Currently, this traffic sign is being tested in 21 French departments. But from this summer, the authorities could decide to install it on most roads in France.
In their car, many motorists complain or get stressed when traffic conditions are bad. Worse still, when some drivers commit carelessness, such as a car that swerves without warning, overtakes left then right and weaves into traffic. This last scenario also concerns two-wheelers or three-wheelers. We sometimes see them, in our rear-view mirror, on the driver’s side, coming up to us while passing between the vehicles, right on the lines on the ground.
For the moment, this type of driving, which is called inter-lane traffic (CIF) and which has the gift of irritating people behind the wheel, is not authorized in the highway code. Because it can be dangerous for the motorcycle driver, but also for surrounding cars if an accident occurs. Except that since August 2, 2021, a national experiment has been carried out authorizing inter-lane circulation for motorized two-wheelers and three-wheelers on motorways and expressways, when traffic is dense and the space between vehicles is enough to pass. In total, 21 departments are currently concerned: Alpes-Maritimes, Bouches-du-Rhône, Drôme, Gironde, Haute-Garonne, Hérault, Isère, Loire-Atlantique, Nord, Pyrénées-Orientales, Rhône, Var, Vaucluse as well as the departments from the Ile-de-France region.
In these territories, all motorists are warned of this practice thanks to a rectangular road sign, representing heavy traffic with motorcycles which are authorized to ride in inter-files, between cars. Other complementary, smaller panels, such as “B14”, “M4c”, “M9z” bearing the inscription “in inter-files” can also be seen. These signs are purely indicative in themselves, but they inform users that the maximum authorized speed in inter-lane traffic is 50 km/h.
If you live or travel in one of these departments, you are often faced with this type of situation. But it could be that this sign is installed on other roads in France. Indeed, as indicated on the Road Safety website, this test phase launched in 2021 must last “three years” For “allow us to study the conditions under which this practice could be authorized, secured and taught”. Questioned by our editorial staff, the Road Safety press service told us that it must end this year, “end of July 2024”, and that it is still early to know whether or not this inter-queue sign could become widespread. If the results are conclusive, the experiment could thus be transformed into a real measurement, and we will have to keep our eyes open and be extra vigilant to respect these new rules.