Driver speeding at 230kph arrested in central France

A driver doing more than 230kph in an 80kph zone - more than 150kph over the speed limit - has been stopped and arrested by gendarmerie in central France.

Published Last updated

The incident happened on the afternoon of Saturday February 15, in the commune of Jouy-le-Potier, in the Loiret (Centre-Val de Loire).

The driver’s licence was confiscated, and his car impounded. He will now be required to appear in court.

In a Facebook post after the event, the Gendarmerie du Loiret explained how they arrested the man, having recorded a reading of 233kph.

They wrote: “Extremely red card. Sometimes, despite everything, superlatives remain weak in the face of the facts.”

The incident comes weeks after a nearby commune, Acquebouille - also in the Loiret - took matters into its own hands. Residents concerned about speeding drivers mounted road signs with provocative messages designed to deter drivers, such as “There are still children left to kill...drive faster!”.

According to figures from local news source La République du Centre, 34 people died in road accidents in the Loiret in 2019, with the oldest victim aged 85, and the youngest aged just 16.

Stay informed:
Sign up to our free weekly e-newsletter
Subscribe to access all our online articles and receive our printed monthly newspaper The Connexion at your home. News analysis, features and practical help for English-speakers in France