After lowering the speed to 80 km/h on the roads of France and 50 km/h on the Paris ring road, the Government is preparing new limits for 2025.
In 2025, the roads of France could well experience a new upheaval if we are to believe the forecasts of Auto Plus magazine. After several reforms in 2024, the most notable of which was the lowering of the maximum speed on the Paris ring road to 50 km/h, the debate on speed seems far from over. If some motorists rail against longer journeys, the authorities are pursuing several objectives with these reductions: saving lives, reducing air pollution and reducing noise for local residents. But what to expect for 2025?
For road safety advocates, the main argument remains the reduction of accidents. Reducing speed helps reduce the severity of collisions and increases driver reaction time. This is why several cities such as Paris, Lille or Grenoble have already adopted a limit of 30 km/h in their city centers, with rather positive results. The year 2025 could well see this measure become widespread in other cities, or even in entire urban areas. Difficult for motorists to get used to, but the benefits in terms of safety and quality of life seem undeniable.
National and departmental roads could also experience a radical change. The authorities are in fact considering reducing the speed to 70 km/h in certain sensitive natural areas. These spaces, often fragile, suffer the negative effects of traffic: air pollution, noise and disruption of ecosystems. Lowering speeds could provide valuable protection to these environments while improving air quality for local residents. If this measure were to be adopted, it would mainly concern coastal regions or regions close to nature reserves.
But one of the most significant developments of 2025 could well be the arrival of intelligent speed limiters. These devices, already mandatory on new vehicles since July 2024, are capable of detecting speed limit signs and automatically adjusting the vehicle’s speed. This could significantly reduce speeding, while making life easier for drivers. No more risk of forgetting a new limitation: technology will do the work for you!
As for highways, nothing has yet been defined. Some would like to lower the maximum speed, currently 130 km/h, to 120 or even 110 km/h, which would have the advantage of significantly reducing consumption. But the issue is sensitive and a massive reduction in speed on these expressways could trigger movements of discontent, like the yellow vests a few years ago.
So, whether you are for or against these new measures, one thing is certain: the speed on French roads may never be the same again. To anticipate these changes, it is good to stay informed of upcoming legislative developments, and above all, to get used to smoother driving. Especially since new technological devices risk imposing limits in the very near future.