Only one lane to be cleared of snow

ROADS in the east of France will see only one lane cleared of snow as part of a new policy to get the roads opened quicker.

However, unions have denounced the move as a money-saving measure: parliament is currently debating plans to reduce spending on roads from next year.

Snowploughs will clear only the right-hand lane of main roads and motorways; the left-hand lane will be left snow-covered until eight hours after the snow has stopped falling.

The Direction interdépartementale des routes Est says this will allow them to have snowploughs clearing more roads at the one time. Up until now, roads have been cleared by a pair of snowploughs working in tandem.

However, some informed sources have complained to the newspaper Le Parisien saying they feared that opening only half the road would lead to “massive rush-hour traffic jams for people in the likes of Strasbourg, Reims or Nancy”.

The new move affects 12 departments from the Ardennes to Jura and from the Bas-Rhin to the Marne and covers 1,660km of roads.

Overtaking a gritter or snowplough that is clearing the road is forbidden and offenders face a three-year ban.

Gritters and ploughs show a flashing orange light in normal use; when clearing snow, they use a blue light to signify no overtaking on any road. Article R414-17 makes it a Class 4 offence, liable to a fine of €90-€750 and a possible ban of three years.

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Photo: David Jager/flickr