The Local France

Final 'red' travel weekend of France’s summer holidays

Fri, 25 Aug 2023 16:11:40 +0200

France’s roads watchdog Bison Futé has issued a nationwide red travel alert - its last of the summer holidays.

Dozens of France's new 'invincible' speed cameras have already been vandalised

Fri, 23 Aug 2019 11:11:24 +0200

Dozens of France's new 'invincible' speed cameras have already been vandalised, it has been revealed.

VIDEO of Paris driver in road rage attack on blind pedestrian and friend goes viral

Mon, 17 Jun 2019 19:40:05 +0200

A video of an apparent road rage attack on a blind pedestrian and his friend in Paris has gone viral - sparking intense debate about driving etiquette in the French capital.

What's behind the steep rise in road deaths in France?

Thu, 28 Mar 2019 23:27:16 +0100

After falling to a historic low in 2018, road deaths in France have increased dramatically for the second month in a row, with the French government pointing the finger of blame firmly in one direction.

France rolls out fake speed cameras (but where are they?)

Wed, 10 Feb 2016 16:51:52 +0100

France has rolled out the first of 5,000 dummy speed cameras in the hope of tricking motorists into driving more safely in a bid to cut rising road deaths.

'Risky drivers' prompt historic hike in French road deaths

Wed, 27 Jan 2016 12:31:05 +0100

France's mortality rate on the roads has increased for the second year in a row, something that hasn't happened for 35 years.

Toddler among 43 dead in French coach crash

Fri, 23 Oct 2015 16:01:58 +0200

A head-on collision between a bus carrying senior citizens and a truck left 43 people dead, including a three-year-old boy. Most of the victims were senior citizens on a day trip.

Former All Blacks star dies in French car crash

Fri, 05 Jun 2015 10:59:36 +0200

Former New Zealand rugby international Jerry Collins was killed on Friday along with his wife when a bus crashed into their car in southern France, local officials said.

Wife kills husband after coming to his aid

Fri, 03 Oct 2014 15:31:00 +0200

There was a tragic story in northern France on Thursday which saw a Frenchman survive a nasty crash when his car overturned only to be killed after being run over by his wife who’d driven to the scene to help him.

Which French politician is the worst driver?

Thu, 03 Jul 2014 17:47:00 +0200

France’s elite politicians may be among the country's worst drivers. A French magazine followed the five top ministers for months and recorded an array of driving violations, from speeding to ignoring red lights and general bad road etiquette. But guess who’s the worst?

France to experiment with lower speed limits

Mon, 16 Jun 2014 20:30:00 +0200

In an effort to further reduce the number of road deaths, France plans to cut speed limits on certain roads that are particularly dangerous. The move comes despite the country hitting a record low in the number of traffic fatalities.

France's most expensive road - €1.6b for just 12km

Wed, 09 Apr 2014 12:23:00 +0200

French authorities are set to sign a cheque for a staggering €1.66 billion to pay for the construction of a 12km stretch of coastal highway – dubbed the "most expensive road in France". It's not the type of project you would perhaps expect in a time of economic crisis.

Winter weather keeps France on alert

Tue, 15 Jan 2013 13:01:00 +0100

Swathes of France remained on alert on Tuesday as wintery conditions spread across the north and east of the country.

Chipie the missing dog found after road trip

Fri, 19 Oct 2012 13:25:00 +0200

A dog that went missing for two weeks has come back home after hitchhiking around France with a truck driver.

Bus driver 'dragged' cyclist down Paris street

Fri, 29 Jun 2012 14:18:00 +0200

A Paris bus driver has been accused of dragging a man whose bike was caught in the wheels of his vehicle 100 metres, leaving him badly hurt.

Italians block motorway in French rail link demo

Wed, 11 Apr 2012 17:21:00 +0200

Protesters in northern Italy held rallies and staged sit-ins on Wednesday against land seizures for the construction of a controversial high-speed rail link between Lyon and Turin.

Coach driver charged with manslaughter

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 08:54:00 +0100

The driver of a British coach that crashed in northern France as it was taking schoolchildren home from a skiing trip was indicted on Monday for manslaughter, a prosecutor said.

Teacher killed in British school trip crash

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 09:12:00 +0100

A coach taking 47 British holidaymakers home from a school skiing trip rolled into a ditch in northern France on Sunday, killing a teacher and injuring 23 people, officials said.