Slip sliding away but not for 225km/hr culprit

All vehicles including sports car are being advised to slow down in the current icy conditions

Although no one was hurt in the incidents, one car crashed into a give way sign and another flipped over on to its roof as temperatures hovered at -2 degrees C.

Road conditions were obviously not so bad on the A8 motorway where a camera clocked an Italian doing double the speed limit - 225 km/hr instead of the Alpes-Maritimes’ 110 km/hr restriction – near the St Isidore exit. The culprit was apparently test-driving a BMW he planned to buy.

Drivers are being urged to take extra care as snow is forecast across the south east of France late this afternoon, with as much as 10 to 15 cm expected in La Turbie above the Principality of Monaco. Although power lines have been repaired to the ski resorts of Auron and Isola, and surrounding villages after yesterday’s black out, the RTE (Réseau de transport d’électricité) is warning that there may be some controlled power cuts between 5pm and 8pm.

The system in the south eastern region is particularly vulnerable during peak demand periods in freezing weather conditions, as it is “at the end” of a high voltage power supply line from Marseilles. Deliberately cutting off electricity to some areas avoids the risk of plunging the whole region into darkness. CL