Weekend congestion expected as France lifts fuel tanker ban

Heavy traffic is expected in south-east France this weekend due to school holiday traffic, with the lifting of a weekend restriction on fuel tankers potentially adding to the disruption. 

Today (April 10) marks the start of the school holidays for zone B and the second week of holidays for zone A, with more cars on the roads as families set off for and return from their travels.

Zone A includes schools in Besançon, Bordeaux, Clermont-Ferrand, Dijon, Grenoble, Limoges, Lyon and Poitiers. Zone B schools are in Aix-Marseille, Amiens, Caen, Lille, Nancy-Metz, Nantes, Nice, Orléans-Tours, Reims, Rennes, Rouen and Strasbourg. 

Further delays may also be caused by an increased number of fuel tankers which, from this weekend, will be allowed to deliver to service stations across France in order to address fuel shortages caused by the conflict in the Middle East. 

Note that some 1,050 petrol stations (10%) out of the 10,489 stations analysed by the fuel comparison site Prix Carburant are experiencing shortages, with diesel being most affected.

HGVs are typically banned from driving on Sundays and public holidays in France. However, vehicles transporting petrol to service stations will be permitted to travel at weekends and on public holidays, until 10:00 on May 11, according to a decree published in the Journal officiel (the government’s official publication) today (April 10). 

Fuel deliveries are usually only permitted if travelling to “service stations located on motorways, restricted-access roads, as well as airports, and sea ports,” states the Ministry of Transport’s website.

We look at which roads are expected to be most congested this weekend. 

Friday, April 10

Traffic watchdog Bison Futé predicts traffic jams will be concentrated on roads serving the Mediterranean coast.

The A7, A8, A9, A50, A52, A54 and A57 motorways are expected to be particularly busy between mid-afternoon and late afternoon.

Saturday, April 11

Heavy traffic is expected in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, particularly on the A7 and A43 motorways, on the eastern Lyon bypass and on the approach to the Mont Blanc Tunnel. 

This is expected to last from mid-morning until late afternoon.

Sunday, April 12

Roads should return to normal across the country on Sunday, in both directions.