Hit the road… and be patient !

Exceptional traffic over a very short period

In February, up to 100,000 vehicles will be on the roads of Savoie at the same time over a single weekend. With such heavy traffic to cope with in just three days, the numerous traffic jams that build up on the roads become a source of tension and frustration for motorists.
However, these traffic jams and traffic control measures serve a specific purpose: to prevent accidents on Savoie’s winding roads, which are in very poor condition during the winter.

Aware of the significant safety implications, the authorities have looked into the issue and introduced a traffic management system called “RECITA”, which stands for REgulation de la CIrculation en TArentaise.
This system relies on the operation of traffic lights at Aigueblanche and the Siaix Tunnel in Haute-Tarentaise, the aim of which is to keep vehicles stationary on the main road to avoid overloading the secondary roads. These secondary routes must remain accessible to allow emergency services to respond in the event of an incident.
So, paradoxically, you’ll reach your destination faster by waiting at the traffic lights than by trying to push on at all costs!
 

Stay informed and comply with the measures in place

To ensure you can travel safely, it is important to follow the authorities’ instructions carefully and not to try to find alternative routes, which are in any case monitored by the authorities, who will redirect you back onto the main roads.
Bison Fûté, the French traffic forecasting service, issues weekly updates to inform you of the busiest times and, where possible, suggest alternative routes.

To receive useful information for your journey, do follow the Savoie Prefecture’s Twitter account, listen to Autoroute Info on 107.7 FM, France Bleu Pays de Savoie on 103.9 FM (traffic updates every quarter of an hour) and visit the Savoie Routes website.

To ensure your stay at your holiday rental in Méribel Mottaret goes as smoothly as possible, check out our Méribel webcam.

So, during these very busy weekends, do make sure to plan your journeys well in advance and organise entertainment and snacks for you and your children for when the car comes to a complete stop.

Safe travels to you all!