Train drivers are being evaluated in trials of moisture-wicking, cooling vests as a means to combat heat stress during operations.
Paris Transport Authority Equips Drivers with Cooling Vests Amidst Extreme Heatwave
As France grapples with an intense and prolonged heatwave, the public transport authority in Paris, RATP, has taken measures to ensure the comfort and safety of its drivers. The authority has invested in cooling vests, a technology designed to keep the body cool during high temperatures.
Bus, train, and metro drivers are especially affected by the high temperatures, with some lines not being air-conditioned. To combat this, RATP provides drivers with water bottles, cooling vests, and maintains ventilation equipment on trains.
The cooling vests, equipped with technology that keeps the body cool through their moisture, provide a temperature drop of 5 to 8°C compared to the ambient temperature. Tewfik, a RATP driver, soaks his vest in water before each shift during the summer. He found the vests to be effective, feeling a coolness spreading through his body after putting them on. The vests absorb water and evaporate it to create coolness without wetting the wearer.
If the tests are successful, RATP is considering making these vests available to all drivers next summer. Olivier Dehaene, the line 13 terminus manager, states that the vests reinforce existing measures for drivers. Tewfik, who initially had reservations about the vests, fearing they would make him feel wet or damp, found this not to be the case.
The current heatwave in France affects 14 departments in the southwest and east-central regions, with a large part of the country under orange alert. This heatwave is being compared to the historic 2003 heatwave in several aspects.
The 2003 heatwave, known for being a singular, extreme event at the time, set a precedent for future heatwaves but was not as long-lasting as some recent ones. On the other hand, the 2025 heatwave is the second longest heatwave ever recorded in August in France, highlighting its prolonged duration.
Temperatures have reached as high as 42.3°C in some areas during the 2025 heatwave, surpassing previous records in places and demonstrating increased intensity. In comparison, the 2003 heatwave saw temperatures often exceeding 40°C across Western Europe, including France.
The heatwave in France is part of a broader trend affecting southern Europe, with extensive wildfires and heat-related issues across the region. In contrast, the 2003 heatwave was a localized severe event primarily impacting Western Europe, including France, Italy, Spain, and others.
Overall, while the 2003 heatwave was unprecedented for its time, the recent heatwaves are more frequent, longer in duration, and often more intense due to climate change. The cooling vests, therefore, serve as a necessary measure to ensure the comfort and safety of RATP drivers during these extreme conditions.
[1] Météo France, "Le deuxième plus longue canicule d'août enregistrée en France," 2025. [2] European Climate Assessment & Dataset (ECAD), "2003 Heatwave," n.d. [3] World Meteorological Organization, "2003 European Heatwave," n.d. [4] European Union Earth Observation Programme, "Heatwave and Drought in Southern Europe," n.d. [5] Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, "Climate Change 2018: Global Warming of 1.5°C," 2018.
Fitness-and-exercise are important for RATP drivers to maintain their endurance and health-and-wellness in the challenging working conditions during heatwaves. As a result, Tewfik, a RATP driver, mentioned that he soaks his cooling vest in water before each shift, which helps him stay cool.
To increase workplace-wellness and prevent heat-related issues among drivers, RATP is considering making cooling vests available to all drivers next summer. These vests, designed to keep the body cool through moisture, provide a temperature drop of 5 to 8°C compared to the ambient temperature, proving effective in maintaining driver comfort and safety during extreme heatwaves.
