An experiment carried out in 21 departments was due to end in mid-September, but this practice has been postponed until the end of 2024.
On the road, it is common to see drivers get angry when traffic is difficult or when faced with reckless behavior. A car that changes lanes without warning, overtakes on the left then on the right to gain a few places… These situations are not limited to cars: motorcycles, scooters and three-wheelers are also often involved. Motorists generally notice them in their rearview mirrors, when they slip between vehicles.
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This common habit among bikers has a name: inter-file traffic (CIF). Although this practice is “strictly prohibited by the Highway Code“, it is punishable by a fine of 135 euros. However, since August 2, 2021, a national experiment has been set up to assess the issue. It authorizes motorized two-wheelers and three-wheelers to circulate between lines of cars on highways and expressways, when traffic is dense and there is sufficient space between vehicles. Currently, this experiment is in force in 21 departments, including Alpes-Maritimes, Bouches-du-Rhône, Drôme, Gironde, Haute-Garonne, Hérault, Isère, Loire-Atlantique, Nord, Pyrénées-Orientales, Rhône, Var, Vaucluse as well as all departments in the Île-de-France region.
In these areas, a rectangular sign informs motorists of this test phase, representing dense traffic with motorcycles circulating between cars. Other smaller signs, such as the “B14”, “M4c” or “M9z” signs, accompanied by the words “inter-file”, are also present. Although purely indicative, they indicate that the maximum speed allowed in inter-file traffic is 50 km/h.
These tests have now been underway for three years. Originally scheduled to end on August 1, 2024, the experiment was finally extended until September 15. However, the evaluation report produced by the Center for Studies and Expertise on Risks, the Environment, Mobility and Planning (Cerema) was delayed, particularly due to the Olympic Games and the current political context. The government has therefore decided to extend this experiment a little further. According to a September 11th order published in the Official Journal, motorized two-wheelers and three-wheelers can therefore continue to drive in inter-file in these departments until December 31, 2024.