“It's a great feeling before you start your journey again.”

Five hundred. That's how many kilometres separate Perpignan from Nice. Not a distance to cover in one go while driving. As responsible people, Pierre and Brigitte are naturally aware of this. This Catalan couple are fans of regular breaks, which we generally take every two hours.

This Friday, he dedicated himself to the crafts by taking a moment to take a siesta, during his second stop of the day, in the Sainte-Victoire motorway area, near Rousset, after having stopped for the first time a short while before Nîmes and passing by the La Barque number, towards Nice. The location was all the more suitable for this because it had facilities entirely dedicated to relaxation.

Like nine other areas of the Vinci Autoroutes network, this one is equipped accordingly, including deck chairs, lounge chairs and, above all, large soft cushions that are real invitations to a small, conciliatory nap between two sections of the journey. Pierre and Brigitte allowed themselves to be tempted and did not regret it.They appreciate that it allows you to recover. A device like this is really a great idea.“

We are indebted to the Vinci Autoroutes Foundation, which has been working for about ten years to raise awareness among drivers about the risks of falling asleep at the wheel. Alongside the recurring prevention campaigns, infrastructures specifically dedicated to taking advantage of essential rest periods, Fridays (11am – 5pm) and Saturdays (9.30am – 3.30pm), continue to be deployed in July and August, during the usual periods of heavy traffic on the motorways.

Like Pierre and Brigitte, Elsa knew how to take advantage of this. After leaving Gignac, in Hérault, around 9 a.m., with her two children and her mother, she took a short nap, just before noon, with her children, soothed by the voice of a psychologist broadcasting in a podcast whose symbol must have flashed. On site, in the nap area.

“Without feeling too tired, you need to know how to rest.“It was an hour and 30 minutes away from Bormes-les-Mimosas, her family's vacation spot,” Elsa noted. It is advisable. Especially with the heat. In these temperatures, we tend to fall asleep without really realizing it. And this is where it becomes dangerous. Even if it is a short layover, you will feel good before resuming your journey. It allows you to relax.“

Others do it without necessarily lying on comfortable pillows. Because the Vinci Foundation has also planned educational courses focusing on the environment or fire risk prevention. In addition to the nap kit, including an eye mask and earplugs, books are provided in partnership with a publishing house.

There are many initiatives that also contribute to the welcome relaxation of the cautious itinerary.