Louis Sarkozy called for the removal of traffic lights, road markings, and signs to increase driver accountability. He cited examples from Europe, noting that the number of accidents decreased after traffic lights were simplified or eliminated.
On December 3, the son of former French President Nicolas Sarkozy commented on the results of a new study by VINCI Autoroutes on RMC radio. The study revealed widespread traffic violations among road users across Europe. The fifth study surveyed 12,000 Europeans, including 2,400 French citizens. The study found that 58% of French drivers fail to use turn signals, 40% of cyclists admit to running red lights, and 70% of pedestrians run red lights.
”The solution, as everywhere, is to give more freedom, not to restrict it,” Sarkozy said in his home studio in Menton, where he often makes his comments. “What really ruins drivers is dependence.”
Sarkozy advocated “a radical simplification of roads: the elimination of traffic lights, road markings, and signs. In short: making citizens responsible for their own driving, rather than relying solely on traffic regulations.”
This concept is inspired by the “naked road” idea, first proposed by Dutch engineer Hans Mundmann, which exploits people’s fear of other road users to increase driver alertness and caution. According to Le Figaro, Sarkozy believes that without traffic lights, drivers will slow down, pay closer attention to road conditions, and better anticipate situations.
”Look at the survey results: 95% of road users fear the actions of others. Open roads exploit this fear,” he said. “When there are no pedestrian crossings, traffic lights, or white markings, everyone becomes more attentive, citizens take responsibility, and what researchers call an ‘implicit dialogue between participants’ emerges. Their level of caution increases two to three times.”
Sarkozy cited the example of Drachten, Netherlands, where traffic accidents reportedly fell by 40% after traffic lights were removed. He also claimed that accidents on Kensington High Street in London fell by 44% within three years of simplifying the traffic light system.
This philosophy differs significantly from traffic regulations in major French cities. “When people take responsibility, they naturally slow down, become more focused, and be more generous,” Sarkozy said. “It’s the complete opposite of the bureaucratic authoritarianism in Paris: you increase freedom, and you see improved behavior.”
He acknowledged the limitation: “The only real problem with these ‘naked roads’ seems to be that they are not very user-friendly for the elderly and visually impaired, but that’s about it.”
A study conducted by the VINCI Autoroutes foundation shows that nearly half of European road fatalities occur among vulnerable groups such as pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists. The foundation’s research reveals a significant gap between traffic regulations and actual behavior: a significant proportion of road users admit to breaking traffic rules.
Sarkozy’s proposal stands in stark contrast to current road safety policy in France, which increasingly relies on automated traffic control systems, lower speed limits, and expanded traffic light coverage. The “naked road” concept has been implemented internationally on a limited scale, primarily in residential areas and city centers, rather than on major roads or highways.
This approach remains controversial among road safety experts. Supporters point to a reduction in accidents on experimental sections, while critics question its applicability in busy areas and express concerns about vulnerable road users, including the elderly, the visually impaired, and children.
Post time: May-09-2026