Driving license: can motorists be fined if they do not respect safety distances on the highway ?

Les panneaux placés le long des autoroutes suggèrent une distance de sécurité de deux traits. MAXPPP – Jean-Luc Flémal

On the highway, you must respect a certain safety distance in the event of possible braking or obstacles on the road. Can you be penalized if you do not respect them even if the traffic was heavy? ;nbsp;? We'll explain.

On the highway, you must respect a certain safety distance because you drive faster than in town, for example. But many motorists do not respect them, which represents a danger, reports Ouest France.

Signs placed along motorways suggest a safety distance of two lines which represent (Editor's note: white stripes on the motorway). Indications that it is better to respect, for our safety but also that of other motorists. And also to avoid losing points on the license.

Sanctions

According to our colleagues, in the event of non-compliance with these instructions, sanctions may apply: 135 euros fine, reduced to 90 euros; in case of prompt payment and three points removed from the license.

Helicopters or mobile units are sometimes deployed during vacation periods or during summer seasons to fine motorists who do not respect the rule. To do this, they use cameras to capture an image proving that there were no traffic jams.

The possibility of contesting

It is however possible to contest your notice of fine if you consider that you respected the safety distances or that the traffic was heavy. This is a difficult offense to address because law enforcement must prove that you put the lives of other motorists in danger by not respecting these limits.