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So, having done 700 odd miles each way through France sitting between 60 and 65 mph ( legal as our maximum gross car weight plus maximum permissable towing weight are less than 3500kg )  I was gobsmacked by the amount of car/caravan combo's thundering past us and disappearing off into the distance. I know it's difficult to estimate but they must of been doing 70+. As they were mostly big cars/4x4's they must exceed the 90kph speed limit.

Most of these seemed to be Dutch but numerous GB plates passed as well.

Do the police over there take any notice of the speed? Anyone been stopped? We were comfortable at the usual speed of 62 - but 70+? One chap pitched next to us at Gigny-Sur-Saome had a blow out on his van. Luckily he brought it to a safe halt but still lost some of the floor and his wheel arch caused by the bands on the tyres flailing round. What if that had been at stupid speed?

Does anyone display the 80 and 90 stickers that are supposed to go on the back of 3500kg combo's?

Just interested!

80 & 90 kph stickers are not mandatory for UK outfits over 3500kgs, even the CC is now admitting this (this months mag).

We tend to tow at 100/110kph same as we did before they changed the law. If I want to break this NEW law it has nothing to do with anyone else other than the French Police.

Yes, I too use the 80/90 stickers.  For the sake of a couple of quid is it worth antaganising a French policeman and upsetting your holiday.

And, yes, I do stick to the limit.  What's the rush you're on holiday not in a Grand Prix.

Dave

I'm a usual 60mph UK driver. Cruise control and plentiful power keep us at a constant speed. I slowed to the advertised 90kph for all of the downhill stretches on the A26 and down near Lyon. We were regularly passed by combo's on the downhill stretches only to pass then on the next uphill as they did not have the grunt to make it back up at the same speed.

I didn't want to upset anyone with the question - just interested as to what speed people are happy to travel at. As nightrider said, it's only the driver + the police's business.

We quite happily tow abroad at an indicated 70mph (actually 65 on the sat nav) however we slow for downhill stretches and if the trees indicate crosswinds. Even at that we see many many outfits passing us!!! this year we had "vent violent" south of lyon which held us to more like 50mph for a couple of hours.

Remember that speedos are usually indicating more than your doing, a sat nav is accurate also following a lorry will give you a speed check, they are limited to 56mph and I bet your speedo shows 60mph.

This year we had to follow our friends 4tonne outfit so were doing more like 55-60mph, this showed no more mpg than normal which was interesting. I had to follow him to let him know when overtaking was safe as we ran over his extension mirror when it fell off going down the M20!!!

We had the same "vents" problem south of Lyon, slowed us for quite some time - until we turned East onto the A8. 50mph was as fast as we dared.

Sat Nav reads 62 as car shows 64 so not too far off the mark. Skoda have the usual speedo needle in mph but nicely a digital display at the bottom in kph so no need to look and guestimate your speed. Interesting that slowing did not make much difference to your mph. I often think of slowing to 50 to save fuel but never can stay at such a slow speed! 

I tend to drive at a standard 60 mph unless conditions indicate otherwise.

I am also aghast at the number of outfits that passed me at speeds of well over 70mph.  In fact there was one occassion, when i had strayed up to 68 and got passed by a big setup who left me for dead.  about half a mile up the road I still hada distant view of him and he copped a crosswind and enjoyed a good little wobble. 

Haviong retunred to my normal 60 I then proceeded to pass one very rattled driver.

the other thing I thought was curious was how many larger outfits passed me during periods where the signage indicates no overtaking for lorries - am i the only one who assumes that this relates to those of us with vans on the back to?