Driver checks intensify in south-west France: Hundreds of licences removed

A sharp increase in road accidents and injuries in the Gers department has seen authorities attempt to crack down on illegal driving practices, with more than 200 driving licences being suspended in the department since the start of the year.

It has also led to a hike in the number of roadside checks carried out by police, including a major operation in Dému on Easter Sunday checking hundreds of drivers.

Figures released by the Gers prefecture on April 2 show that in the first quarter of the year (January 1 - March 31), road accidents have increased by +42% in 2026 compared to 2025.

Injuries occurring from these accidents have jumped by +72%, although one less roadside death (four compared to five) has been recorded in the department across this time.

In a bid to combat the issues, the prefecture said police authorities in the department have suspended more than 200 licenses (as of April 1), including 41 for speeding, 78 for driving under the influence of alcohol, and 76 for drug use.

One incident in March reported by local media La Dépêche saw a 17-year old, who had only recently obtained his probationary permit on his birthday, caught drink-driving after almost causing a fatal accident, before having his licence suspended.

Further measures to be introduced? 

The statistics has led to the Gers prefecture calling for increased roadside checks to ensure drivers are following rules.

Our article explaining your rights and what to do if pulled over roadside by French authorities is available here. 

Note that checks can take place on anyone, at any time, either based on driving behaviour or as was the case in Gers over the weekend, a targeted operation in a high-accident area. 

In many cases, drivers are pulled over at random as part of a spot-check and you will not be kept for long.

Several departments including the neighbouring Landes have introduced on the spot driving licence suspensions for drivers caught using their mobile phones behind the wheel. 

Authorities in Gers are yet to confirm a similar measure, but as it increases in popularity across France it may soon become standard practice.

The Gers department introduced private mobile radars on its roads in August 2025, now operating in all mainland departments except in the Île-de-France capital region. 

Between August 15 and December 31, 2025, these vehicles captured 1,885 traffic violations, the majority of them for speeding, across Gers.