Cocaine behind the wheel of a school bus: investigation into Alpes-Maritimes drivers
A school bus driver in Alpes-Maritimes appeared in court under the influence of cocaine whilst transporting dozens of pupils. Le Figaro has uncovered a series of concerning incidents.
Alpes-Maritimes buses: drivers under the influence of drugs, incidents multiplying
A school bus driver appeared before the Nice criminal court in January 2026, after driving under the influence of cocaine a vehicle carrying his 16-year-old daughter and several dozen of her classmates. This is what Le Figaro reveals in an investigation into drivers of the Lignes d'Azur network, the transport authority for the Nice-Côte d'Azur metropolis.
The young girl's father, Sébastien, presented himself at the bar not as a civil party, but to express his astonishment. "You should never have driven this bus," he said to the defendant, employed for barely a year by a contractor operating on the network. The driver observed the scene from the defendant's box.
"The transport company is not doing what it should," continued the father. "There are not enough regular checks. And I must be able to trust people I pay to transport my children safely."
This episode is not an isolated case. According to Le Figaro, several similar incidents occurred a few months apart in the department. A few days before the hearing, another driver, reported as being fatigued, allegedly handed over the wheel to a third party during the route.
The situation is causing concern both among users and professionals in the sector. The strengthening of checks implemented in recent months has not been sufficient to stop the series of incidents, according to the investigation. Local authorities and those responsible for the transport network have not yet made any public statement on the corrective measures being considered.
Source: Le Figaro