In response to the fatal accident on July 7th on the Promenade des Anglais, law enforcement conducted an extensive road check two days later. It was repeated this Wednesday. Laurent Hottiaux, the prefect of Alpes-Maritimes, took the opportunity to announce new measures.
Second large-scale check within seven days, following the one on July 9th. Last night, around 10 PM, law enforcement covered the area of the Promenade des Anglais in both directions until midnight. After a 15-minute briefing in front of the Sheraton Hotel, police officers were stationed at two strategic locations, previously selected last week: the Sheraton Hotel and Terminal 1 of the airport.
At the same time, the prefect and prosecutor reviewed the first two quarters of 2025. In order to achieve increasingly conclusive results, the latter made a major announcement.
Detention for major speeding offenses
This is the key measure announced by the public prosecutor, present for this road check. “A directive has been given to the police services. It is extremely clear: all individuals caught speeding over 50 km/h on the Promenade des Anglais will be placed in custody systematically. It is extremely clear: driving over 100 km/h in this area shows a disregard for the lives of others. This directive will be enforced starting tonight. We will be relentless.”
In the first quarter of 2025, prosecutions for traffic offenses increased by 30% compared to 2024. From 2023 to 2025, this figure increased by 45%.
Laurent Hottiaux: “A message of firmness”
“Firmness”: this is what the prefect of Alpes-Maritimes, alongside the prosecutor, repeatedly stated. This firmness is demonstrated by the intensification of checks conducted by the gendarmerie and national and municipal police. “We have quadrupled the number of driving license suspensions in recent months. It’s a message of firmness. Since the beginning of the year, 23 people have died in the department, including four here on the Promenade des Anglais,” he begins. Although this number reached 30 last year over the same period, law enforcement does not intend to ease up.
While dozens of officers carry out checks of multiple vehicles, Laurent Hottiaux gives an update. “In addition to the 59 radars placed throughout the department, we will add three more starting in September. These are not radars to make money but to protect our citizens.” To accompany the radar positioned at 105 Boulevard de Magnan, the next two will also be placed in Nice: one on the Promenade des Anglais, the other at the western exit of the Matisse road. “Here, what kills is speed, alcohol, and drugs. Exemplary sanctions will be applied,” he states.
Uncompromising officers
It is precisely 10:05 PM when the operation begins. A first van is stopped, and the process can start: checking vehicle documents, breathalyzer test… Nothing is overlooked.
This Wednesday, Laurent Hottiaux was able to test the twin radar. It sends a laser beam towards a given vehicle. Then, the return speed of the beam is measured. Law enforcement can therefore obtain the vehicle’s speed with precision. “69 km/h! The white car!” exclaims Laurent Hottiaux. In a flash, two police motorcycles surround the driver in question. Walkie-talkie in hand, an officer alerts his colleague, who intercepts the vehicle a few meters ahead.
Direct actions in the field and a predefined strategy. An ambitious plan of attack for the national and municipal police. In 2025, the road accident figures in Alpes-Maritimes are quite encouraging. From January 1st to July 10th (compared to the same period in 2024), there were 369 bodily accidents compared to 392 in 2024. The only downside: while the number of injuries has decreased (475 compared to 527, a decrease of nearly 10%), there are more serious injuries in 2025 (169 compared to 154).
