DIY breath tests sales boom after French say holidaymakers have to carry a kit in their car
£9 Fine for drivers who fail to carry the £2 kit
Rules in France already force drivers to carry a warning triangle and a fluorescent safety vest
Sales of breathalyser kits are soaring as British motorists planning summer holidays in France try to comply with new laws.
All drivers must carry breathalysers in their vehicles in France this summer or risk a £9 fine. The new rules come into force on July 1.
The gadgets, designed so that drivers can test themselves to ensure they are under drink-drive limits, are the latest addition to a list of rules for driving on the other side of the Channel.
Another essential: Motorists travelling to France after July must carry a breathalyser kit in the car, along with other items
Halfords has reported a strong demand for its £4.99 twin pack of breathalysers.
Motorists are advised to carry two single-use breathalysers so that if they have used one to check their own alcohol levels, they can still show police an unopened kit if stopped.
Motorists found with between 50mg and 80mg of alcohol in 100ml of blood can be fined 135 euros (£112) and lose six out of 12 points on their driving licence.
What you need to drive in France
Above that, a driver risks a fine of 4,500 euros (£3,744), losing their licence and being sent to prison for up to two years.
The French drink-driving limit of 50mg is much lower than in the UK where the limit is 80mg.
Police, however, will use their own breathalysers to carry out any roadside test.
Those drivers caught without a kit will face a fine of 11 euros (£9) but the French have said there will be a period of grace till November before police start issuing the penalties.
The breathalyser kits cost between around £1 and £2 and will be available at ferry and tunnel terminals for crossings to France, but motoring groups have warned that many drivers will still forget to pack them in their car.
Andrew Howard, the AA’s head of road safety, explained that it takes time for alcohol to be absorbed into the blood, so early readings could be misleading.
He said: ‘After you have had your last swig of alcohol, your reading will continue to rise for the next 40 minutes because it takes time for alcohol to go down into your stomach and be taken into the bloodstream.’
He added: 'Driving requirements in France are now quite complicated and the list of things you need to take is beginning to be quite a substantial extra charge to a holiday.'
Police are expected to carry out random checks on drivers crossing into France via Calais to ensure that they understand the latest drink-driving rules.
Anyone driving in France is already required to carry a warning triangle and a fluorescent safety vest to use in an emergency.
The drink-drive limit in France is lower than it is in the UK
Additionally British motorists must display a GB plate and have their headlights adjusted to the right.
But even if drivers have the full list of equipment they can still be caught out by the complexity of the rules.
If a motorist carries the luminous vest in their boot rather than the main section of the car they can still be fined.
Drivers are not obliged to carry a spare set of lights, but if one of their bulbs goes and they do not have a replacement ready they can be fined.
A fire extinguisher and first aid kit could also be required in the case of an emergency so not to fall foul of a law about assisting in the event of an accident.
£9 Fine for drivers who fail to carry the £2 kit
Rules in France already force drivers to carry a warning triangle and a fluorescent safety vest
Sales of breathalyser kits are soaring as British motorists planning summer holidays in France try to comply with new laws.
All drivers must carry breathalysers in their vehicles in France this summer or risk a £9 fine. The new rules come into force on July 1.
The gadgets, designed so that drivers can test themselves to ensure they are under drink-drive limits, are the latest addition to a list of rules for driving on the other side of the Channel.
Another essential: Motorists travelling to France after July must carry a breathalyser kit in the car, along with other items
Halfords has reported a strong demand for its £4.99 twin pack of breathalysers.
Motorists are advised to carry two single-use breathalysers so that if they have used one to check their own alcohol levels, they can still show police an unopened kit if stopped.
Motorists found with between 50mg and 80mg of alcohol in 100ml of blood can be fined 135 euros (£112) and lose six out of 12 points on their driving licence.
What you need to drive in France
Above that, a driver risks a fine of 4,500 euros (£3,744), losing their licence and being sent to prison for up to two years.
The French drink-driving limit of 50mg is much lower than in the UK where the limit is 80mg.
Police, however, will use their own breathalysers to carry out any roadside test.
Those drivers caught without a kit will face a fine of 11 euros (£9) but the French have said there will be a period of grace till November before police start issuing the penalties.
The breathalyser kits cost between around £1 and £2 and will be available at ferry and tunnel terminals for crossings to France, but motoring groups have warned that many drivers will still forget to pack them in their car.
Andrew Howard, the AA’s head of road safety, explained that it takes time for alcohol to be absorbed into the blood, so early readings could be misleading.
He said: ‘After you have had your last swig of alcohol, your reading will continue to rise for the next 40 minutes because it takes time for alcohol to go down into your stomach and be taken into the bloodstream.’
He added: 'Driving requirements in France are now quite complicated and the list of things you need to take is beginning to be quite a substantial extra charge to a holiday.'
Police are expected to carry out random checks on drivers crossing into France via Calais to ensure that they understand the latest drink-driving rules.
Anyone driving in France is already required to carry a warning triangle and a fluorescent safety vest to use in an emergency.
The drink-drive limit in France is lower than it is in the UK
Additionally British motorists must display a GB plate and have their headlights adjusted to the right.
But even if drivers have the full list of equipment they can still be caught out by the complexity of the rules.
If a motorist carries the luminous vest in their boot rather than the main section of the car they can still be fined.
Drivers are not obliged to carry a spare set of lights, but if one of their bulbs goes and they do not have a replacement ready they can be fined.
A fire extinguisher and first aid kit could also be required in the case of an emergency so not to fall foul of a law about assisting in the event of an accident.
