Transport Chief gets tough on Foreign Drivers

Description:

As millions of French people take to the road this weekend for the holiday season, Domenique Bussereau the Secretary of State for Transport declared that the government intends to get tough on foreign drivers who break the law.

He announced that he will use the framework of the French presidency of the European Union to broker reciprocal agreements with member states so that foreign drivers do not escape punishment, especially after being caught on speed camera.  This phenomenon is particularly prevalent in Poitou Charentes and Aquitaine.  Foreign drivers account for 5% of traffic, but 25% of infringements for excessive speed, and Mr Bussereau suggested that reciprocal agreements could be in place as early as 1 year from now.

The aim of the Government is to reduce the number of deaths on the roads below the current 3000 per year.   France has seen a fall in the number of road deaths since 2002, and whilst this is partly due to changed behaviours on alcohol and speed, it is also down to the proliferation of speed cameras.  At 30 June there were 2045 radars in France (1264 fixed and 781 mobile), and they expect to add 500 each year on national and departmental roads.

Mr Bussereau is also in favour of car manufacturers installing éthylotest equipment in cars, so that drivers can check their alcohol limits before driving, and he would also like to see testing facilities available in public places such as nightclubs and village halls.  The éthylotest antidémarrage already exists, and a judge can force a driver caught drink-driving to install equipment in their car at their own expense, which prevents them from starting the car if over the limit.  From 2009 the éthylotest antidémarrage will be obligatory for school bus drivers.