If you encounter a vehicle going the wrong way on the highway, these 3 reflexes can save your life

" Marine was 19, Léo 15. They were young and had their whole lives ahead of them. Since May 4, 2022, Cindy's mother's heart has been broken forever. The flesh of her flesh is gone. Around 10 p.m., on the A1 motorway , a drunk driver had been driving in the opposite direction for nearly an hour—nearly an hour!—when she hit the car of these young people. Marine and her 21-year-old friend died instantly; then Léo, the next day, from his injuries ." These are the words of Emmanuel Blairy, RN MP for Pas-de-Calais, who warned of the scourge in early 2024.

In 2022—the latest figures available—there were 108 accidents involving injuries caused by vehicles traveling the wrong way, including 26 fatal accidents that claimed the lives of 40 people. Half of the drivers traveling the wrong way and causing fatal accidents were between 18 and 34 years old; 60% of them were under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Skip the ad

Faced with this exceptional but deadly threat on our highways, knowing the right reflexes can mean the difference between life and death. When a vehicle traveling the wrong way is detected on your stretch of highway, several warning systems are triggered simultaneously to warn you of the imminent danger.

Radio 107.7 FM immediately broadcasts a specific alert message accompanied by a distinctive siren: " wrong-way vehicle alert ." At the same time, variable message signs display warnings such as "wrong-way vehicle danger: listen to 107.7." Motorway managers also proceed with the preventive closure of motorway accesses within a 40-kilometer radius to avoid worsening the situation.

If you receive this alert, the first life-saving reflex is to slow down immediately. Reducing your speed gives you valuable reaction time in a situation that can change in a matter of seconds. The second fundamental principle is that you must remain in the right lane. This rule is based on undeniable logic: the vehicle traveling the wrong way will also naturally keep to the right, which corresponds to your left lane. If there is a rest area nearby, make a temporary stop while law enforcement intercepts the dangerous vehicle.

Despite all precautions, the dreaded situation may arise: you see a vehicle driving directly in front of you. Remain absolutely calm and do not try to guess the intentions of the wrong-way driver. Immediately move as far to the right as possible, even if this means driving partially onto the shoulder. Honk your horn continuously.

That said, in the event of an imminent head-on collision, your braking ability can save your life, notes Road Safety. When a collision seems imminent, this famous ability can reduce the severity of the impact. In concrete terms, the lower the speed at the time of the collision, the lower the energy generated by the impact, which limits vehicle deformation and occupant injuries. In a car, the brake is always your best friend.