3 am? 8h? Noon ? Here is what time you have to take the holiday route to avoid traffic jams

“Each year, we went by car at 5 am towards Bagnères-de-Luchon [Haute-Garonne] To spend the holidays there. For example, 5 hours, it was 5 hours ”. Similarly, Time has passed, but Gisèle, 72, recalls very precisely the departure time of the annual journey to the south. Meanwhile, No question of leaving later and d in the road. Furthermore, An inconceivable schedule for Eric, 48 years old. Nevertheless, “We leave at 8 am because before, it’s too early, we are all punctured,” says this resident of Agen (Lot-et-Garonne). Similarly, But after 8 am, we are sure to have traffic jams … Nevertheless, “

While Bison Futé announces that this August 2 will be a “black” Saturday. For example, with “extremely difficult traffic on all the major axes of the country”, 20 Minutes The question arises:

Is there an ideal hour to 3 am? 8h? noon ? take the wheel and avoid traffic jams?

Discover our infographics to find out:

To avoid traffic jams on the road. it is recommended to leave before 9 a.m. Prepare your trip. because the last -minute inconvenience will delay your departure: the suitcases are made, you have checked the condition of the vehicle, full of fuel has been made, you thought of games and books to occupy the children, without forgetting the water bottles …

You go early in the morning – 3 am? 8h? noon ?

Rest – 3 am? 8h? noon ? well – the day before. While one in two drivers reduces its usual sleep time when departure on vacation. five hours of sleep or less multiplies the risk of having an accident on the road by three, according to road safety. Watch out for drowsiness: during the day, risk hours are between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m., and at night, between 2 a.m. and 5 a.m.

The steering wheel after the meal – 3 am? 8h? noon ?

Before taking the road. it is better to eat light or wait for the end of the digestion period, according to the “eating well to drive” study of the Assurance Prévention Assurance of 2021. Drink enough water, ban the alcohol before and during the journey. And in the event of taking medication, check their compatibility with driving.

Go at the very end of the day

Again, be careful. According to road safety. after 17 hours of awakening, the driver’s capacities 3 am? 8h? noon ? are equivalent to those of a person with a blood alcohol level of 0.50 g of alcohol/liter of blood. This represents the limit of the alcohol level in the blood in France authorized by the highway code.

Our Road Safety File

Run at night

Nocturnal journeys are 15 to 20 % more frequent than during the rest of the year. according to a study by traffic motorways in 2023. But beware of dangers. because at night, the risk of fatal accident on the highway is four times greater, with a peak between 3 am and 4 am. In addition. 24 % of the continuous periods of driving at night exceed two hours, while a break every 90 minutes is recommended at night. And barely more than one in 10 drivers (14 %) stops every two hours on its entire night journey.

“From the first signs of drowsiness. the driver must stop because the risks of having an accident within half an hour are multiplied by 3 or 4, according to Professor Damien Léger, president of the scientific council of the National Sleep and Vigilance Institute, quoted by road safety. Driver’s reflexes are altered. the more quickly it rolls, and the more serious the consequences in the event of an accident. ”

In all situations. do not set an arrival schedule, because there can always be an unexpected, an accident on the road, drowsiness that requires a micro-siete 3 am? 8h? noon ? … Make regular breaks, at least every two hours. Finally, to inform you of the traffic state, your best ally will be the Bison Futé site.