Crackdown on speeders after rise in road deaths in three areas of France

Three areas of France have increased fines for speeding and other road violations after they experienced a rise in road deaths and accidents. 

The northern Somme department has seen an increase of 36% in road deaths and 20% in people injured in road accidents this year compared to last year. 

In response, the department has increased penalties since September 1. Prefects have the authority to increase sanctions in their department if it is deemed necessary. They are usually the same across France. 

Motorists found to be excessively speeding now face a 12-month licence suspension compared to six months in the rest of France. 

Read more: MAP: Where are drivers most likely to have an accident in France?

A positive drugs test will now result in an eight-month driving ban compared to the previous six months. 

The crackdown follows similar penalty increases in the departments of Eure-et-Loir and Ille-et-Vilaine. 

The Somme is also implementing extra checks, its prefect said. 

"The idea is maximum prevention, reinforced checks and maximum sanctions, because we cannot accept that once again, we have figures that bring mourning to too many families", Somme Prefect Rollon Mouchel-Blaisot told TF1.