The van of two Vinci Autoroutes employees was hit last night on the A9 motorway in Gard (Occitanie). They were hurt and shocked. There have already been 13 clashes since the start of the year.
A new accident took place last night on the A9 motorway in Gard (Occitanie), involving a van of two Vinci Autoroutes employees. At 2:30 a.m., the vehicle was violently struck by a motorist, leaving the employees injured and shocked.
“Around 2:30 a.m. in the Orange – Montpellier direction near Milhaud, a patrol officer was hit by the driver of a car while 2 agents were removing the markings from a construction site. The 3 injured people were transported to the Carémeau University Hospital where they were released a few hours later. The driver was taken into custody at the Grand-Gallargues highway platoon. The investigation is underway to determine the exact causes of the accident,” specifies the Gard gendarmerie.
According to the information provided by Vinci, the patrol van intervened to remove the markings from a construction site zone, although clearly marked by a series of signs upstream and cones in the area concerned. Despite these precautions, the accident occurred, endangering the lives of the workers.
“This Vinci Autoroutes patrol van was violently struck while it was intervening to remove the markings from a construction site zone, although it is well marked by a whole sequence of signs upstream, and by cones in the area concerned,” specifies Vinci.
The car which hit the Vinci Autoroutes van (Photo credit Gard gendarmerie).
This incident unfortunately marks the thirteenth accident involving a Vinci van since the start of the year on French motorways, and the third in just seven days. Last week, another van was struck on the A62, highlighting an ongoing road safety problem for the company’s workers.
These recurring accidents raise questions about the safety of workers on highways and the need for additional measures to protect those operating on the roads. Vinci Autoroutes also called on drivers to be more vigilant and to respect the signs, in order to avoid such incidents in the future.
Respect the safety corridor
Established by the decree of September 17, 2018, the safety corridor consists of a virtual barrier that all drivers must respect when approaching personnel working on the side of a road, expressway or motorway. Concretely, when a vehicle equipped with special lights, or any other vehicle whose driver uses its hazard lights, is immobilized or traveling at low speed on a shoulder or emergency lane, any driver traveling on the right edge of the roadway must, when approaching, reduce its speed in accordance with article R. 413-17 and change lanes of traffic after ensuring that it can do so without danger. If changing lanes is not possible, the driver must move as far away from the vehicle as possible while remaining in their lane. Failure to comply with this corridor is punishable by a 4th class fine, which results in a fixed fine of €135 and possibly a loss of points.
67% of drivers admit to not respecting the safety corridor and 18% admit to not knowing this rule, according to the 2023 edition of the European Barometer for Responsible Driving from the VINCI Autoroutes Foundation for Responsible Driving.
Highway agents also called “women or men in yellow” protect users. They travel hundreds of kilometers every day to be able to intervene at any time and ensure your safety. No wonder they are called the “guardian angels of the highway!” “.
Their missions are very diverse:
– They are the first to help you in the event of an incident or accident on the motorway
– They signal and protect the area thanks to their vehicle parked upstream
– They collect anything from the tracks that could hinder you and cause accidents
– They maintain the areas
“Their presence on the highway is essential! There are hundreds of highway agents working day and night for your safety and comfort. Let us also not forget the firefighters, the police, the repairers and all the personnel of the companies likely to intervene in the heart of the traffic,” specifies Vinci.
To avoid putting them in danger, follow these tips:
- Never encroach on the emergency lane when traveling on the motorway. Look straight ahead so you can stay focused on your trajectory.
- Do you see the signals from the emergency vehicles? (beacons, signs or illuminated arrows on vans) Slow down! These messages tell you that an event is in progress on the highway and that it requires the presence of our teams and their partners on the roadway.
