Drivers in France warned to stay vigilant on roads this weekend
Winter road safety plan has been launched as icy conditions expected
Motorways and other major roads are safety priority for government
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Drivers have been warned to stay vigilant on the roads in France this weekend, as icy road conditions are set to be widespread.
Extremely cold weather at the start of the weekend, in many places below freezing, will continue until Sunday (November 23).
Morning temperatures between -3C and -7C on Saturday will cause frost to be widespread, while icy road conditions (neige-verglas) including dangerous black ice are pronounced.
Incoming clouds on Sunday will bring rainfall and increase temperatures, and may also cause dangerous driving conditions as black ice and sludge are expected.
Currently, state forecaster Météo France has tier-two yellow warnings in place for neige-verglas for much of France on Friday, as well as in the north, centre, and parts of the south-west on Saturday.
Yellow is the first warning level within a four-tier system (green (no warning), yellow, orange, red) and recommends that people ‘stay alert’ due to potentially dangerous weather.
Warnings for Sunday are not yet available but are likely to be of similar risk.
Depending on the severity of weather conditions, warnings may be increased - it is recommended to check for updates on the forecaster’s website before driving.
Motorways are government priority
“Our primary concern regarding the 10,000 kilometres of national roads and 10,000 kilometres of highways we have to manage is, of course, safety,” said Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot yesterday.
The Minister launched the government’s winter road safety plan yesterday, which “encompasses all actions carried out between mid-November and mid-March to guarantee the safety of road users and maintain traffic flow.”
The plan encompasses preventative measures during adverse conditions, real-time responses, and includes around 7,500 people working at any given time to improve road safety over the winter.
In addition, crisis management units will be available across France to deal with any emergencies.
For its part, traffic watchdog Bison Futé is not currently expecting increased traffic this weekend, however reduced maximum speeds on motorways and dual carriageways in light of conditions may lead to some build-up.
State rail operator SNCF is not currently expecting any cold weather delays, however some service interruption is possible, particularly if surprise snowfall disrupts lines.
Keeping safe on the road
The Ministry is urging driver safety and caution to minimise the risk of accidents over the winter months.
“Planning your journeys, equipping your vehicles appropriately, and driving carefully are essential conditions for safer roads for everyone,” it states.
This includes using the real-time map from Bison Futé showing traffic and wintry weather conditions across France’s major roads.
Other tips on safe driving practices, particularly on icy roads, can be found in our article here.
As a reminder, drivers in many departments need to ensure vehicles are equipped with winter tyres, mandatory from November 1 - April 1.
