I think the motoring assos have proved pretty definitively that speed cameras and other speed-targeted measures don’t reduce accidents. What they do do is generate a colossal amount of revenue for the Government. What saddens me is that there is never any mention of the various other factors involved in accident statistics, like weather conditions, bad road and verge conditions and driver distraction. The sudden change from daylight driving to night-time driving also plays a part. Speed restrictions, in theory, reduce the number of fatal accidents, although certainly in 47 that has not been the case this year, AFAIK.
ETA: Apologies for the thread drift!
I do not have any statistics to back me but I have read, as you say, that speed restrictions have little impact on the number of fatal accidents of which the vast majority, as you again say, are caused by distractions and driver error. I believe hesitation and lack of confidence are major offenders.
On the other hand I would think that speed bumps in towns and villages do prevent more serious injuries.
To bring the topic back on track a bit…are there many interesting, collectable car clubs around? Either by marque or generic.
1 Like
Yes there are several car clubs in 47. Without consulting OH who is the enthusiast of the family, Tonneins and Marmande both host French ones. There are also several Brit-based classic car clubs I believe. Villeréal rings a bell. Apart from motoring, perhaps you’d like to peruse the Sortir47 website? That will give you an insight into some of the events on offer on a daily basis. 
Yes there are… and here are a couple of (hopefully) useful links…
The accidents on the road of which I speak would probably not happen if people hesitated more and were not overconfident.
It’s limited to 70 because it is bendy lopsided and has dodgy verges but obv the boy racers know better.
Thank you Stella and Houpla for the links. I will check them out.
Not to want to drag the thread OT again, but for me, this would also affect how I felt about an area. One of the things I like about the Morvan is the lack of speed cameras, humps etc, which makes for a much more relaxed drive. I don’t especially want to speed, but it’s nice to drive without worry.
2 Likes
Well I guess speed bumps are an inevitability of ‘progressive’ society and it is therefore understandable why they are prevalent in areas such as Brittany and Lot and Garonne and not in the Morvan.
I would not decide against living in
an area which offered so many other attractions just because of speed bumps. I will just try and avoid them as much as possible.
Sortir47 is a pretty informative site. Thank you for the referral.
That’s how to enjoy Life… decide what’s more important and ignore/avoid as much of the dross/downpoints as you can… 
There are certain roads we know to avoid… but we still get where we intend to go… 
Incidentally @letstryagain if you’ve an interest in old/classic vehicles of whatever sort…
" La Vie de l’Auto" is also at the Newsagents every Thursday… and it’s informative and interesting (and encourages/ challenges one’s mastery of French… )
I don’t quite know why it should make any difference. If one is driving at or below the speed limit then a speed camera is of no interest whatsoever. Speed bumps and chicanes round here are only to be found going through villages and quite frankly being forced to go at 30kph through a small village is a good idea. Most people, if not forced, would be doing considerably more than that.
3 Likes
Unless you’re in a rally car with a co-driver and the road had been closed to normal traffic, you don’t reach 80kph very often on my local roads.
Narrow, shoulders of mystery, mud and a fair chance of Sudden OnsetTractor Poisoning on any of the blind bends.
It also appears that neither 47 or 82 consider anything below a 5 metre drop worthy of Armco barriers which tends to lighten my right foot no end.
1 Like
Because speed is variable, and it’s easy to find oneself a few kph over the limit occasionally if driving for the road rather than watching the clock. A little like driving with a police car behind, one is extra careful and tense, even though normal driving is fine.
Bumps are just unpleasant and harmful to the car, so if most of the villages don’t have a 30 limit there are fewer bumps.
1 Like
Stirling Moss maintained that the best safety device would be a 12" spike mounted in the centre of the steering wheel…
3 Likes
Perhaps it would have made him drive (even) better?
I live on cruise control for exactly that reason. Because our roads are so empty it’s all too easy to find one’s speed creeping up.
Bumps usually are only unpleasant if they are approached too fast.
1 Like
OH has asked me to stop the positive posts about Lot et Garonne. He wants to keep it to ourselves. 
I realise I’m also in danger of beginning to sound like some other members who have been known in the past to imply their part of France is paradise. 
4 Likes
But it is…thats why we plan to move there. 
1 Like
We are now helping a couple of friends in their property search. They would like to move to Lot et Garonne from the Languedoc.
Unlike us they do like to be in an area with an active English speaking community because although the husband’s French is not too bad the wife’s knowledge is almost non existant.
In which towns/villages would they find this community?
I realise that some may find this question crass for various reasons but I do not want to guide them to somewhere the wife would be isolated and unhappy.
As reported previously we like Nerac but found no evidence of an English community there. On the other hand in the two bars that we visited in Lauzun, English (on that day at least) seemed to be the primary language.
Any thoughts appreciated. Thanks.
Eymet not in Lot et Garonne but so close it could be.
Otherwise, the way to go is to move to anywhere within striking distance of Temple and join the language school there and start making friends (French and English).
The English in Lot et Garonne tend to be scattered and in small pockets