France Blind Spot warning stickers- does your motorhome need one?

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Oh France. Was the breathalyser fiasco not enough? Has BREXIT not given you enough new rules for the year? Or are you simply TRYING to create chaos and confusion… (Don’t answer that!)

So, here are the facts (as they currently stand!):

On 01 January 2021, a new law came into effect in France requiring heavy vehicles (over 3.5 tonnes) to have ‘Angles Morts’ (blind spot) warning stickers fitted.

Sadly, this law has created a LOT of confusion, especially with regards to whether or not that law applies to motorhomes or private vehicles, or is it just for heavy goods vehicles?

Let’s try and clear some of that confusion up.

But first, if you are planning a trip to France with your motorhome or campervan, don’t forget to grab your FREE France road trip checklist so you remember everything else you need to bring:

What are the blind spot warning stickers?

The blind spot warning stickers are bright yellow and red and are designed to attract the attention of cyclists, bikers, scooter riders and pedestrians, reminding them that large vehicles have blind spots and might not be able to see them.

Does the French blind spot sticker law apply to motorhomes over 3.5 tonnes?

Yes. This was one of the most confusing points, so there are a LOT of incorrect comments and threads in Facebook groups and forums, but yes, this law applies to ALL vehicles capable of being legally driven whilst weighing over 3.5 tonnes.

Does it apply to English/ British/ other non-french registered vehicles?

Yes. It applies no matter which country the vehicle is registered in. If you are driving in urban areas in France, you will need them fitted (if you have a vehicle which can legally be driven over 3.5 tonnes)

If you are just transiting France, you probably don’t need them, but it’s unclear what ‘urban area’ is, so you may wish to fit them just in case.

Watch the video about France Blind Spot stickers for motorhomes

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What if you have a blind spot camera fitted? Do you still need the stickers? 

Yes. Even if you have a blind spot camera or side camera fitted (like a bus), you must STILL have the warning stickers fitted.

You can see the regulation (in French) here

Where to buy the blind spot warning stickers

These stickers must bear an official French government design. You can Google ‘Attention angle mort sticker’, ’Angles morts sur les véhicules lourds’ or ‘autocollant angles morts’ or you can buy them on Amazon here

Where do the blind spot stickers need to be placed? 

You will need three stickers- one for each cab door (within 1m of the front of the vehicle or as close as possible) and one for the rear (on the RIGHT side of the rear). The signs should be placed at a height between 0.9m & 1.5m from the ground (and not on glass surfaces).

You can choose to fit more down the side if you wish.

The stickers need to be “visible in all circumstances” and cannot obstruct the vehicle’s licence plates, regulatory plates or lights/signalling devices, or the vision of the driver (so don’t put them on the windows)

What size do they need to be? 

The signs must be between 17 and 25 cm tall and can be a sticker or vinyl.

And that’s it- everything you need to know about the new law in France for blind spot warning stickers on vehicles over 3.5 tonnes. There is a 12-month transitional period where you are allowed to indicate the presence of blind spots ‘visually’- whatever that might mean! Personally, if you’re planning to visit an urban area in France, I’d buy the stickers.