France strives to put brakes on reckless driving

Record road deaths over two spring weekends prompted the French government to mount a high profile road block, including state dignitaries and a full traffic court in the Champs-Elysees in May. In just one hour 20 drivers were fined for speeding and two drivers lost their licences and their cars on the spot. The Government pledged to lower the death rate in 1997, yet it has remained static at some 8,000 deaths a year, in spite of a low BAC drink drive level of 50 mg- only Portugal and Greece, with bad roads and older vehicles have worse accident rates. Despite and extensive radar campaign and publicity, the French still hold Europe's record for drink-driving. Along with speed limits and stop signs, they also disobey seat belt laws the most. This is in spite of toughened regulations introduced last year, introducing the loss of your licence for up to six months and a £900 fine for exceeding a 30mph speed limit (50kph). A second offence carries a three month prison sentence, £2,000 fine and five years' loss of licence. Part of the problem is the failure of some authorities to enforce the regulations. The Paris Appeal Court recently annulled the conviction of a driver clocked at 130mph in an 80mph limit, accepting his argument that high speed did not in itself expose others to risk or injury.