Speed regulations on French roads continue to evolve: after several lowering of speed limits in 2024, notably on the Paris ring road (which increased to 50 km/h at the beginning of October) and certain motorways around large cities (110 km/h instead of 130), the trend towards reducing maximum authorized speeds seems to continue.
70 km/h on national and departmental roads
Indeed, according to our colleagues atAuto Plusthe government would consider generalize the limit to 70 km/h on certain national and departmental roads, particularly in areas of high environmental value or heavily populated. This measure would aim to preserve local ecosystems and reduce pollution in these sensitive regions. In urban areas, experimenting with 30 km/h zones in several large cities such as Paris, Grenoble and Lille could also extend to other cities, or even spread to all city centers in France.
To reduce speed-related accidents, a major technological change is also expected with the introduction of intelligent speed limiters on all vehicles, while they have already been compulsory on new vehicles since July 2024. These devices are able to read traffic signs and can automatically adapt the vehicle’s speed to stay within limits.
These developments give rise to lively debates: if the authorities emphasize road safety, the reduction of CO2 emissions and the improvement of the quality of urban life, many motorists express their dissatisfaction and fear a loss of time and productivity. The year 2025 therefore promises to be a pivotal period for drivers’ adaptation to these new regulations, which are reshaping the French road landscape over the years.
