A motorist accidentally hit and killed a protester taking part in a campaign of road blockades across France on Saturday, interior minister Christophe Castaner has said.

The campaign, organised by a group who call themselves the “gilets jaunes” (yellow vests), is the latest challenge to embattled president Emmanuel Macron, triggered by opposition to rising fuel taxes.

At a blockade in Savoie, a driver reportedly panicked after seeing protesters barring the way and accelerated, hitting and killing a woman demonstrator, according to Mr Castaner.

The woman was reportedly trying to take her daughter to a doctor and panicked when protesters surrounded her car.

The yellow vests organised the grassroots campaign on social media and have said they are not part of any political party or organisation.

One Facebook page for the campaign, “Blocage 17 Novembre 2018”, has over 28,000 followers.

The group’s name and clothing comes from a French law which states all motorists must carry hi-vis safety vests in their vehicles in case of a breakdown.

Protestors are objecting to the French government's decision to raise fuel taxes, at a time when fuel costs are already increasing.

Diesel prices have risen by 16 per cent this year from an average of €1.24 per litre to €1.48, according to UFIP, France’s oil industry union.

Critics of Mr Macron have said the taxes will hit people in small towns and rural areas with poor public transport and show his government is out-of-touch with the needs of ordinary French workers.

Abel Ouali, a protester at one of the blockades, told France’s Le Monde newspaper: “Enough is enough. I have €150 of fuel per month to get to work, with a small salary.

“It weighs heavily on my budget. I am waiting for the government to hear us and lower the price of fuel.”

Mr Macron’s government believe the taxes are necessary for the country’s long-term environmental policy to transition away from fossil fuels.

Ministers have also said rises in the cost of diesel and petrol are mainly due to increases in the global wholesale price of oil.

A poll by Elabe on Wednesday found 73 per cent of French people approve of the campaign and 70 per cent believe the government should abandon the fuel tax rise.

Le Monde reported 50,000 protesters were participating in the road blockade campaign at more than 1,000 rallies on Saturday morning.

In a separate protest, ambulances disrupted Paris’ main ring road earlier this month and briefly blocked the Champs-Élysées on Friday to object to new rules on ambulance financing.