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Old France is still here – if you know where to look
A reader responds to columnist Nick Inman's article on the changes in France
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Why Jordan Bardella is frontrunner for France’s 2027 presidency
Columnist Simon Heffer looks at the inexorable rise of the Rassemblement National's likely candidate
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No crisps, no party games: the unwritten rules of French children’s birthdays
Columnist Samantha David describes the ups and downs of a French birthday party for children
Safety, not speed, is key
Re: articles on the 80kph new speed limits... how many accidents have been caused by vehicles driving too close to the one in front?
We have seen HGVs just a few feet from the back end of a car while travelling at speed.
Accidents are not wholly down to speed. They’re also due to tailgating, and dangerous overtaking, such as on roads with solid white centre lines.
Certainly, the vehicles will not be economic in fourth or fifth at 80kph. Even if I drive at that speed in those gears, I have to change down to climb even a modest slope.
Also, and I brought this to the attention of the league of conducteurs, if someone dies three weeks after an accident in the UK, then the UK lists it as a road accident death.
In France, if the person gets to the hospital and then dies, it is not classified as a death caused by a road accident. As a thought, while riding my motorcycles, in so-called 80 zones or less I do not need mirrors, as I know that a car is scratching my number plate.
Roger Mew, Loire-Atlantique
