Saint-Tropez issues a decree to ban the circulation of VTCs from outside the region in its city center

Firmness in response to congestion. The text fell like a bombshell. The mayor of Saint-Tropez, Sylvie Siri, signed a decree regulating the circulation of VTC (private transport vehicles) in the village during the summer.

It establishes a traffic restriction zone which affects the avenues Foch, Paul-Signac, Paul-Roussel, the boulevards Louis-Blanc and Vasserot, and all the port quays.

Access to these roads is authorized from June 15 to October 15, only for VTCs in the region and those with temporary authorization granted by the town hall after submission of an application.

The first version of the decree, which had only exempted professionals in the Var region from these new rules, was rejected on Tuesday after an appeal. The document was reformulated to include all professionals in the Paca region and will come into force again on Wednesday.

The aim of this measure is to address a public safety issue and control illegal activities. The city council, which has been targeted by several appeals and legal proceedings, has no intention of giving up.

" If the text is rejected, we'll create another one. We can't give up, especially not now, " maintains the director general of services, Benoit Ravix, with the recent accident that caused a stir in the village in mind.

An elderly woman was knocked down by a VTC while crossing a pedestrian crossing on Friday, June 27, before succumbing to her injuries the following day.

Lack of professionalism

" There's so much pressure to make money. Some are on their phones, not looking at the road. The goal isn't to stop VTCs from working, but to limit these abuses and ensure safety, " continues the municipal official . A section of the profession itself is sounding the alarm, denouncing the amateurism of some of their colleagues. "There's a lack of skill and professionalism. In the Gulf of Saint-Tropez, which receives 135,000 visitors per day in summer, you need to have quick reflexes and a certain skill. This isn't just any job; we have the lives of passengers in our hands ," emphasizes Sabrina Sabena, president of the VTC Union 83-06.

The Var president of the French VTC Federation, Patrick Ciocca, even denounces criminal practices: " There are cards being purchased or falsified, some don't even have insurance. We're invaded on the Côte d'Azur in the summer. They are faithless and lawless and are raiding everywhere. " Because legally, a VTC is not allowed to drive or park on the road looking for customers. The driver must return to his establishment after completing a mission unless another order is waiting for him later.

The town hall, however, acknowledges the weaknesses of its measure: " When you restrict freedoms, it's difficult because there is a risk of discrimination. "

And this is precisely the reason that the Association of Independent Drivers of Lyon has chosen to file an application with the administrative court.

" The law allows us to freely practice our profession throughout the country. In other seasonal professions, there is no such restriction. We don't prohibit a waiter from Lyon, for example, from going to work in Saint-Tropez ," explains President Mehdi Mejeri.

More controls

To enforce its decision, the city hall will increase inspections in collaboration with the gendarmerie. Mehdi Mejeri also denounces this as undue pressure: " We are demanding a clean-up of our profession, but not in this way. Other professions are not subject to such scrutiny."

This appeal resulted in the rejection of the first order and the union promises to continue its fight as long as the town hall maintains its sectorization.

" We have the resources and the justice system on our side. If the city council didn't agree with the court's decision to reject the case, it could have appealed, but it preferred to issue a new text. We see this as an attempt to clog up the courts. And if they continue like this, they're exposing themselves to a substantive attack ," explains legal officer Ali Sabri.

National Reform

This decision is the result of an " unbearable level of pressure ," described by the town hall and confirmed by figures provided by Uber. 500,000 people used the app in 2024 in Saint-Tropez, a 48% increase between the summer of 2023 and 2024.

" Since the post-Covid period, there has been an increase in the range of customers and a growth in the number of American tourists who are fans of ordering platforms ," ​​analyzes Benoit Ravix.

While opinions vary between Southerners and those from outside, they are unanimous on one point: there are too many VTCs in circulation.

" The number of drivers is growing and incomes are decreasing, so we are doomed to become nomads. We need a pay increase. It's precariousness that brings so many people here in the summer, " warns Sabrina Sabena. " We need bold, global measures, not local actions. We should freeze exams," suggests Ali Sabri.

Professionals also blame platforms that facilitate access to the profession with online training courses costing 20 euros compared to an average of 1,000 euros via traditional channels.

For the sector leader, Uber, this abundance of drivers would be insufficient compared to the demand in Saint-Tropez: " Nearly one in four trip requests were not fulfilled during the summer of 2024 due to a lack of drivers. We are convinced that the VTC offer is beneficial to the attractiveness of the region. We have therefore contacted the town hall and the prefecture to request the withdrawal of this decree. "