Monaco was the scene of two serious car accidents this past weekend, leaving five people injured and highlighting the persistent dangers of reckless and impaired driving in the Principality…
The incidents, which occurred in the Canton and Louis-II tunnels, underscore the urgency of implementing stricter road safety measures, a priority for Monaco’s government following a troubling rise in fatalities in recent years.
The first accident took place early Saturday morning near the Canton tunnel. A car carrying three occupants caught fire after the driver, later found to be intoxicated with a breath alcohol level of 1.29 milligrams per litre, lost control of the vehicle. Two passengers, both foreign nationals, suffered injuries requiring hospitalisation, while the driver was unharmed. He was arrested, held in custody, and is set to appear in court today (Monday).
The second accident occurred early on Sunday in the Louis-II tunnel, where a Ferrari failed to follow the line of the road, veering into oncoming traffic and colliding with another vehicle. Police intervened quickly, preventing the fire from spreading further. The driver of the struck vehicle sustained injuries but is stable, while the Ferrari’s driver and passenger were hospitalised and await questioning regarding their possible alcohol consumption.
These incidents come nearly a year after a tragic crash in the Millennium Tunnel claimed the lives of two students and contributed to a total of six fatalities on Monaco’s roads in 2023. Substance abuse behind the wheel was a factor in many of those cases, prompting Interior Minister Lionel Beffre to propose tighter regulations earlier this year.
Currently, Monaco’s laws allow breathalyser and drug tests only after accidents or when drivers display clear signs of intoxication. Beffre has advocated for broader random testing, similar to practices in neighbouring France, to deter impaired driving proactively. A draft law, expected in January, aims to make random checks more common, particularly during festive periods.
As authorities prepare to address this weekend’s accidents in a press conference, the government’s ongoing commitment to combating impaired driving and enhancing road safety takes on renewed urgency. Measures under discussion, including expanded testing and stricter enforcement, are critical to preventing further tragedies on Monaco’s roads.
