French President Emmanuel Macron announced a new national lockdown via a television speech yesterday evening. According to the new rules, all of mainland France will be under light lockdown measures from 3rd April for four weeks. However, roadside restaurants that are currently open for lorry drivers can still operate.
Travel between different French regions will be banned for the duration of the nationwide light lockdown, while the 7 pm curfew currently imposed on the 19 regions will be extended to all of mainland France. However, neither of these restrictions applies to HGV drivers.
19 areas, including Paris, have already been in lockdown since 19th March. During this time, roadside restaurants serving lorry drivers were allowed to stay open and there is no plan to change this practice.
However, drivers should bear in mind that they need to show their driver’s card to be able to use such restaurants.
French restaurants were closed during the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic last November, but road freight associations and drivers’ unions pressurized the government to reopen them and provide the “appropriate working and sanitary facilities” drivers need.
Since then, more than 250 restaurants have been in operation. These places were permitted to stay open during the last lockdown in and around Paris. As the regional lockdown will be extended nationwide, this allowance for lorry drivers will still stay in place.
All of the on-site services remain available, with the exception of the hot seated catering areas which are closed in order to comply with national health guidelines. Take-out hot meals and shopping are available” – informs motorway service provider Vinci its visitors on its website.
Drivers can check the availability status of service areas in the VINCI Autoroutes network on a dedicated map, updated daily.
Also, transportation portal France Routes provides an updated list of restaurants authorized to be open for truckers here.
Photo credit: Google Street View
