For the past few weeks, people have been fed up with a yellow safety vest on the dashboard. How and why this safety accessory has become the symbol of their discontent? Explanations.
Everyone does not have a red cap on hand like in 2013 during the discontent against the Ecotax in Brittany. By cons, throughout France, motorists have a yellow vest with reflective tape, and for good reason, this accessory is mandatory in a car since 2015.
It is for this very simple reason that this road safety equipment has become the symbol of the challenge of fuel prices. To show its support for the blockages of roads scheduled for November 17, it is sufficient to place it on the dashboard or on the rear shelf of the vehicle so that it is clearly visible.
All started from a call on Facebook to call for a snail operation that took place on November 2 in the Jura. To find their way between protesters, the organizers asked to put their yellow vest in a showy way. This safety accessory is now a sign of recognition of all those who dispute the rise in fuel prices, but also the set of reforms aimed at motorists.
A fine for the apology of terrorism?
Now, it’s the cry of rallying on social networks, including Twitter. But, becoming a social phenomenon, the vest has created many rumors as the release. The most recurrent is from Word Press, a parody site that has launched a yellow vest on its dashboard is considered by law as a call for revolt and an apology for terrorism. For this, the contestants would risk a fine of 150 euro.
Another rumor dismounted by Check News, a threat of the police against the protesters of November 17. The false information is part of a post on Facebook that broadcast the screenshot of a BFMTV show where we see Richard, Director of the National Gendarmerie, that the blockage is a barrier to traffic punished by the Traffic Laws. “Offenders are warned,” said the soldier. Contacted by Check News, the Ministry of the Interior confirms that no communication on this subject has been made.
Like any symbol, the vest which made of reflective fabric also has its opponents. On social networks, the hash tag # sansmoile17 tries to impose itself by calling not to participate in the blocking by explaining that the extreme right is at the maneuver in the operation yellow vest. But, according to a survey, published on November 1, the mobilization of November 17 is justified for 3/4 of respondents.