Summer Traffic in France: Dates to Avoid 2018

23/07/2018 0 Comments
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On the road in France this  summer? 

To avoid long waits and traffic jams, try in particular to avoid red Saturday 28th July (travelling from north to south) and 4th/11th August, which are both ‘black days’ (circulation extrêmement difficile). August 18th is also expected to be the worst day to travel back from south to north.

Most Saturdays throughout July and August are  classed  ‘red’ (circulation très difficile) starting from 6th July, with the weekend of  10th –  16th Augusty being  particularly busy both ways.

Check out other periods and hotspots to avoid at www.bisonfute.equipement.gouv.fr or ring 0 800 100 200 for real time info. (0033 892 68 78 88 from abroad)

‘Le chassé-croisé des juillettistes et des aoûtiens’……..

… describes the traffic chaos on the roads of France late July/early August as the whole world and his wife heads off to or home from their hols, and the end of both months when the hols are over.

A chassé-croisé is actually a dance step where dancers criss cross and change partners.

‘Juillettistes’ describes holiday makers heading off or home in July and ‘aoûtiens’ are August travelers.

This crossover of the “juilletistes and aoutiens” sees millions of people moving across the country and traffic monitor Bison Fute issues one of its rare ‘black alerts’ forecasting more than 600km of jams.

Motorways along the Mediterranean coast, and main routes from north to south and vice versa are expected to be very busy at these times. Check out BISON FUTE, government funded advice agency which monitors traffic and gives useful tips and advice for avoiding the hotspots, with a ‘realtime’ map and info constantly updated.

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