THE SECRET LIFE OF HIGHWAYS | 6ter |

The freeway is essential for crossing France more quickly, or almost… Daily traffic averages 29,000 vehicles per day. But during the summer months, this figure soars to 4 million! Users include holidaymakers, lorry drivers and workers, as well as road professionals who keep a close eye on things. Between traffic jams, speeding and drunk drivers, the risk of fatal accidents is high. That’s why the patrols, the breakdown services (who intervene 40 times more at this time of year), the gendarmes and the security HQ are all on the alert to intervene during the famous summer holiday crossings.

To welcome them, numerous well-equipped service areas, such as the Narbonne service area (10,000 visitors a day) or the Village Catalan, are on the starting block for a successful season. These two service areas are located on the A7 and A9 freeways, both of which are crowded in summer. From the petrol station attendant to the manager, from the cafeteria and souvenir stores to the maintenance manager and young seasonal workers, the teams are on the alert to deal with unforeseen events and tourists in a hurry.

We’ll be following two truckers in their daily lives, as well as large families, in their cars or motorhomes, for a close-up look at the freeway experience. An average 8-hour journey awaits them to reach their goal: a little corner of paradise, far from the hustle and bustle of the vacation freeway, which promises many surprises this summer.