French stiffen road safety after weekend accident

The French government introduced tougher road safety measures and said existing rules would be more strictly enforced after a weekend highway accident which killed 53 people.

The Cabinet said it decided to reduce to four hours from five the length of time drivers of public transit vehicles can be at the wheel without a break. Checks on speed limits, minimum distances between vehicles, and vehicle passing for all drivers will be tightened in France. Motorists caught breaking the rules face higher fines.

The funeral of 44 children, killed in a bus accident near Beaune in cental France, took place Tuesday.