After four months of increase in the number of road deaths, the government wanted to hit hard in yesterday announced twenty new measures decided on at the Inter ministerial Committee for Road Safety (IRB). Focus on the most emblematic reflective tape and safety vest.
Signs indicating the presence of speed cameras will be removed and the settlements cards will not be made public. In the same logic, warning of these radars will be banned. Measures welcomed by road safety associations. “We were wondering for a long time, this will allow people to adopt more responsible behavior,” says Genevieve of Victims & Citizen s. Conversely Laurent, CEO of 40 million motorists, deplores the removal of signs “that contributed to the pedagogy” and believes that the government “only seeks to trap motorists.”
Speeding more than 50 km/h will now be criminalized, after the first offense, and therefore only for repeat offenses as before. This offense is punishable by three months’ imprisonment, of 3,750 euro fine and a withdrawal of six points. “Good thing,” according to Chantal League president against road violence, although it regrets that the Government has not gone further by limiting the speed on the narrow country roads.
AC greater than 0.8 g/l at the wheel will be sanctioned by the withdrawal of 8 points, 6 against currently. A decision is unanimous among associations. But Genevieve, “this ad will not help if the government does not multiply the controls, especially at night.”
Sanctions for use of the phone held in hand will be strengthened. The 2nd class ticket (35 Euros) will be replaced by a 4th class ticket (135 Euros) The offender shall be punished with a loss of three points against two currently. A move hailed by the associations, although Chantal is “shameful” that the hands free-kit was not prohibited “while the Road Safety revealed last week a report that a crash of two was due to the use of mobile phones while driving. ”
Motorcycle drivers should wear retro reflective vest. “An intelligent measurement and easy to implement,” according to the associations, which also welcome the requirement now for users of bike that did not result in the last five years to go through the training box.
A more repressive preventive plan
“With the announced measures, it is about all repressive” Judge Lawrence, General Delegate of “40 million motorists, who regret that the Government has not as focused on the second part of the Road Safety: Prevention. According to him, “You have to multiply the communication campaigns on the risks at the wheel, such as drowsiness and not wearing safety vest.” A view shared by Didier, President of Automobile Club, “the emphasis should be on education. Example: Austria has implemented a post-license training to ensure that drivers have good reflexes. This helped to bring down drastically the number of youth accidents. ”
With stiffer penalties for people who commit odd on the road, the Automobile Association also fears that the number of unlicensed drivers increases in the coming years.