Accident on the Rampe de Laffrey (1975)
Encyclopedia
In an accident on the Rampe de Laffrey on April 2, 1975, 29 pilgrim
s from Sully-sur-Loire
in Loiret
were killed when their bus
lost its brake
s at the bottom of the road
, causing it to fly over a ravine at a speed estimated at 120 kilometers an hour; it then crashed into a garden
and overturned. The accident came on the heels of one in 1973
that killed 43, and was very similar to one that occurred along the same road in 1946
, killing 18.
As a result of this crash, more careful regulation of electronic braking systems was instituted across France
, as were annual inspections of heavy vehicles.
Pilgrim
A pilgrim is a traveler who is on a journey to a holy place. Typically, this is a physical journeying to some place of special significance to the adherent of a particular religious belief system...
s from Sully-sur-Loire
Sully-sur-Loire
Sully-sur-Loire is a commune in the Loiret department in north-central France.-Castle:The château of Sully-sur-Loire dates from the end of the 14th century and is a prime example of medieval fortress. It was built at a strategic crossing of the Loire river...
in Loiret
Loiret
Loiret is a department in north-central FranceThe department is named after the river Loiret, a tributary of the Loire. The Loiret is located wholly within the department.- History :...
were killed when their bus
Bus
A bus is a road vehicle designed to carry passengers. Buses can have a capacity as high as 300 passengers. The most common type of bus is the single-decker bus, with larger loads carried by double-decker buses and articulated buses, and smaller loads carried by midibuses and minibuses; coaches are...
lost its brake
Brake
A brake is a mechanical device which inhibits motion. Its opposite component is a clutch. The rest of this article is dedicated to various types of vehicular brakes....
s at the bottom of the road
Rampe de Laffrey
The Rampe de Laffrey is a section of France's Route nationale 85, today called the Route Napoléon, located in the department of Isère between the communes of Laffrey and Vizille, about fifteen kilometers southeast of Grenoble...
, causing it to fly over a ravine at a speed estimated at 120 kilometers an hour; it then crashed into a garden
Garden
A garden is a planned space, usually outdoors, set aside for the display, cultivation, and enjoyment of plants and other forms of nature. The garden can incorporate both natural and man-made materials. The most common form today is known as a residential garden, but the term garden has...
and overturned. The accident came on the heels of one in 1973
Accident on the Rampe de Laffrey (1973)
The accident on the Rampe de Laffrey on July 18, 1973 remains, , the worst to ever have occurred along that stretch of roadway, among the worst in France...
that killed 43, and was very similar to one that occurred along the same road in 1946
Accident on the Rampe de Laffrey (1946)
The 1946 accident on the Rampe de Laffrey was the first in a string of fatal accidents along a stretch of road which has been claimed as one of the deadliest in France...
, killing 18.
As a result of this crash, more careful regulation of electronic braking systems was instituted across France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, as were annual inspections of heavy vehicles.