Electrics Safety question

I know that in France the electricity tariffs are cheaper at night, so a lot of folk run their dishwashers, washing machines at night to take advantage of this.
Now, we had a friend die in a house fire caused by a washing machine which was running at night, and in Scotland, there are adverts all the time telling people NOT to run their appliances at night as it's dangerous. I never have, but I know NOTHING about electrics, so is it safer here than in the uk (I know the electrics here are different somehow) or is there a way to do this safely? Thankyou!

The use of HC (cheap rate) is common throughout France for the running of WM, DW, Night heaters and Chauffe eau's at night, and is very popular. The running of the actual appliance is not what is dangerous, it is the running it unattended that is the problem. If the machine stalls, for instance, there will always be a risk of overheating and a possibility that a fire could start. But that could happen day or night. I do not use HC personally, it is not financially viable for us, so do not put the washer on during the night, but equally, I do not run it in the daytime and then go to the market or spend the rest of the day at work. The risks are the same, the appliance is unattended. There is no 'safe way to do this' other than employing someone to sit and watch your washing go around, but I would suggest fitting a suitable smoke or rise of heat detector, which by the way will be obligatory by March next year.

Hi Le-dolly - yes, we have smoke detectors etc fitted, as did our friend who died, but he went back into the house to try to get his daughter out (who had managed to get out at the back of the house, which he didn't know) and died in his attempt to save her.
I have never left appliances running unattended, day or night (because I'm a scaredy cat in case something happens) so will follow your good advice and continue with my current methods. Many thanks!

Well, I am married to a builder who knows about electrics & have often put an appliance on just as I am going out & I have HC & my dishwasher goes on every night at about 3am!!! All appliances are reasonably new, the oldest is about 7 years I think but are maintained & serviced. We have new wiring & everything is fused & it does trip out at the slightest thing so I go to sleep happy knowing I am safe...... Husband happy with it, so then I am as well!!!!

Hello er indoors - I'm sure the chances of anything going wrong are tiny (doubtless more likely to die on the roads etc), but after what happened to Christophe I am probably more than usually paranoid about it!!

Izzyedwards, I understand totally but I am still alive today after my 3am wash!!!

well, I'm pleased to hear it er indoors - good morning to you! x