How can I know if speed limit is 80 km/h or 90 km/h on road following changes?
More than 50 departments have partially or fully overturned 2018 law change reducing limits on secondary roads
Speed limits can vary between roads within departments
Henry Saint John/Shutterstock
Reader Question: Many departments have recently changed speed limits on secondary roads to 90 km/h, including mine. How can I know the exact speed limit on roads near me?
The Eure department has become the latest to revert to 90 km/h speed limits on its departmental secondary road network.
It is the 52nd department to partially or fully overturn a controversial 2018 law change that saw limits on these roads reduced nationally to 80 km/h.
Since 2019, departments have been able to revert some or all eligible roads back to the previous 90 km/h limit, provided they carry out necessary formalities.
To overturn the higher limit, local authorities must pass a series of votes, as well as carry out feasibility and safety studies on the chosen roads and account for the cost of new road signs, etc.
The frequent changes have left some drivers concerned about driving at the wrong speeds, and potentially breaking speed limits.
This concern is compounded by the fact that in a majority of departments which have taken up the option, only a small percentage of roads have seen the former 90 km/h limits reintroduced.
In the Eure, all eligible roads have seen speed limits reverted, totalling around 4,200 km of tarmac, but it is only one of eight to apply the changes to the entire eligible network.
How can I know the limit on roads in my area?
As the changes are made on a departmental level and affect thousands of kilometres of roads, there is no official national map of speed limits provided by the government.
The Connexion has its own interactive map, frequently updated, showing which departments have overturned the 2018 law.
It shows the percentage of roads in the departments (if any) that have reintroduced a 90 km/h limit.
The information is sourced from French driving association Ligue de défense des conducteurs (LDC), which frequently updates information on the matter in its article here (in French).
Assume 80 km/h limit on roads
Due to the density of the road network however, it is not possible to provide a map showing the limits on every stretch of road.
Since the 2018 change and 80 km/h becoming the norm, road signs were put in place alerting drivers of the new lower limit.
On roads where the limit has since reverted to 90 km/h, local authorities must clearly state this through specific road signs showing the new, higher limit.
If you do not clearly see such a road sign, it is best to assume the limit is 80 km/h to avoid potentially speeding, particularly as some roads may be patrolled by private radar vehicles.
Drivers going at 80 km/h on a 90 km/h road will not be penalised for ‘driving too slowly’, although those going 90km/h on road with an 80 km/h limit fall outside the speeding margins of error and may be penalised if caught.
