On your journey on the motorway, a vehicle traveling in the wrong direction is reported. In this situation, you must quickly react appropriately for your safety and that of your passengers. Here are our tips and reflexes to avoid an accident!
What are the appropriate actions to take when a vehicle is reported driving the wrong way on the motorway?
If you are in an area where a vehicle is reported driving the wrong way:
- Reduce your speed and increase following distances to widen your field of vision
- Stop at the nearest service or rest area
- Do Never overtake other vehicles.
By reducing your speed and increasing your following distance, you ensure you have more time and visibility to avoid a collision with an oncoming driver. To avoid any head-on collision, overtaking or driving in the left lane is strongly discouraged.
How is a vehicle driving the wrong way on the motorway signaled?
As soon as we are notified of a vehicle traveling the wrong way, various warning systems are immediately activated to inform you and prevent an accident:
- A warning message is displayed on the variable message signs (VMS) along our highways.
- An alert is broadcast on Sanef radio 107.7 FM to warn you of the danger.
This announcement is broadcast on all motorway radio stations on FM 107.7 FM so that it can be immediately identified and associated with the risks related to the presence of a vehicle traveling the wrong way. of a vehicle driving the wrong way on the highway. It alerts drivers and provides safety and driving advice.
A warning message is also displayed on the electronic signs located in front of toll plazas at certain highway entrances.
Until the vehicle reported driving the wrong way has been identified and intercepted, access to the highway remains closed within a perimeter defined by its location. Traffic is also stopped at the major toll barriers. While it is not possible to stop the driver of the wrong-way vehicle, this measure ensures the safety of everyone on our highway network!
What are the statistics on wrong-way driving on motorways?
While motorways are on average five times safer than secondary roads, over 1,000 wrong-way driving incidents were recorded on them in 2022. This figure includes reversing at toll plazas and on the hard shoulder, as well as vehicles actually entering the highway in the wrong direction.
53% of wrong-way driving incidents occur at night. In the vast majority of cases, the drivers are either elderly and disoriented (over 75) or under the influence of psychoactive substances (alcohol, drugs, or medication).
How do I report driving the wrong way on the motorway?
If you witness a driver going the wrong way on the motorway, it is crucial not to take any risks that could endanger you.
To raise the alarm and ensure your safety, we advise you to:
- Go to the nearest orange emergency call box: they are located every 2 km along the highway
- Use the free SOS Autoroute app (provided you have installed and configured it beforehand)
- Contact our services at +33 9 708 08 709 (toll-free call)
- Call 112 and provide as much information as possible about your location: highway number, direction of travel, and the landmark indicated on the central reservation or the shoulder of the road.
For deaf/mute people, it is possible to communicate by SMS with 114.
Useful reminder: If you are using your phone, do not put yourself in danger in addition to breaking the traffic law. Have a passenger call for help or pull over in a rest area to safely raise the alarm.