Drivers’ group warns over unsafe condition of French roads
40 Millions d’automobilistes calls on drivers to report potholes, cracked surfaces and collapsing verges via mobile app
40 Millions d’automobilistes says increasingly severe weather linked to climate change is accelerating the deterioration of ageing infrastructure
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A leading French motoring association is calling for people to report dangerous road conditions as it warns that potholes, cracked surfaces and collapsing verges are becoming an increasing safety risk across the country.
40 Millions d’automobilistes has relaunched its “J’ai mal à ma route” campaign, encouraging motorists to flag hazardous stretches via a smartphone app and online map that records damaged surfaces and unsafe layouts.
The warning follows reports by France Télévisions highlighting deteriorating conditions on departmental roads, with motorists and motorcyclists describing accidents and near misses linked to poor surfaces.
France has more than one million kilometres of roads, but between 10% and 20% are now considered degraded, according to figures cited in the television report.
Long regarded as one of Europe’s strongest road networks, TheGlobalEconomy site says that France has slipped to 18th place in international competitiveness rankings for road quality in recent years.
Funding shortfalls and climate pressure
40 Millions d’automobilistes says increasingly severe weather linked to climate change is accelerating the deterioration of ageing infrastructure.
“Road networks are increasingly exposed to the effects of climate change and extreme weather,” concurred public infrastructure agency Cerema said in a recent report on transport resilience.
Heavy rainfall, heatwaves and repeated freeze-thaw cycles have contributed to cracking and potholes, particularly on roads maintained by departments and communes.
The issue has also reached parliament. In a written question to the government published this month, Socialist senator Frédérique Espagnac warned of the “slow and inexorable deterioration” of the French road network.
She said local authorities manage more than 717,000km of roads and over 120,000 bridges, around 30% of which require repairs, while rising maintenance costs linked to climate change are placing increasing pressure on municipal budgets.
Calls for repairs and better warnings
40 Millions d’automobilistes has intensified its campaigning on road conditions over the past two years, arguing that deteriorating infrastructure is becoming an overlooked cause of accidents.
In June 2025, the association said poor road conditions were involved in “more than one in two accidents” and accused authorities of allowing maintenance standards to decline.
It is now calling for hazardous stretches of road to be integrated into navigation and mapping applications so motorists can receive warnings in real time.
J’ai mal à ma route is available here, and for download from the Apple and Google app stores.
