https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from France in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed Bison Futé warns motorists to expect heavier-than-usual traffic on the roads heading into the holiday weekend. https://www.thelocal.fr/20231027/frances-roads-watchdog-issues-toussaint-weekend-travel-warning Fri, 27 Oct 2023 14:16:31 +0200 frances-roads-watchdog-issues-toussaint-weekend-travel-warning The holidays are drawing to a close but there are still three weekends of France’s summer holiday period left and traffic watchdog Bison Futé predicts difficult driving conditions for two of them. https://www.thelocal.fr/20230818/red-alert-which-are-the-worst-weekends-on-french-roads Fri, 18 Aug 2023 15:49:03 +0200 red-alert-which-are-the-worst-weekends-on-french-roads It's a common sight on French roads, but motorbikes and scooters are now banned from passing between two lanes of traffic anywhere in France. https://www.thelocal.fr/20210205/france-bans-bikes-and-scooters-weaving-between-lanes-of-traffic-after-disappointing-safety-trial Fri, 05 Feb 2021 12:55:11 +0100 france-bans-bikes-and-scooters-weaving-between-lanes-of-traffic-after-disappointing-safety-trial Deaths on French roads dropped to their lowest level since World War II last year as Covid-19 restrictions sharply reduced car traffic, the national road safety agency said on Friday. https://www.thelocal.fr/20210129/deaths-on-french-roads-in-2020-at-lowest-level-since-wwii-as-lockdown-reduced-traffic Fri, 29 Jan 2021 16:00:29 +0100 deaths-on-french-roads-in-2020-at-lowest-level-since-wwii-as-lockdown-reduced-traffic Drivers in most of Europe say they have adopted safer and more courteous behaviour behind the wheel, with the notable exception of the French who share the top spot with the Greeks for hurling insults at other road users, polling data showed Wednesday. https://www.thelocal.fr/20200701/french-drivers-tie-with-greeks-as-most-aggressive-in-europe Wed, 01 Jul 2020 15:40:37 +0200 french-drivers-tie-with-greeks-as-most-aggressive-in-europe Proposals to lower the speed limit on French motorways sparked controversy and reminded France of last year's 'yellow vest' protests. Now, President Emmanuel Macron has chosen to postpone the debate on the topic altogether. https://www.thelocal.fr/20200623/is-france-really-going-to-introduce-a-110kmh-nationwide-speed-limit Tue, 23 Jun 2020 14:29:47 +0200 is-france-really-going-to-introduce-a-110kmh-nationwide-speed-limit A confusing law that has forced (at least officially) drivers in France to keep at least one disposable breathaylser kit in their car at all times has finally been officially binned by the French government. https://www.thelocal.fr/20200108/france-to-finally-scrap-law-obliging-drivers-to-keep-breathalysers-in-cars Wed, 08 Jan 2020 17:40:28 +0100 france-to-finally-scrap-law-obliging-drivers-to-keep-breathalysers-in-cars Hundreds of hi-tech “speed cameras of the future” are to be be installed this year on roads across France, which has had three quarters of its existing cameras vandalised since the start of the “yellow vest” protests several months ago. https://www.thelocal.fr/20190402/400-speed-cameres-of-the-future Tue, 02 Apr 2019 18:07:06 +0200 400-speed-cameres-of-the-future France's Ministry of Transport and major motorway companies have agreed that motorists who use the country's autoroutes will benefit from a discount on the pricey tolls (peages). https://www.thelocal.fr/20190118/french-motorways-to-give-frequent-drivers-30-percent-discount Fri, 18 Jan 2019 11:03:41 +0100 french-motorways-to-give-frequent-drivers-30-percent-discount A recent report carried out by the French government on the country's road network and bridges has been making headlines once again in light of the bridge collapse in northern Italy which claimed 39 lives. https://www.thelocal.fr/20180816/potholes-bridges-at-risk-of-collapse-french-roads-in-desperate-state-report-says Thu, 16 Aug 2018 12:37:15 +0200 potholes-bridges-at-risk-of-collapse-french-roads-in-desperate-state-report-says France is looking at mixed weather conditions for the long Easter weekend, with spells of rain, sun and storms. Traffic is also expected to be "difficult" across much of the country on Friday and Monday. https://www.thelocal.fr/20180330/easter-weekend-in-france-mixed-weather-and-difficult-traffic Fri, 30 Mar 2018 12:24:08 +0200 easter-weekend-in-france-mixed-weather-and-difficult-traffic The French government looks set to lower the speed limit on countryside roads in the hope of saving lives, but motoring federations and the majority of French people have already dismissed the proposed measure as "ineffective". https://www.thelocal.fr/20180108/france-set-to-lower-speed-limit-despite-lack-of-support Mon, 08 Jan 2018 13:00:40 +0100 france-set-to-lower-speed-limit-despite-lack-of-support Saturday is set to be one of the busiest days of the year on French roads as thousands of holidaymakers and tourists head across the country. With jams and tailbacks expected across the country, it has been categorized as level ‘black' by road authorities. https://www.thelocal.fr/20170727/france-set-for-black-saturday-on-roads Thu, 27 Jul 2017 11:38:41 +0200 france-set-for-black-saturday-on-roads A large rise in the number of deaths on France's roads in June 2017 compared to last year shows France is still struggling to stem its high road fatality rate. https://www.thelocal.fr/20170724/france-road-deaths-in-june-up-154-percent-on-previous-year Mon, 24 Jul 2017 17:43:24 +0200 france-road-deaths-in-june-up-154-percent-on-previous-year France's traffic info service has released its annual summer calendar indicating when holidaymakers are most likely to get clogged up in traffic jams. Read this before heading away this summer. https://www.thelocal.fr/20170626/these-are-the-days-to-avoid-driving-on-roads-in-france-this-summer Mon, 26 Jun 2017 18:25:01 +0200 these-are-the-days-to-avoid-driving-on-roads-in-france-this-summer A British father and his 10-month-old baby have been killed in a road crash during their holiday in Brittany, northwestern France. The mother was also left seriously injured. https://www.thelocal.fr/20170609/british-father-and-baby-die-in-road-crash-in-northwestern-france Fri, 09 Jun 2017 16:35:43 +0200 british-father-and-baby-die-in-road-crash-in-northwestern-france The Local's readers share their ideas for how France should crack down on its rogue motorists (not to mention those rogue British drivers...). https://www.thelocal.fr/20170330/driving-france-crazy-french-roads-real-crackdown Thu, 30 Mar 2017 17:35:15 +0200 driving-france-crazy-french-roads-real-crackdown France’s senate has published a report blasting the fact that when it comes to cars women suffer from a lack of égalité and it's the men causing all the accidents. https://www.thelocal.fr/20160929/sexism-at-the-wheel-france-wants-more-women-drivers Thu, 29 Sep 2016 17:27:55 +0200 sexism-at-the-wheel-france-wants-more-women-drivers As part of a €1 billion project to improve France's motorways, drivers are going to see a hike in toll fees in the coming years. https://www.thelocal.fr/20160919/french-motorists-to-see-hike-in-toll-booth-fees Mon, 19 Sep 2016 14:27:14 +0200 french-motorists-to-see-hike-in-toll-booth-fees The Cour de Cassation in Paris, France's highest appeals court, has ruled that it's OK to warn other drivers about speed cameras. https://www.thelocal.fr/20160908/france-says-its-ok-warn-drivers-about-speed-cameras Thu, 08 Sep 2016 14:35:04 +0200 france-says-its-ok-warn-drivers-about-speed-cameras