Amélie VOGT, auteur sur NextRoad

LOM Law: Bringing Crosswalks into Compliance

Amélie VOGT — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 14:09:38 +0000

LOM Law: How can you bring your crosswalks into compliance by December 31, 2026 ?

In France, safety around crosswalks remains a constant concern for road authorities. According to the ONISR survey from May 2026, 503 pedestrians died in metropolitan France over the past twelve months. This represents a 9% increase compared to June 2024-May 2025. It also marks a 4% increase compared to 2019.

Indeed, drivers must be able to see a pedestrian stepping onto a crosswalk early enough to stop in time. This is precisely what Article 52 of the Mobility Orientation Law (LOM) aims to ensure. Therefore, local authorities must eliminate motor vehicle parking near crosswalks by the end of 2026.

At NextRoad, we assist local governments and road authorities in analyzing their infrastructure. We help them identify the affected areas and achieve compliance under optimal technical and budgetary conditions.

What does the LOM require in terms of compliance?

Law No. 2019-1428 of December 24, 2019, on mobility policy, introduced a new obligation for road authorities. Specifically, Article 52 requires excellent mutual visibility between pedestrians and drivers when approaching crosswalks.

Specifically, this article created Article L.118-5-1 of the Highway Code. It now prohibits motor vehicle parking within 5 meters upstream of a crosswalk. However, spaces reserved for bicycles or personal mobility devices remain allowed.

Furthermore, this requirement applies during road construction, rehabilitation, or repair work.Therefore, compliance work must be completed by December 31, 2026.

So, why does the LOM Act require the elimination of parking in front of crosswalks?

Obstructed visibility: A well-documented cause of accidents

A vehicle parked immediately before a crosswalk can obstruct the driver’s view. In such cases, the driver spots the pedestrian too late. This risk is even higher for children or people in wheelchairs. As a result, the driver no longer has enough time to stop. Road safety experts have long identified this phenomenon as one of the major causes of accidents involving pedestrians crossing the street.

The 5-meter distance corresponds to the average size of a parking space. It is the minimum required to restore a sufficient visibility triangle. This triangle improves visibility between the approaching driver and the pedestrian waiting to cross.

A minimum distance, to be adapted to the context

However, five meters is the legal threshold. However, it is not necessarily sufficient in all situations. Road configuration and prevailing speeds may warrant a greater distance. In some cases, it is preferable to prohibit parking for 7 or even 10 meters.

How can you bring your crosswalks into compliance with the LOM Act?

First, compliance isn’t limited to simply removing a few parking spaces. It requires an initial assessment to:

Identify all crosswalks in the relevant network.
Identify those with non-compliant parking within 5 meters.
Classify situations based on risk level (proximity to a school, typical speed, road configuration).
Determine the most appropriate design solution for each location.

At NextRoad, we conduct on-site road safety audits and assessments: photographic and video surveys, analysis of visibility and site conditions, and identification of non-compliance issues at crosswalks. We also provide design recommendations tailored to each site’s layout and the local government’s operational constraints.

Our goal is to transform this regulatory requirement into a clear action plan. This plan is prioritized according to the actual level of risk. It can then be used directly by technical departments and elected officials.

Finally, how should the removed crosswalks be redesigned?

For some municipalities, the number of parking spaces affected may be significant. This is particularly the case in downtown areas, shopping streets, and areas near schools. It also applies to dense residential zones or areas already subject to space constraints.

But this change can also serve as a catalyst for improving the quality of life. The freed-up spaces can be repurposed for uses that do not obstruct visibility:

For example, bicycle racks
Parking for bicycles and personal mobility devices
Low-growing vegetation
Sidewalk extensions
More clearly defined waiting areas for pedestrians
Appropriate street furniture, provided it does not obstruct visibility

Therefore, the issue of parking isn’t going away—it’s shifting. It calls on local governments to organize road use more carefully, taking into account the needs of residents, businesses, delivery services, people with limited mobility, and active transportation modes.

In conclusion

In conclusion, bringing crosswalks into compliance with the LOM is not merely an administrative requirement: it is a road safety measure that addresses a well-documented pattern of accidents. Planning ahead for this deadline as part of your roadwork projects allows you to address this requirement methodically rather than under pressure, and to turn it into a real opportunity to improve safety for all road users.

L’article LOM Law: Bringing Crosswalks into Compliance est apparu en premier sur NextRoad.

Roudesse Viaduct: NextRoad at the Heart of the RN88 Project

Amélie VOGT — Mon, 27 Apr 2026 08:33:41 +0000

Roudesse Viaduct: NextRoad at the Heart of the RN88 Project

The Roudesse Viaduct, located near Saint-Hostien (43), marks a major milestone in the modernization of the RN88, a strategic highway connecting Lyon (69) to Toulouse (31).

In this context, NextRoad participated in the groundbreaking ceremony for this major project on Friday, April 17, 2026, marking the start of a project that has been anticipated for several decades to improve traffic safety and flow in the Massif Central.

A major project for Route 88

Led by the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Region, the RN88 bypass between Saint-Hostien and Le Pertuis is a major infrastructure project for the region that has been long awaited.

Specifically, this project includes:

10.7 km of a four-lane highway
improved safety on a road prone to accidents
smoother traffic flow
reduced disturbances for local residents

Today, nearly 15,000 vehicles per day, including many heavy trucks, still pass through the affected town centers.

As reported by several local media outlets, this project has been eagerly awaited for many years by local elected officials and residents (source: local press, L’Éveil de la Haute-Loire).

The Roudesse Viaduct: a key structure of the project

At the heart of this project, the Roudesse Viaduct will span the valley, with traffic flowing toward Le Puy-en-Velay (43) in one direction and toward Saint-Étienne (42) in the other, in order to:

Improve safety on a stretch of road known for its high accident rate
Improve traffic flow
Reduce noise and environmental pollution for local residents
Enhance the economic and regional appeal of the Haute-Loire

The structure will be approximately 250 to 280 meters long, depending on the direction of traffic, and will reach a height of up to 25 meters.

Furthermore, the structure is designed to minimize its impact on the landscape and the environment, while meeting performance and sustainability requirements.

A collaborative project involving many stakeholders

This project involves numerous public and private stakeholders:

Project Owner: Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Region

Project Managers: Ingérop, GEOS, AEI

Construction contractors: Campenon Bernard Centre Est, GAGNE, Terélian

Numerous engineering firms and specialized companies are also participating in the project (VERDI, SGI, Briva Structure, etc.), illustrating the technical complexity of this structure.

NextRoad, the project's technical partner

More specifically, NextRoad acts as a technical consultant for initial checks and inspections throughout the entire project.

These services begin in the earliest phases of the project, with the aim of ensuring that structures and infrastructure comply with regulatory and technical requirements, in collaboration with the various parties involved in the construction site.

The tasks carried out by NextRoad include:

inspection of materials and structures
verification of the compliance of structures under construction
inspection of critical elements related to infrastructure safety

These operations are essential for anticipating technical risks and ensuring the overall quality of the project from the outset.

On a large-scale infrastructure project such as the RN88, there are multiple challenges:

user safety
long-term performance of structures
resistance to environmental stresses

NextRoad’s involvement helps ensure the safety of every stage of the project by providing independent and rigorous expertise on the condition and quality of the work.

A multi-year implementation schedule

The project is part of a phased plan that includes:

preparatory work
earthwork phases
construction of engineering structures

Full operation will begin after several years of construction.

Why this project is strategic for the region

The modernization of Route 88, and in particular the construction of the Roudesse Viaduct, is part of a long-term regional development strategy. This major transportation corridor plays a key role in the balance and development of the Massif Central.

A long-awaited improvement in access to the Haute-Loire

The Haute-Loire remains a relatively isolated region, with travel times that can sometimes be a hindrance for both daily commutes and economic exchanges.

The upgrade of the RN88 aims to improve the region’s accessibility by facilitating connections to major urban centers such as Saint-Étienne and Lyon.

Its gradual expansion to a four-lane highway enhances the continuity of traffic flow, particularly for freight transport.

On a national scale, this type of infrastructure helps better organize trade between regions by offering an efficient alternative to major highway routes.

A catalyst for local economic development

Improving accessibility and traffic flow directly contributes to:

business establishment
the development of business parks
the attractiveness of rural areas

By reducing transportation constraints, the project helps strengthen the economic competitiveness of the Haute-Loire, in line with the regional development policies promoted by the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Region.

A tangible improvement in the quality of life

Beyond the economic implications, rerouting the RN88 will significantly reduce the negative impacts on the town centers it currently passes through.

Today, traffic—particularly heavy trucks—causes:

noise
pollution
road safety hazards

Rerouting traffic to a dedicated route will result in:

a reduction in traffic through village centers
improved safety for residents
a better quality of daily life

Furthermore, these benefits are regularly highlighted in impact studies and public surveys conducted under the auspices of DREAL Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes.

L’article Roudesse Viaduct: NextRoad at the Heart of the RN88 Project est apparu en premier sur NextRoad.