France: Roadblocks planned across France on December 7

Event

The European Road Transport Organisation (OTRE) announced that truck drivers plan to block roads across France on Saturday, December 7, to denounce the government's oil bill project aiming to increase professional fuel taxation by two cents per liter. In Saint-Etienne-du-Vouvray (Normandie region), participants are expected to gather at 06:00 (local time) on the Departmental Road 18 before heading to the A13 highway linking Paris, Rouen, and Caen, to disrupt traffic from 07:00 to 14:00. Another roadblock is planned on the National Road 137 linking Nantes to Rennes in both directions from 10:30 to 17:30 near the Hill rest area. A roadblock is also scheduled from 09:00 to 13:00 on the Saulx roundabout in Vitry-le-François (Grand Est region), which links the National Road 4 (Paris-Nancy) and the National Road 44 (Châlons-Vitry).

The organization has also called for slowdown of operations across the country including on the A62, A63, and A65 motorways, notably to slow foreign trucks; as such, some sections of the affected highways are expected to remain open. Spontaneous roadblocks are also possible elsewhere across France.

Significant road traffic disruptions are expected across France on Saturday, particularly in the affected areas. Further disruptions are possible in the days following the protest actions as the ORTE stated that the social movement may last more than one day.  

Advice

Individuals traveling across France are advised to monitor developments to the situation, plan alternative itineraries, allow ample travel time, and obey all instructions issued by the local authorities.