French motorways experienced severe congestion on Saturday, August 15, with more than 700 kilometers of combined traffic jams recorded by midday, according to regional newspaper Sud Ouest.
The publication reported that drivers faced particular difficulties on the A10 and A63 motorways during the busy holiday weekend. The figures, which exclude the Ile-de-France region around Paris, highlight the scale of the annual summer travel rush as many French families headed to or from vacation destinations.
The heavy traffic came as part of the traditional August 15 holiday period, a peak travel time in France. Other outlets covering the same day noted that conditions varied across the country, with some reports indicating a return to calmer traffic in both departure and return directions later in the day. Franceinfo also confirmed the 700-kilometer figure for midday Saturday, excluding the Paris area.
The congestion was likely compounded by hot weather conditions across much of the country, as separate coverage from Le HuffPost offered advice to drivers on how to avoid ruining their return trips during the heatwave. While the worst of the jams appeared to ease by the afternoon, travelers were advised to check real-time traffic updates before setting out.
With the summer holiday period still ongoing, motorists can expect similar disruptions on upcoming weekends, particularly on major routes connecting cities to coastal and mountain destinations. Authorities typically recommend traveling outside peak hours to minimize delays.
