Taxi driver protest set to block motorways in south of France on Monday

A nationwide taxi protest is set to cause disruption in towns and cities around France on Monday, May 19 - and on motorways in the south in particular - over changes to how the state funds medical transport.

The protests are directed at a new nationwide pricing model due to come into force on October 1, and at the growing market share of ride-hailing platforms (VTCs). 

Travellers are advised to check local updates and avoid affected roads where possible.

The president of the taxi drivers’ union la Fédération Nationale du Taxi (FNDT) also announced a “journée blanche” (white day), meaning many taxi drivers will suspend all medical transport duties to hospitals on Monday.

The movement is described as reconductible – meaning actions could continue or be stepped up in the days that follow.

A similar protest in December caused hundreds of kilometers of traffic jams around the country

Where major disruption is expected

Var: Around 300 taxis are set to block or slow traffic on the A50, A57 and A8 motorways from early morning. 

Convoys will depart from Ollioules, Toulon and eastern Var from 05.30 with roadblocks planned at the Fréjus and Le Muy tolls.

Alpes-Maritimes: A gathering is planned near the Allianz Riviera stadium in Nice, likely to impact access to the A8 and Nice airport.

Marseille: Drivers have threatened go-slow operations on major urban routes and may block hospital access roads.

Toulouse: Convoys will leave Blagnac airport from 06:00, with plans to block both directions of the city’s ring road from 07.45. Roadblocks are expected at the Purpan, Rangueil and Oncopole hospitals.

Lyon: Protesters plan to slow or block traffic near train stations, hospitals and possibly Lyon Saint-Exupéry airport.

Paris: A go-slow is expected, starting on boulevard Raspail from 07:00.

Pyrénées-Orientales: A planned blockade of the A9 motorway toll booth at Le Boulou has been prohibited by the préfecture, which cited insufficient safety guarantees and lack of coordination with emergency services. 

An alternative go-slow operation will instead take place on roads around Perpignan. The ban applies to all protests that would hinder traffic on the A9 between Salses-le-Château and Le Perthus.

Further disruption should be expected in many towns around France. 

People planning to travel on affected motorways should check for updates here before setting out

Why are taxi drivers protesting in France?

The movement centres on a new flat-rate system for taxis conventionnés - drivers approved to carry patients to medical appointments on behalf of Assurance maladie, the state health insurance system. 

From October 1, payments will shift to a national base rate of €13 per trip, plus kilometre-based compensation set by each department. 

Supplements will still be allowed for specific services, such as transporting patients with mobility issues.

At present, medical taxis are paid a base rate of €15 in addition to a €16 ‘prise en charge ‘ passenger handling fee as well as the kilometre rate.

The Assurance maladie says the reform aims to rein in costs, which reached €6.74 billion in 2024 - up 45% since 2019. 

The body claims the new model will benefit two-thirds of departments, especially rural areas, and help reduce costly return journeys without passengers. 

It is encouraging hospitals to set up booking platforms to coordinate rides more efficiently.

Taxi unions say the plan threatens their financial stability and access to patient care in underserved areas. 

The FNDT says the reform "worsens territorial inequality" and puts the burden of poor administrative planning on drivers, who will no longer be able to guarantee the same level of service.

“We are despised by our ministers", said the FNDT president. “The chairman of Uber is received, but we who are French, who work on French soil and who have a very significant economy, are not even received by our ministers.”

Anger at ride-hailing platforms

Taxi federations are also demanding stricter controls on VTC platforms, which they accuse of flouting regulations, confusing the public, and using aggressive tax optimisation strategies that distort the market.

Their demands include:

• an immediate freeze on the new medical transport convention

• retention of locally set metered fares

• the appointment of an independent mediator

• robust enforcement of sector rules