwards..

I know that in France there has been a fair number of "laws" that have been proposed, but never actually made it through, but this one seems to be getting pushed through successfully...

Cross your fingers this one falls flat...
 :006:

[stevierst]

Well they got the controversial 'ban the burkha' through to be law, what's to stop them from doing this?

[sinto]

Well they got the controversial 'ban the burkha' through to be law, what's to stop them from doing this?

But probably only if they're using bluetooth headsets at the same time

[Exupnut]

They shud ban eating frogs first

[bigralphie]

tiny Kawasaki sticker on my Sena headset ...sorted 

[sinto]

tiny Kawasaki sticker on my Sena headset ...sorted 

How will that sort it?

[stevierst]

I'd love to see them prove you were 'using' it.

[unfazed]

Won't bother me, I don't use the phone headset or sat navs while riding. My phone is always in my pocket and have a map in the top of the tank bag.

[hairnet]

So all the frog bike cops will have to stop use their radios now

Slightly hard to enforce in a country 5 times bigger than here

[BBROWN1664]

The ban I read about only referred to cars. For cars, the ban applies to Bluetooth and cabled headsets for mobile phones. You are still allowed to use hands free kits. The idea is that they want to ban anything in or over your ear.
On the bike I wouldn't worry about it as you wear earplugs and crash helmets that obstruct your hearing.
IIRC the ban was from 1st July.

[midden]

Absolutely ridiculous,  I can see more accidents regards looking at gps rather than listening to instruction...... still that's the french for you.

[fazersharp]

FRENCH ------ constantly making up their own laws doing whatever they like whilst still being a member of the EU, I dont know how the fek they get away with it, ---------------- do you think for one second that if france were the uk -- as in, a separate island disconnected from europe that they would even be in the eu. The sooner we get out of the failed  eu club the better the rest of europe hate us anyway, I say pull up the drawbridge and fek  em

[Dead Eye]

Having EU laws imposed upon us can be an utter pain in the ass but realistically we need to maintain our EU trade links and be part of the European Economic Area imo

[fazersharp]

Having EU laws imposed upon us can be an utter pain in the ass but realistically we need to maintain our EU trade links and be part of the European Economic Area imo

We dont have to be a member. we can re-negotiate the terms outside of the eu to suit US ------ They need Us more than we need them, any negative monetary issues are just scaremongering from bushiness who would loose out on a personal level them selves, they dont really give a shit in or out -- just whatever lines their pockets the most, and whilst we dance religiousley to to the letter of the EU tune the French will keep on doing what the heck they like

[unfazed]

Well we know who voting which way here.

Two opinions and both wrong 



Only kidding

[fireblake]

As we've gone a little off topic. Can you imagine pulling out of Europe and them saying they won't trade with us on a level playing field. Yay, no more Mercedes, BMW and VW's clogging up our roads. No more Volvo's not seeing us. No more Meganes shaking their ass. And no more Italian cars on the hard shoulder. A definite win win in my very humble opinion. I've still not heard one reasonable reason for staying in. Trade is the biggest loke

[Billy Balthorpe]

Oh dear! I use my mp3 player and earphones in my car when I drive down to my house in Premery, I listen to audio books instead of the kids arguing, the wife moaning and the silence when they are all asleep.

Im just going to ignore it like I do with all the other rules I consider silly. The only one I take any notice of is the fluorescent vest thing, good idea that!

[BBROWN1664]

What about the bulbs and warning triangles Billy? Don't forget the breathalyser kits too

At least with the breathalysers, the fine if caught is 0€

Seriously though, the reason for the ban is the exact reason you use your headphones. You cant hear what is going on around you. which is why I don't think it will really be enforced for motorbikes. For cars on the other hand, they should ban loud sound systems too

[fazersharp]

For cars on the other hand, they should ban loud sound systems too

Ive always thought there should be a system in cars that when there is a emergency vehicle around that its "neh-nar" or woo woo (depending on your age) the sound should come through your car speakers and if its on your left then it just comes out of your left speakers etc.

[Dead Eye]

Although helpful, it's harder to implement - I'd just go with it turning down your music / radio to allow the siren to be more easily identified

[fazersharp]

Yeh but I didnt hear the siren because ive got Neil Diamond blasting out at number 11

[locksmith]

For cars on the other hand, they should ban loud sound systems too

WHAT, NO CHOONS !!!!!!!