THIS new road sign is multiplying on the roads of France and it attracts the attention of motorists – while sometimes causing confusion. This panel which represents a white diamond on a blue background or a luminous diamond on a black background indicates the lanes reserved for carpooling. Appearing for the first time in September 2020 on the A48 motorway between Grenoble and Lyon, it is now widespread in many French metropolises.
Reduce traffic jams
This signage was established by the mobility orientation law of 2019 (although it has existed for much longer in the United States, for example) and aims to encourage vehicle sharing and reduce road congestion and greenhouse gas emissions. The lanes marked by this sign are reserved for vehicles carrying at least two people, public transport, taxis, and very low-emission cars (Crit’Air sticker 0).
The use of these routes can be permanent or limited to certain times, generally during peak hours. In the latter case, the application times are indicated on a sign under the main symbol or the diamond can light up when the restriction is active. White markings on the ground often complete the signage.
🤔Survey on the #sign mystery ! You will soon see this strange new symbol appear on the #road. We’ll explain!
It represents a special lane for public transport and drivers practicing #carpooling
More info > pic.twitter.com/vFYAJ7ejNw— DIROuest (@DIR_Ouest) July 12, 2023
Make way for speed cameras
To enforce these new rules, “smart” radars capable of detecting the number of people on board vehicles have been installed along these routes and offenders now face a fine of 135 euros. This measure is part of the government’s objective of tripling the number of shared trips by 2027 while currently, carpooling only represents 3% of journeys in France.
The deployment of these panels is accelerating throughout the country: after Lyon, Grenoble and Strasbourg, they appear in the Paris region and are planned for Rennes, Nantes, Lille, Aix-en-Provence and Marseille. This evolution of road signs shows the desire to transform the travel habits of the French by promoting more ecological and more efficient modes of transport in terms of use of road space.
