Driver caught at 184kph on bridge

GENDARMES have arrested a man after he was caught speeding at 184kph on the Ile de Ré bridge near La Rochelle.

The 27 year old man, from La Rochelle, was caught in a midnight radar trap on the curving 2.9km bridge - doing twice the speed limit, which is 90kph.

His was ordered to leave his car, an Audi V6 diesel, and his licence was immediately suspended.

Reports in the Sud Ouest said that he did not have a full licence.

Gendarmes have been told by prefect Béatrice Abollivier to provide increased checks on the island as she bids to reduce the Charente-Maritime accident rate, which saw 60 killed last year. The island itself has seen eight people killed in road accidents between 2007 and 2011.

Two speed cameras are to be installed at locations yet to be revealed, although possibly in La Couarde and La Flotte, after the gendarmerie highlighted speeding offences in the south of the island.

Gendarme chief Lt-Col Hubert Laligant said: "We will act to reduce speeds in certain areas."