The epidemic of Covid-19, the heat wave and the plugs... a Lot of drivers on the starting or returning from vacation will have to have patience on Saturday, August 8 : the traffic was very dense in the morning on roads that are overheated, in accordance with the forecasts of Bison futé, which had announced a black day in the sense of departures, red for returns.
For this second weekend of out-cross marked by scorching temperatures, traffic was difficult in the regions South-West, Auvergne-Rhône-Alps and on the mediterranean coast, in both directions. The first difficulties have been recognized since the dawn and many of the slowdowns were recorded, especially on the A7 between Lyon and Marseille in the north-south direction.
Nine departments in red alert heatwave
Between Lyon and Orange, to 10 hours, run time was 4 hours instead of 1 hour and 35 minutes usually, according to Vinci Autoroutes. Between Paris and Bordeaux on the A10 motorway, the traffic was also very busy in the morning, especially between Tours and Poitiers, where there would be an hour and a half more than in normal times. The traffic was fluid, however, on the A9 from or in the direction of Spain.
Nine departments are placed on red alert due to high temperatures affecting the country, combined with the health crisis, and ozone pollution. Paris has already put in place as soon as Thursday, the traffic was differentiated, and the same applies to Lyon on Saturday. The procedure to alert the ozone pollution is maintained for the third consecutive day in the Bouches-du-Rhône, leading to restrictive measures, including on the roads.
