As of January 1, 2016, the retro-reflective or high-visibility safety vest becomes mandatory for motorcycles and scooters. The yellow vest becomes mandatory for motor vehicles with 2 and 3 wheels, and 4 non-body wheels, as well as for motorists. The government has finally decided after having made the wind vane on the subject for years!
In fact, the wearing of the retro reflective safety vest was to be compulsory at the beginning of 2013 by all drivers or passengers of a motorcycle, of a cylinder capacity greater than 125 cm3 or of a vehicle of category L5e with a power greater than 15 kW. Repealed from its entry into force in favor of a simple recommendation to wear a vest, the Inter-ministerial Committee on Road Safety has decided to go backwards.
A decree and a decree have just extended the requirements for the possession and wearing of a high-visibility reflective vest by the drivers of these vehicles (1). The wearing of the vest was previously applicable to motorists, and will be extended to the drivers of a motor vehicle with 2 or 3 wheels (motorcycle, scooter …), or a motor quadricycle not bodied (for example a quad ) from 1 January 2016 as soon as they have to leave the broken down vehicle. They will have to dispose of them or storage of their vehicle (net, trunk …) and wear it when they get off their vehicle after an emergency stop, to improve their visibility, as for the motorists.
Compliance with this obligation, provided for in the Highway Code (2), may be controlled by the police and sanctioned in case:
Non-detention by a 1st class offense (11 Euros for the fixed fine),
Non-wearing of the high visibility vest following an emergency is stop by a violation of 4th class.