Overloaded Vehicles Bound for Morocco Intercepted in Southern France

Thanks to the weighing system installed by the Regional Directorate of the Environment, Planning and Housing (DREAL) on the Ambrussum rest area, the gendarmes were able to note that the cars, vans and heavy goods vehicles immobilized were overloaded. "Since 8 o’clock this morning, an overweight truck with its trailer heading for Morocco is on the Ambrussum rest area. It is immobilized and will not be able to resume its journey until it has unloaded part of its cargo and passed the check again," said Captain Olivier Galon, who heads the EDSR of the Gard. The gendarmes fined the truck driver. The fine proportional to the overweight is set at 90 € per 500 kg overload.

The gendarmes of the EDSR of the Gard have been carrying out this operation of intercepting vehicles that may be overweight since Thursday. It continues this Saturday, July 2, 2022. In total, 13 vehicles were fined on June 30. "We intercept all cars, vans and trucks that appear to be overloaded to us. You have people going on vacation, vehicles with poorly secured roof racks, other motorists moving, heavy goods vehicles," described Captain Galon. "If you rent a utility vehicle with a B driver’s license, you cannot drive a vehicle whose maximum weight, taking into account the load, exceeds 3.5 tons," explains the officer. The purpose of the operation, he said, is to remove from the motorway network all vehicles that are presumably overloaded.

"In case of overweight, the brakes are no longer suitable. The wind resistance is also much more important on the A9. There is a danger of losing control of the vehicle, a risk of losing its cargo. And also a risk of causing a serious accident on the highway," warns Captain Olivier Galon.