A new series of road rule changes has gone into effect in France, aimed at reducing pedestrian fatalities as well as other accident losses. The rules affect pedestrian right of way, driving under the influence and distracted driving.
One big change: Drivers convicted of drunk driving will have an option to losing their licenses. They can, instead, have a breathalyzer ignition lock installed on their car, at their own expense, and keep it there for five years. The devices are already mandatory on buses in France.
To emphasize the importance of yielding right-of-way to pedestrians, the new rules call for losing six points on the driver’s license, up from four. There’s also a plan to make pedestrian crossings more visible.
Cameras, already in use to catch speeders, will now also seek out one-way violators, drivers who don’t yield to pedestrians, and cars with unreadable license plates. Tickets will be sent by mail, but there was no explanation of how they will find the address of the owner of the illegible plates.
Other rules include (surprisingly for the first time) a one-passenger-per-seat rule, a requirement to slow down when passing disabled cars and a ban on any hand-held device that makes a sound.
