Bison Futé forecasts a difficult July 14, 2023 weekend - get organized!

Will you be hitting the road between July 13 and 16? If so, you'll need to be patient, as Bison Futé is forecasting heavy traffic on national roads for the July 14 long weekend. Many French people are banking on Friday July 14 - a public holiday - as the occasion for an extended weekend, with destinations in coastal regions or areas close to urban areas. So what can we expect on the national roads on Thursday July 13, Friday July 14, Saturday July 15, Saturday July 16 and Sunday July 16, 2023? Here are the Bison Futé forecasts.

At the heart of the second great wave of summer departures, the July 14 weekend is shaping up to be a challenge for drivers in France. Bison Futé anticipates particularly heavy traffic throughout the country, classifying the days as RED and ORANGE.

Traffic density intensifies mainly in the southern regions and coastal areas, indicating massive departures to vacation destinations. So, what are Bison Futé's precise forecasts?

Thursday and Friday: Beware of departures

From Thursday onwards, departures begin to make themselves felt. Bison Futé classifies this day as ORANGE nationally and ROUGE in the Île-de-France region. Peak hour is expected at 6pm, with heavy traffic, particularly on the outskirts of major cities, such as in the Rhône valley and on the A10 between Paris and Poitiers.

On Friday, the day looks set to be calmer, with a GREEN classification across the country, except for the Greater West, the North and Ile-de-France, where the flag is ORANGE. The busiest hour will be at 11 a.m.

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Saturday: a RED day

Saturday is undoubtedly the most difficult day. Bison Futé classifies this day as RED throughout the country, forecasting very heavy traffic from the end of the night, particularly on the A7 and A10 freeways. Bison Futé advises you to

• Leave the Paris region before 7 a.m., and major cities before 9 a.m. or after 3 p.m.
• Avoid the A10 between Paris and Bordeaux, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Avoid the A7 between Lyon and Orange, from 6am to 6pm; and the A9 between Orange and Narbonne, from 8am to 3pm.
• Avoid the A61 freeway between Toulouse and Narbonne, from 9am to 3pm, and the A63 towards San Sebastian, between 8am and 9pm.
  

Sunday: Traffic in both directions

Sunday looks set to be a busy day for traffic in both directions. Bison Futé classifies the day as ORANGE for France and ROUGE for the Ile-de-France region. It recommends returning to the Paris region before 2pm.

Bison Futé remains an invaluable tool for optimizing travel during summer departures. Its forecasts enable you to anticipate and make the most of this second great wave of vacation departures. One thing's for sure: this July 14th weekend will be no picnic on France's roads!

If possible, avoid driving during the hottest part of the day (between 12pm and 4pm), remember to equip your vehicle with sun visors or solar films for the rear window and rear side windows, drink water regularly, and pay close attention to your most vulnerable passengers (children, the elderly...).

Have a safe trip!