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4mo ago

France Makes Extreme Speeding a Criminal Offense Starting Dec. 29

Officials say the tougher classification responds to a sharp rise in extreme speeding, signaling a crackdown on road violence.

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Rouler à plus de 50 km/h au-dessus de la limite pourra mener l'automobiliste devant un juge. Fini la simple amende : place à une infraction pénale, avec prison possible et inscription au casier judiciaire. Une réponse assumée de l’État face à la hausse des comportements dangereux.
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Overview

  • A decree published in the Journal officiel implements the July 9, 2025 law by reclassifying driving more than 50 km/h over the limit as a criminal offense effective December 29.
  • The offense carries up to three months in prison, a fine of up to €3,750, and a criminal-record entry, with possible vehicle confiscation, multi‑year licence suspension, driving bans, and a mandatory safety course.
  • Until now, such very large speeding was punished as a fifth‑class contravention except in cases of recidivism.
  • Sécurité routière logged more than 63,000 cases at or above +50 km/h in 2024, a 69% increase since 2017, and road-safety reporting attributes about 30% of fatal crashes to excessive speed.
  • Leaders and victims’ groups describe the move as a firm response to dangerous driving, with police highlighting risky races in recent operations and local measures like custody for 50+ km/h excesses on Nice’s Promenade des Anglais.