It is official: as of 1 January 2013, motorcycle drivers and scooters of over 125 cm3 and motor tricycles over 20 hp should wear retro reflective equipment, under penalty of a fixed fine of 68 Euros and a withdrawal of two points!
The Ministry of Interior has published in the Official Journal Decree No. 2012-3 of 3 January 2012, specified by an order of January 3, 2012, on retro reflective equipment that will be mandatory from 1 January 2013 for drivers and passengers of a motorized two-wheelers over 125 cm3 " or L5e category vehicle with a power greater than 15 kW " (20.4 hp, Ed).
Not mandatory for cycling and 125
Specifically, if it is almost expressly MP3 drivers, this obligation does not touch - for now - the drivers of cyclists and 125 cm3. Which greatly surprising, since due to their smaller size and less powerful lighting, cyclists and 125 are even less visible than big cars...?
Reportedly, this was explained by the fact that these vehicles operate primarily in urban areas, where fatalities are fewer. On the other hand, users of mopeds and 125 have already been sufficiently "cooled" by previous decisions of the IRB, respectively Technical Supervision and training of 7 days...
There is however likely that this requirement with reflective material will extend in future to all two and three-wheel regardless of displacement, according to the same pattern as the helmet (first made compulsory in 1973 for large displacement out agglomeration, and then gradually extended to all PTWs).
Is my jacket compliant?
According to the decree published today in the Official Journal, the equipment can be retro-reflective "in one or more parts “but must always" be a total area of at least 150 cm2.” Waiting to see on our roads - with some perverse forward, let's face it! - the "security forces" out their tape measure, it is necessary to accurately measure all the reflective portions of your existing jacket to see if it will pass the 2013 bug ...
If retro reflective equipment does not comply it will be changing jacket or him "superimpose by any means" provided that it is “focused on the upper body, except the helmet, from the waist with the shoulder line, so as to be visible to other road users.”
Clearly, a Reflective Armband 30 cm by 5 slipped over the handle will do ... which is surprisingly not the case that distributed to journalists by the Ministry of Transport! With 25 cm of 5.8 (or 145 cm2), the official cuff "Road safety all responsible" (photo above) is simply not consistent...
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