400,000km of French roads now with lower speed limit
Fulfilling a commitment made by the French government made earlier this year, all two-lane roads in the country with no separating guard rail have had its default speed limit lowered from the current 90kph to 80kph since 1 July 2018. As a result, 40 per cent of the French road network or roughly 400,000km are affected by the change.
There are a few reasons for the French authorities to do this, but mostly due to the fact that 55 per cent of fatal accidents in France happen on two-lane roads with no guard rail in between. The government hopes to prevent 350 to 400 deaths annually with the lower speed limit.
France is following the lead of other European countries with the best safety records. This includes Sweden which has an even lower speed limit of 70kph on similar roads and has 25 road deaths per million inhabitants. Countries with a limit of 80kph includes Norway with 20 deaths per million inhabitants, Switzerland (27), Denmark (32), and the Netherlands (36). Currently France records 53 deaths per million inhabitants.
Unsurprisingly, the decision to lower the speed limit was not a popular one. One poll showed that 74 per cent of responders were against it, citing Emmanuel Macron as the “president for the rich”, and that the new rule is an easy way to fill state coffers with speeding fines.
The government responded by initiating a campaign saying that the new limit would only add a few minutes of travelling time – a 10 kilometre trip would take 45 seconds more, for example; and two added minutes for 25km. The other benefit is that it will reduce fuel consumption, with a claim of up to €120 less per year.
