Peter Crosland wrote on Aug 29, 2010:

"Mike Lane" wrote in message
dia.com...
JTM wrote on Aug 28, 2010:

In France it's a requirement to carry a set of replacement
bulbs in your vehicle. I'd guess that the idea is that as
soon as it's noticed that one of your bulbs has gone, you
can replace itŒ
Πin the supermarket car park or on the roadside. Seems
like a good idea.

Until I came to replace a brake light on my Megane Scenic
the other day. Rear light cluster is held in by a couple of
T20 Torx screws. Now as it happens I had such a tool, but
only by accident! I'm sure not many people would have one,
so should the manufacturer be supplying such tools as a
safety feature?

John



About once a year I drive across Europe, going through Belgium, France,
Germany, Austria, Italy, and Greece. The equipment you are required to
carry
in these various countries includes: GB sticker, spare bulbs, spare
spectacles (if needed), first aid equipment, warning triangle, reflective
jacket, fire extinguisher, headlight beam converter - I think that's about
it.

In practice I have never, ever, had anyone abroad show the slightest
interest
in anything I have got in or on the car. I do try to take most of the
above,
but I don't carry spare headlight bulbs - they're expensive and I've never
had one fail in the last 20 years or so. Also I've stopped putting those
nasty little stickers on my headlamps - I'm not convinced they do anything
and nobody's complained (so far).

Properly designed, and fitted, headlamp stickers do work effectively

You may be right but I'm not convinced that the 'one size fits all' little
plastic discs on sale at Halfords and the like, meet either of your criteria.
Even if they were 'properly designed' I imagine the precise position of the
sticker is vital. The instructions consist of the usual incomprehensible
diagrams so in the end one just has to guess and hope.

Exactly how do you expect the drivers you dazzled to
complain to you?

They flash their lights if they are dazzled - just like they do here. I don't
ever drive after dark when abroad so the problem actually doesn't arise much.
I lower the headlight beams as far as possible so if I do use headlights
during the day I don't think anyone is dazzled.

As for bulbs the problem is if you do get stopped by the
French police and don't have a replacement bulb the hassle involved is
really not worth the cost of having a full set of spares.

The French policeman who stops me would, I suppose, have to check all the
spare bulbs I am carrying to make sure that I had a correct replacement for
each of the dozen or so external lights on the car. (I presume it doesn't
apply to the internal lights as well?) It all seems rather unlikely somehow.
I think if he were so determined he could find some other technicality to
charge me with.

--
Mike Lane
UK North Yorkshire
mike_lane at mac dot com