Environmental Debate: Should Speed Limits on Speed Cameras Be Reconsidered?

At a time when the Government announces the removal of point deductions for speeding less than 5 km/h over the limit, shouldn’t we take this opportunity to thoroughly review the system, especially by incorporating energy impact?

“Choosing is giving up“, wrote André Gide. Amidst the widespread ecological debate, it remains strange that the issue of speed on the road hasn’t been more prominently addressed. Certainly, there was controversy over the reduction of speed on departmental roads from 90 to 80 km/h, then on highways from 130 to 110 km/h, but public opinion has pushed back and threatened to revive the Yellow Vests movement.

Conversely, the problem could be approached differently, with perhaps a greater chance of acceptance by motorists: revising the thresholds for triggering speeding offenses based on the energy waste they imply.

Is it not outdated to consider only danger and mortality rates in an era where energy sobriety should also be part of the definition of speeding? The current scale (see below) also suffers from irrelevant thresholds: -20 km/h, -30 km/h, -40 km/h, -50 km/h, and +50 km/h.

Shouldn’t we consider a reassessment as follows: -5 km/h, -10 km/h, -20 km/h, -30 km/h, and +30 km/h? Beyond these, the approach clearly contradicts road safety and the well-being of the planet. These often involve owners of powerful and wealthy vehicles, which could be seen as a lack of social justice in ecological terms.

To support this reflection, numerous and reliable studies on energy impact exist. The higher the speed, the greater the air resistance, which leads to a significant increase in fuel consumption and thus energy overuse. According to a study by ADEME (Agency for the Environment and Energy Management), fuel consumption increases by about 12% when a vehicle goes from 130 km/h to 150 km/h on the highway.

Our colleagues at Caradisiac conducted a consumption comparison by testing identical models at different speeds on the same trip in real time. The results are conclusive. It is important to note that this energy overconsumption not only affects the fuel bill but also the carbon footprint of driving, as greenhouse gas emissions increase with consumption.

HERE ARE THE CURRENT SCALE AND PENALTIES FOR SPEEDING

Speeding less than 20 km/h (with a maximum authorized speed over 50 km/h)

• Flat fine of 68 euros
• Points deduction of 1 point from the driving license

Speeding less than 20 km/h (with a maximum authorized speed of 50 km/h or less)

• Flat fine of 135 euros
• Points deduction of 1 point from the driving license

Speeding of 20 km/h or more but less than 30 km/h over the limit

• Flat fine of 135 euros
• Points deduction of 2 points from the driving license

Speeding of 30 km/h or more but less than 40 km/h over the limit

• Flat fine of 135 euros
• Points deduction of 3 points from the driving license
• License suspension for 3 years
• Prohibition of driving certain motor vehicles for up to 3 years
• Completion of a road safety awareness course

Speeding of 40 km/h or more but less than 50 km/h over the limit

• Flat fine of 135 euros
• Points deduction of 4 points from the driving license
• License suspension for 3 years
• Prohibition of driving certain motor vehicles for up to 3 years
• Completion of a road safety awareness course

Speeding of 50 km/h or more

• Fine of 1,500 euros
• Points deduction of 6 points from the driving license
• Suspension of the license for 3 years (without suspended license or “white license”)
• Prohibition of driving certain motor vehicles for up to 3 years
• Possibility of vehicle confiscation if the driver is the owner
• Completion of a road safety awareness course

Repeat offense of speeding 50 km/h or more

• Fine of 3,750 euros
• 3 months imprisonment
• Points deduction of 6 points from the driving license
• Suspension of the license for 3 years (without suspended license or “white license”)
• Mandatory vehicle confiscation if the driver is the owner
• Prohibition of driving certain motor vehicles for up to 5 years
• Completion of a road safety awareness course

Note: For speeds of 50 km/h or more over the limit, the vehicle may be immobilized and impounded.

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