Road

Controversial A69 motorway in doubt as court assesses environmental impact

A new call for cancellation of the environmental approval could halt the project

LIST: What offences will France’s new AI cameras be able to detect?

From 2025 the new cameras will see more than just excess speed

Passenger killed as concrete block dropped onto French motorway

The national gendarmerie is appealing for witnesses and has launched a murder investigation

news

Cyclist death: How did no-licence French driver hire a Lamborghini?

The 52-year-old cyclist was killed instantly when the supercar hit him at over 70 km/h

Part of Paris-Normandy motorway closed to traffic due to road defects

No reopening date has yet been confirmed, the road authority says, as it offers drivers alternative routes

EU vote could allow 60 tonne mega trucks on French roads

Supporters say it will help reduce CO2 emissions. If passed adaptations would need to be made including to French roundabouts

Which roads are farmers blocking in France? Are ports affected?

Up to 85 departments will be impacted on January 26

See where French farmer roadblocks are intensifying

The protest spreads following the death of a mother and her daughter at a barricade on Tuesday

Taxis on ‘drive slow’ protest in France over hospital transport change

Drivers claim the new rule will lead to a ‘two-tier’ system, harm patients and threaten taxi drivers’ income

Paris plans to reduce speed limit on outer ring road from 70 to 50km/h

The move aims to reduce environmental and noise pollution

MAP: where have (some) speed limits returned to 90km/h in France?

More than half of departments have now made changes although they do not apply on all eligible roads

Delays to book obligatory CT car checks lengthen in France

A lack of trained personnel has been blamed for the backlog

Highest-level warning for traffic on French roads this weekend

Driving away on holiday this weekend? Here are the roads to avoid

Heavy traffic alerts: what to expect on roads in France this weekend

We detail the major routes and times to avoid as summer holidays near their end

Covid-19: Can we travel through France to our home?

We have waited for the lockdown to end staying put in the south of France where we were when it began but now want to get back to our full-time residence in Brittany. It will take us one long day to return but we are not sure if we can travel. I have emailed our local mayor's office but no reply. Can you clarify?

Passing drivers stop man as he tries to start a new fire in Var forest

Witnesses used bottles of water and floor mats to quickly extinguish the blaze, which the man started using a burning log

Confusion over Paris crossroads where all exits block non-local cars

When drivers reach the baffling junction they see 'no entry' signs in every direction. They are also not allowed to turn around and drive back the way they came

Motorbike riders protest against France’s lane weaving 'ban'

The practice has been definitively banned nationwide since February 1 after a trial on certain roads showed an increase in accidents

Road closed in Brittany to let frogs cross

A road near the Côtes-d’Armor will be closed for three months so frogs can cross without getting squashed by traffic

Citroën blocks Polestar 2 in France over ‘too-similar logo’

The French car brand has taken the Swedish company to court over the alleged use of ‘its trademark’

French driver caught for insurance ‘valid to February 31’

Gendarmerie discovered the windscreen disc was a forgery after spotting that the “valid until” date does not exist

France opens first 'carpool' lane near Grenoble

The French city of Grenoble is to introduce a carpool lane on one of its main roads, which will be open to taxis, low emission cars and vehicles carrying more than one passenger from today (September 30).

Drivers in France can now contest parking fine before paying

Drivers who receive a parking fine in France are now legally allowed to contest the fine before paying it, in a U-turn on the previous law.

How to spot unmarked speed control cars on French roads

As unmarked police cars catch drivers speeding on French roads using infrared cameras, a new site is aiming to catalogue all unmarked "radar cars" currently being used in France.

Road speed cuts significantly reduce pollution in France

Cutting speeds on the autoroute into and out of Toulouse from 130kph to 110kph reduced nitrogen dioxide pollution by 9.8% – and about half the nearby residents are no longer in a zone rouge.

The joy of discovering France by driving: one reader's story

One Connexion reader shares her story of a 'relaxing stop off in the Vineyards of the Languedoc'. If you've made any discoveries, share them with us too...

Odd sights on French roads: A 400kg bull and tractor caravan

It has been a week of strange sights on French roads, after police reported finding both a Peugeot 206 carrying a 400 kg live bull, and a German tractor pulling a caravan for hundreds of kilometres.

Green politician supports lowering French motorway toll fees

Environmental politician Yannick Jadot has come out in support of controversial proposals to lower the French speed limit, and reduce the cost of motorway tolls as “compensation”.

Minister in favour of lowering French motorway speed limit

A proposal to reduce motorway speed limits to 110 kph in France, put forward by the citizens' Climate Change Convention, was "personally" supported today (Monday June 22) by minister of transport and ecology, Elisabeth Borne.

Drivers using phones in France now risk losing licence

Drivers in France who use their mobile phones while driving now risk losing their driving licence for up to six months, plus fines, and points on their licence - as a long-debated law comes into force.

France 100km limit: Fines issued ahead of long weekend

Police in France have completed 200,000 checks and issued almost 1,000 fines to drivers attempting to travel beyond the 100km deconfinement limit, as authorities urge caution over the coming Ascension long weekend.

France warned on fake gendarmerie Covid-19 form checks

Drivers in France are warned to stay alert to fake police and gendarmerie officers, who have been demanding illegal on-the-spot fines for alleged breaches of the Covid-19 confinement rules.

First French department confirms return to 90kph limit

The Haute-Marne in eastern France has become the first department to officially change back to a 90kph speed limit on departmental roads, 18 months after the government first imposed a drop to 80kph.

Road deaths in France up almost 10% in January

The number of people who died on the roads in France jumped by almost 10% in January this year compared to January last year, a contrast to the “historically low” numbers seen in 2019.

French drivers welcome new ‘peanut-shaped roundabout’

A new “peanut-shaped roundabout” in north-west France is proving popular among motorists, who say it is safer and easier to use than a normal roundabout or crossroads.

Petrol prices drop in France due to coronavirus

Fuel prices in France have dropped again this week, with an official price of €1.4028 per litre of diesel, as crude oil supplies continue to be affected by uncertainty over the new coronavirus epidemic.

France had ‘historic low’ of 3,239 road deaths in 2019

There was a “historically low” number of road deaths in France in 2019, according to interior minister Christophe Castaner, as debates over safety and speed limits continue.

Car insurance in France rises to €615 yearly average

The cost of car insurance in France is on the rise, with drivers paying an average of €615 per year, as Ile-de-France is named the most expensive region, and Marseille the most expensive city overall.

French village uses dark humour signs to stop speeding

A mayor in the north of France has installed some darkly comedic additions to the usual speed limit signs on a major road in his commune, to warn speeding drivers to slow down.

Dordogne bypass must be demolished - appeal court

An appeal against the cancellation of the controversial Beynac bypass in the Dordogne has been turned down.

Speeding French car caught after running out of petrol

A driver whose car was spotted doing 240kph in a 90kph area in southeast France and became involved in a police chase was finally caught after the vehicle ran out of petrol.

Lorries confirm more fuel tax blockades across France

Road transport workers and lorry drivers are planning 15 blockades across France this weekend in protest at the government’s plans to change fuel taxation laws in 2020.

French lorry driver 'anger' strike confirmed

French drivers of heavy goods vehicles have announced a strike day on December 7 to express their “legitimate anger with the profession”.

‘Acrobats’ who robbed moving trucks in France arrested

Ten men suspected of robbing €3.5 million worth of goods from lorries travelling at up to 90kph on motorways across France have been arrested, with police calling the thieves “acrobats and artists”.

Free fuel from broken pumps in France leads to arrests

More than 150 drivers were able to fill up their vehicles with free petrol at a station north-west of Paris this week due to a pump malfunction, with six people being arrested as a result.

Vandalism blamed for huge fall in speed cash in France

Revenue from speed cameras is set to plummet this year and an “unprecedented wave of vandalism” is partly to blame.

Uninsured vehicles now tracked by cameras in France

Road vehicles without insurance in France will now be tracked by speed cameras, with drivers risking fines of up to €7,500 as a result.

Drivers in France no longer need breathalyser kits

Drivers in France will no longer be obliged to carry breathalysers in their vehicles at all times, as the discredited and ignored law that required it has finally been formally scrapped.

French solar road is a flop but...

The world’s first solar road, built nearly three years ago in France, has turned out to be a flop: as a way to harvest solar power, in terms of making money by reselling energy – and as a road.

Bow and arrow boar hunting prompts debate in France

The decision to allow wild boars to be hunted by bow and arrow in the Vaucluse is prompting debate, with hunting experts in favour of the move, but local welfare groups launching a petition against it.

French e-scooter users ‘must be licensed and insured’

Electric scooters ( trottinettes ) in France should have licence plates, require driver insurance, and must require the real name and details of anyone hiring them, a victims’ campaigning association has said.

French drivers in wrong motorway lanes risk €150 fine

Drivers in France who linger in the middle or left lanes of a motorway without good reason can now be punished with a fine of up to €150.

French cars can now be fined in Ireland and Sweden

Drivers with French licence plates on their vehicle now risk a fine at home if they are caught speeding in two more countries - Ireland and Sweden - in addition to the 18 other nations already on the list.

Map of France shows roads changing speed back to 90kph

A map of departments in France that could change the speed limit from 80 kph to 90 kph on certain roads has been published, with the Haute-Marne (Grand-Est) the first to make the leap.

Emergency services exempt from French motorway tolls

Firefighters and police will finally no longer be charged to drive on motorways in France, almost two years after MPs voted to exempt them from payments, in October 2017.

French gendarmes rescue adventurous retiree’s tractor

Gendarmes near Tours (Indre-et-Loire, Centre-Val de Loire) had an unusual job this week after being called to help a retiree who was pulling a caravan on the motorway...in a farming tractor.

‘Safety issues’ for 25,000 bridges in France

At least 25,000 bridges in France have “safety issues”, a new report from senators has found, less than a year after the Morandi bridge collapse disaster in Genoa, Italy.

French taxis are among most expensive in world

French taxis are among the top 10 most expensive in the world, a new study on global taxi prices has shown.

French town sets €135 fine for idling vehicle engines

Drivers in one French town now risk a fine of €135 if they leave their vehicle engine running when the vehicle is stopped or parked..

France to ban electric scooters from pavements

Electric foot scooters - or trottinettes - will no longer be permitted to ride on pedestrian pavements in France, ministers have confirmed, as part of a new set of laws on similar transport methods.

Gendarmes in French department reward good drivers

Good drivers, keep it up: Gendarmes in the Oise department (Hauts-de-France) have been stopping drivers not for bad behaviour, but to reward them for good driving with cash prizes of up to €200 each.

‘Speed cameras of future’ to be installed in France

Hundreds of new generation “speed cameras of the future” are to be installed in France this year, and have been described as stronger and smarter than existing models.

French town installs ‘shock’ school warning road signs

A French town in the Saône-et-Loire (Bourgogne-Franche-Comté) has installed “shock sign” speed reminders on one of its most dangerous roads, in a bid to encourage drivers to slow down and pay attention.

French woman fined for smoking in car with son, 17

A woman from Royan in the Charente-Maritime (Nouvelle-Aquitaine) has been fined €135 for smoking a cigarette inside her car while driving, in the presence of her 17-year-old son.

Drivers risk €35 fine at new pedestrian buffer zones

Drivers in France now face a €35 fine if their vehicle strays into new “buffer zones” in front of pedestrian road crossings, which may now be introduced by local mayors.

French border ‘Brexit strike’ causes huge lorry queues

French Eurotunnel and ferry customs officers who mounted an “unlimited strike” by enforcing strict border controls - to mimic what may happen after Brexit - have caused tens of kilometres of traffic jams.

France may allow 17-year-olds to get driving licences

Young people aged 17 may soon be able to get their driving licence in France, under certain conditions, according to a new parliamentary report.

France or UK: No easy road safety answer

There can never be a simple answer to road deaths, as David Hardy claims on your letters pages in January.

Thousands in France without power in storm aftermath

Over 41,000 homes across France are without power today (Wednesday January 30), as snow and ice alerts remain in 15 departments, after Storm Gabriel swept the country last night.

French minister: 80kph could revert back to 90kph

The 80kph speed limit in France could be changed back to 90kph if studies show that lowering the limit has not been effective in making roads safer, the government has said again.

Official French taxi prices for 2019 published

The national list of official taxi prices in France has been published for 2019, with the minimum price for one taxi journey now at €7.10, including all extras; plus new standard prices for Toulouse airport.

French motorway company makes U-turn on péage bills

French motorway company Vinci Autoroutes will no longer demand that drivers pay back the “free” péage passages they received during gilets jaunes protests, after a government backlash.

French truck driver strike on overtime pay cancelled

The planned strike by French road transport truck drivers has been cancelled, with unions dropping their calls to protest, after receiving written agreements between management and the government.

Letter calls to release France from petrol dependence

An open letter from 23 climate lobby associations has called on the French government to “release their citizens from dependence on diesel and petrol”, amid ongoing anger over rising petrol prices.

Diesel cars registered pre-2001 to be banned in Paris

Diesel vehicles registered before 2001 will no longer be permitted to drive in 79 communes in the Greater Paris area from next July.