Safety
Personnel training
Nearly 300 people work to ensure safety along the motorway and in the tunnel every day.
The training and skills of ATMB staff are a key part of the company’s safety policy. In 2008, the training budget for the motorway and the tunnel was 930 400 euros. A significant part of this was spent on safety training - for example in first aid, coping with stress and driving on slippery surfaces.
The training programme also included four exercises in the Mont Blanc Tunnel and one exercise in the Vuache Tunnel to train teams in dealing with emergency situations.
Continuous and sustained investment
ATMB has a continuous investment programme to modernise infrastructures and improve facilities.
Modernization, renovation and maintenance
Over €28m will be invested in 2009: 18.8km of new surfacing to be laid between the Vuache Tunnel and the Bellegarde viaduct, to improve tyre grip and enhance driver comfort. These supplement the activity of the teams on the ground round the clock by displaying traffic conditions. 6km of crash barriers will be renewed as well, to maximize driver protection in the event of accidents. In addition to all this work, ATMB staff will be deployed on the upkeep of the facilities (especially the Vuache Tunnel) and in checking all plant and machinery; they will also be looking after the 275 hectares of verge and countryside.
Video camera
14 video cameras will be deployed, bringing the total along the motorway to 108.
Mont Blanc Tunnel Mont Blanc Tunnel staff have had further training in rescue/first aid, handling stress, and incident management, using a 3D simulator.
In addition to this, ATMB and SITMB jointly invested 380 million euros between 2000 and 2002 refurbishing the Mont Blanc Tunnel.
The Mont Blanc Tunnel video
> see video
Research In 2003 ATMB set up an applied research programme to gain better insights into user behaviour. It is being conducted in conjunction with Rhône-Alpes Motorways (AREA) and the French Fréjus Road Tunnel Company (SFTRF). More than 600 people have been interviewed.
Raising driver awareness
Motorists and commercial drivers have a key role to play in road safety. That is what makes ATMB’s driver awareness campaigns so important. In 2008, key subjects covered were drink-driving, safety for emergency response teams and wearing a seat-belt. ATMB has also written a guide on the specific issues related to driving on the motorway and in tunnels, in partnership with the driving organisation “Codes Rousseau”.
Pre-drivers’training Since 2007, ATMB has been developing close relationships with driving schools in the Haute-Savoie and Ain regions, with the aim of influencing the training of new drivers. The principle is to allow the Autoroute Blanche to be used for free during driving lessons. At the start of 2009, 828 information packs were distributed to driving schools in the Ain and Haute-Savoie regions.
Guided tours of the Mont Blanc Guided tours of the Mont Blanc Tunnel attracted more than 1,500 people in 2008 and helped to develop greater knowledge of the safety features and the right way to behave in the tunnel. Since 2004, ATMB has also opened its doors to several hundred young trainees to give them a behind-the-scenes look at the way the motorway works and raise awareness of road safety.