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Use of GPS in France
What is the score ?
Can you use a Garmin Zumo 660 with fixed camera data ? It does not have any other camera detection software |
It is bit of a mess.
You cannot have the gps show where the cameras are. ie warn you of cameras. if that is what you software does, disable it for France. It can however warn you of traffic hazards and dangerous bits of road with a maximum speed warning. This will of course coincide exactly where fixed speed cameras are located :) The Garmin hazard warnings were changed almost the day this came into force 2-3 years ago so if you have modern software/data it wont be a problem. Hope that helps, maybe a phone call or email to Garmin with the dates of your last traffic hazard update will clarify it for you. |
Yes, not allowed at all. When I used a Bluetooth headset with my Garmin (which I've since ditched) the thing wouldn't stop bleeping anyway - properly distracting! I was happy to disable this feature!
I'm sure there was a MAG feature at the time about the fact that using detection software was illegal, but it was also 'illegal' for the Police to 'search' your satnav to check whether you'd disabled this or not?! :oops2: I don't think I've made this up? |
The old old question. I've been traveling in France with a UK sat nav for some year's now. Never been stopped or asked. The police have better thinking to do than check every one's Sat nav.
John933 |
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include fixed camera database). Never stopped. But circumstances would have to be very unusual that cops would care to check your GPS |
The official rule is that you cannot use a device that shows you the exact location of a speed camera, red light camera, etc.
But, there is a very large loophole quite deliberately embedded in the law. This loophole allows you to use a device that shows the location of "safety zones"... and of course, anywhere that has a speed camera or red light camera must be a safety zone, because these cameras are only used to enhance safety... perish the thought that they would ever be used to raise revenue. You can utilize the 'safety zone' feature by downloading your speed camera database from a provider that offers the choice of either 'exact locations' or 'safety zones' for France. Personally, I use SCDB.info (about 10 euro a year) as my database provider - I am happy with them and recommend them. If you elect to download the France locations as 'Safety Zones', rather than exact locations, then instead of getting an exact location for the camera, you are given warning that somewhere within the next kilometer or so ahead of you there is a 'safety zone'. Personally, I don't bother using the 'safety zone' feature, when I ride in France I have my Zumo 660 set to show me the exact location of the cameras. I think that the odds of getting stopped by the Gendarmes are pretty low... I don't go ripping down the road at 3 times the speed limit, then hit the brakes 100 meters before the speed camera. I am going to guess (and I stress the word 'guess') that the only way the French cops could enforce the 'no exact locations' rule would be to watch drivers and riders, and see who hits the brakes suddenly just before a speed camera. But even doing that would not compensate for 'local knowledge' - someone who has no GPS at all but lives in the area and knows there is a speed camera up ahead. Michael |
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Keep in mind that whether or not the POI has a trigger speed associated with it depends very much on the nature of your POI database, and the amount of work that the vendor has put into compiling the POI database. For example, if your database contains McDonald's restaurant locations or bank ATMs (rather than speed cameras), there will be no trigger speed associated with the POIs. If you buy a high quality commercial database of speed cameras, and elect to download the database in a format that each POI has the speed limit for the camera associated with it, then you will get an initial beep as you approach the camera (basically, a 'head's up' warning), but no further beeps unless you are travelling at a speed faster than what the camera is set to go off at. I buy commercial databases (SCDB.info, as mentioned earlier), and I download the data formatted so that each camera has its own trigger speed associated with it. Hence, I get one beep as an alert, and no further beeps unless I am riding too fast. Michael |
changing the subject slightly, Is there a way to configure a Nuivi to beep if you are over any speed limit? I find that even on my Enfield it is possible to overdo the speed sometimes without realising it.
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Michael |
I have a Garmin Nuvi 2595LM and I'm certain that it can be configured to warn you if you're over the speed limit. Can't remember the process but will check this evening.
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Hi
The Nuvi s do beep and flash red when you go over the posted limit as a feature - not sure how you hear that over the wind noise though doh |
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"Settings" - "map and vehicle" then toggle down to"audible speed alerts" and select to enable. |
Many thanks, will have a play with it tomorrow
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Do keep in mind that John is referring to a Nuvi 2595, which is designed for automobile use, and you and I are talking about the Nuvi 660, which is the motorcycle one.
There is quite a considerable variation in features and capabilities across the very wide range of Nuvi GPSRs. Michael |
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