impressive law enforcement operation on the highway

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A truck driver under the influence of narcotics. A suspicious cargo of bottles of strong alcohol and of razor blades. A surcharge of five hundred kilos in a 3.5 t vehicle. A overtime behind the wheel for a heavy goods vehicle driver… some examples of findings made by the police this Tuesday, November 26, between Rennes and Fougères (Ille-et-Vilaine), on the A 84 motorway.

Black Friday as a trigger

The période Black Friday was in fact the moment chosen for a large-scale operation commissioned by the Prefecture of Ille-et-Vilaine.

More than sixty people participated in this dragnet, in the Chaine area, in the Rennes-Caen direction. And hundreds of vehicles were entitled to a series of checks.

On the one hand, uniforms: gendarmes of the departmental road safety squadron of Ille-et-Vilaine, and agents of the intervention brigade of customs from Rennes. On the other, technicians: controllers land transport, agent in charge of vehicle weighing of DREAL, and labor inspectorstransport specialists.

Cabotage in the viewfinder

Because the heavy vehicles were the first targeted by the controls.

“The sales period at the end of November, particularly Black Friday, leads to a peak in activity in the road transport of goods sector, particularly in the express messaging sector,” said Emmanuel Coquand, director on site. of the prefect's office. More particularly in the viewfinder: 3.5 ton trucks, used in particular for “cabotage”.

With this type of vehicle subject to fewer constraints than larger trucks, there is sometimes a tendency to overload or to use unauthorized drivers.

An infraction quickly detected at the weighing station run by DREAL.

For their part, labor inspectors ensured compliance with driving time (45 minutes of break on average after 4.5 hours of driving), to the equipment security on board the cabins and on the trailers, respecting medical examinations.

“After the inspection, we will also check whether all the drivers' working hours have been paid by the employers,” announced one of the inspectors.

But the passenger cars were not forgotten by the gendarmes and customs officers.

“42 deaths, it’s huge”

“This increase in transport activity could lead to abuses detrimental to the profession, employees and road users,” continued Emmanuel Coquand.

Road users who have already paid a heavy price this year in Ille-et-Vilaine.

In 2024 there are currently fewer accidents and fewer injuries than last year in Ille-et-Vilaine, but there are already as many deaths: 42 victims. It's huge. The causes of accidents are often linked to alcohol, drugs and speed. But we therefore need to remember that everyone has a very strong responsibility on the road. Especially at this time of year when the weather conditions are sometimes difficult, where the light drops…

It is in this sense that since July 1, 2024 the Prefect has strengthened certain measures against infringements road traffic: drug offences, previously punishable by two to three months of license suspension, have increased to six months. Likewise, the suspension periods for excessive speed have been extended.

“It was a desire of the prefecture, in conjunction with the prosecution, to harmonize our sanctions with those of neighboring departments.”

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