Reckless Drivers and Pileups | An Insider Look at the Roadside Guardians
Alcohol, drugs, dangerous overtaking, and cell phones are the cause of many pileups. But excessive speed remains the leading cause of fatal accidents. To try to curb this tragic toll, the government has unveiled a drastic measure: reducing the speed limit from 90 to 80 km/h on the 400,000 km of two-way secondary roads without a central divider. This is sure to infuriate the thousands of drivers and motorcyclists who use these departmental roads daily.
In Paris, on the périphérique (ring road), the police are on high alert 24/7. Laurent, 25, tirelessly patrols this 35-kilometer stretch of road, the busiest in France: 1.5 million vehicles a day! His target: reckless drivers who endanger other motorists. Speeding, driving without a license, and driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs are the scourges this young police officer has to deal with. An immersion into the hectic daily lives of the road's "guardian angels"!