So, here is the new French 'obligatory' anti-pollution sticker gizmo in situ. It arrived with yesterday's post.
It is bigger than I'd imagined, and has to be situated on the lower right hand side of your windscreen.
It looks rather like the old UK Tax Discs we all had in our cars.
I also now have one of those super gizmos fixed to the middle top of the windscreen, behind the dots by the rear-view-mirror. It allows me to go through the motorway Péage gates without having to stop to force money into a machine (and usually all over the ground) every time I leave a new section of pay-up-or-be-shot road.
You simply go through any gate that has a big T above it, the gizmo sends a signal, and the barrier automatically lifts to allow you through. What a wonderful thing; it will reduce my blood pressure no end. Merci Kimbo; yet again a hero.
I'm beginning to feel very moderne. Of course neither of these gizmos will be of any use back in Blighty.
Time that Blighty caught up
ReplyDeleteI think most modern petrol, and possibly diesel, cars in the UK are compliant. It's mostly the vans and lorries that pollute. As for the motorway thingy, we don't have many toll roads in the UK (that I know of), here they're everywhere.
DeleteModern diesel HGVs are as clean as cars in the UK. My nephew works on design and development of HGV engines and according to him they were way ahead of car engines for clean emissions several years back. Testing is strict on all vehicles including vans and lorries and the old days of smoking exhausts are long gone.
DeleteI'm sure you're right, so where will all the ULEZ fines come from? Councils were hoping to make a fortune!!!
DeleteULEZ fines won't even pay for the cameras but the same cameras will be used to enforce 15 Minute Zones/Bus Gates and other stuff designed to catch the hard of thinking folk.
DeleteCharming.
DeleteIt is far from charming unless you are thinking it won't apply to you.
DeleteThere is the m6 toll road and frequent users can have something similar
DeleteWow that is impressive, perhaps one day we shall be able to wear a tag that allows us all the little bills we gather in a day to be paid automatically - buses, trains, etc.
ReplyDeleteI expect we'll all be like dogs, and have a small chip under the skin that pays for everything. When the money runs-out; GO TO JAIL.
DeleteCameras and chips seem to be sprouting everywhere, except here. I don't suppose it will take long for our government to realise it could be another income generator for them.
ReplyDeleteThey're all at it, but it doesn't seem difficult to avoid the payments.
DeleteWe have those super gizmos for motorway tolls here too. I never bothered to have one, but husband had one on his car which we always used for long journeys. I can't remember if they were just valid in your "home" country or useable throughout the entire "euro" EU.
ReplyDeleteI only drive in France, so I couldn't tell you, They probably would work throughout Europe.
DeleteOui oui, tres moderne monsieur. Next you'll be visiting a barber to get your hair neatly trimmed and your historical beard shaved off. I wonder what they will find in there.
ReplyDeleteNo chance of that; I'm growing it for Christmas.
DeleteI am going to need more windscreen, toll transponder, front gate RFID box, state safety inspection, what will we add next?
ReplyDeleteLBGT Friendly? I hate Trump sticker? No child on board?
DeleteIn the US, we have E-ZPass option for toll collection. Anyone that travels the toll roads has E-ZPass. As you say, it is much quicker and easier than dropping cash in a bin or paying a toll collector on the road.
ReplyDeleteI didn't mind when they had humans in a booth, but putting money into a machine was a pain; and especially now that I have a right-hand drive car again.
Delete