Another department announces return to 90km/h speed limit from 2027 on many roads
Isère becomes one of more than 50 departments to restore higher limits
Published
Isère, in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, is the latest French department set to restore the 90km/h speed limit on thousands of kilometres of roads, joining a growing number of local authorities that have reversed the national speed limit reduction introduced in 2018.
The national reduction was introduced by then-Prime Minister Edouard Philippe, lowering the limit from 90km/h to 80km/h on certain two-way roads without a central divider in an attempt to improve road safety.
However, the measure proved highly unpopular, particularly in rural areas where many residents use cars for daily journeys.
In December 2019, the government allowed departments to restore the 90 km/h limit on eligible roads, provided they carried out safety assessments and followed the required procedures.
Since then, over 50 departments have partially or fully restored some roads to 90km/h.
Isère to restore 90km/h on more than 3,000km of roads
The Isère department announced that, following a favourable opinion from the Departmental Road Safety Commission (CDSR) on July 10, some 3,000km of its departmental road network will return to a maximum speed limit of 90km/h from January 2027.
The change follows an initial phase in 2022, when the department restored the higher limit on 167km of roads, including former national roads and newly built diversions.
However, the speed limit will not increase everywhere. Around 45km of roads will be reduced to 70km/h, while around 2km will have a 50km/h limit because of specific safety concerns, particularly around hamlets, built-up areas and accident-prone sections.
Jean-Pierre Barbier, president of the Isère department, welcomed the CDSR’s approval and said the decision marked the fulfilment of a campaign promise.
“We committed in 2021 to bringing back the 90km/h speed limit in Isère, and this will become a reality across the department from January 2027,” he said.
He added that drivers should continue to take care on the roads.
“The people of Isère will soon be able to enjoy this good news while continuing to remain vigilant behind the wheel. Road safety is everyone’s responsibility.”
The Isère authorities justified the change by saying their analysis of accident data showed that the 80km/h limit introduced in 2018 had not produced a significant improvement in road safety on departmental roads.
Drivers should note that the change will not take effect immediately. Until January 2027, the current 80km/h limit remains in place on the roads concerned.
