Obligatory Breathalyser Kits for All Drivers in France
New law comes into force in November
If you drive in France this winter without two breathalyser kits in your vehicle you will be fined on the spot. The new rule came into force earlier this summer and there has been a grace period for foreign drivers but this runs out on the 1st of November. French police will be operating random checks on drivers via the Channel Tunnel and on ferries.
The measure has been introduced by the French government to tackle the high number of accidents as a result of drink driving. The thinking behind it is that if people can test themselves and see whether they are over the limit, then they might make the decision not to get behind the wheel.
Kits can be bought in the UK and France and any test needs to be carried out 40 minutes prior to driving as this is the time that it takes for alcohol to be absorbed into the body thereby allowing for an accurate result.
For more information on driving in France, take a look at our travel section.
