Overview
- From December 29, driving more than 50 km/h over the limit is a criminal offense punishable by up to three months in prison, a €3,750 fine and an entry on the criminal record.
- Courts can also suspend or annul a license for up to three years, order vehicle confiscation in cases including mandatory seizure on repeat offenses, impose multi‑year driving bans and require road‑safety training.
- Early enforcement is underway: TF1 observed roadside checks, and in Bordeaux CRS recorded three cases at 163, 132 and 128 km/h in a 70 zone within two hours, while sub‑50 km/h excesses remain administrative offenses.
- Authorities cite a 69% increase in very large speed offenses since 2017, with 63,217 recorded in 2024, and local officials in Gironde note speeding factors in nearly one in three fatal crashes.
- Reactions are mixed, with some drivers and advocates expecting a deterrent effect and others urging that education and prevention accompany tougher penalties.