Fixed radar guns and unmarked police cars patrolling for speeders are everywhere in France now, so driving fast here can quickly become an expensive proposition. While just a few years ago French highways were a dangerous free-for-all--reflected by one of Europe's highest car and truck accident fatality rates. Today, people generally drive within the speed limits--except for the country's political elite. Reporters from the French daily Auto Hebdo recorded French presidential hopefuls socialist party Ségolène Royal, Nicolas Sarkozy, who is running on the conservative ticket, and the ultra-right wing candidate who claims not to be fascist Jean-Marie Le Pen, speeding along in their chauffeur-driven cars way above the speed limit.
According to the report, Nicolas Sarkozy was going 130 km/h in a 70 km/h zone, Jean-Marie Le Pen 185 km/h in an 130 km/h zone, and Ségolène Royal 158 km/h above the 110 km/h speed limit.
So far, the candidates have not issued a comment.
