Road tunnel safety regulations

French and European road tunnel safety regulations

• European Directive 2004/54/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 on minimum safety requirements for tunnels on the Trans-European Road Network

• French Decree of 26 March 2024 defining technical references relating to the continuity of radio communications in road, rail and river tunnels for public services involved in civil safety missions.

• Consolidated version dated 22 January 2016 of all legislative and regulatory texts on road tunnel safety

• French Decree No. 2016-38 of 22 January 2016 on the National Commission for the Assessment of Road Infrastructure Safety

• French Decree of 7 May 2012 supplementing the list of tunnels over 500 metres long in the trans-European road network

• French Order of 25 June 2009 amending the order of 24 November 1967 on road and motorway signage.

• French Circular of 12 June 2009 on the establishment of safety assessments for road tunnels longer than 300 metres.

• French Decree of 11 February 2008 amending the interministerial directive on road signage

• French Decree of 9 November 2007 amending the decree of 8 November 2006 setting the minimum safety requirements applicable to tunnels longer than 500 metres on the trans-European network

• French Decree of 18 April 2007 implementing the provisions of Articles R.118-3-9 and R.118-4-4 of the Highway Code and relating to the composition and updating of preliminary documentation and safety documentation and the reporting of significant incidents and accidents

• French Decree of 8 November 2006 establishing the minimum safety requirements applicable to road tunnels longer than 500 metres on the trans-European network

• French Decree No. 2006-1354 of 8 November 2006 on the safety of road network structures and amending the Highway Code

• French Interministerial Circular 2006-20 of 29 March 2006 on the safety of road tunnels longer than 300 metres

• French Decree No. 2006-165 of 10 February 2006 on radio communications for emergency services operating in road, rail or river infrastructure or in certain categories of establishments open to the public, and amending the Building and Housing Code

• French Law 2006-10 of 5 January 2006 on transport safety and development (Article 10 concerns road tunnels)

• French Decree No. 2005-701 of 24 June 2005 on the safety of road network structures - amended by Decree 2006-1354 of 8 November 2006

• French Law No. 2002-3 of 3 January 2002 on the safety of transport infrastructure and systems, technical investigations following maritime events, land or air transport accidents or incidents, and the underground storage of natural gas, hydrocarbons and chemicals

• French Interministerial Circular No. 2000-82 of 30 November 2000 on the regulation of traffic carrying dangerous goods in road tunnels on the national network

• French Technical directive on safety provisions in new road tunnels (design and operation) - remains in force

• Appendix 1: Procedure prior to the commissioning of tunnels on the national road network and procedures for monitoring their operation - replaced by French Circular 2006-20

• French Interministerial Circular No. 2000-63 of 25 August 2000 on safety in tunnels on the national road network - replaced by Circular 2006-20