No more points deducted for speeding less than 5 km/h over the limit
This page is translated from the original post "Plus de perte de point pour les excès de vitesse inférieurs à 5 km/h" in French.
- 20/04/2023 10:03
If the points forfeited for speeding less than 5 km/h are removed on January 1, 2024, the fine will remain in effect. Good or bad decision?
This is a timely decision to somewhat calm public resentment towards the government amid the ongoing debate over the retirement age. We know the French are very attached to their freedom of movement, but also to the right to make mistakes and to self-responsibility. In short, minor speeding violations, those less than 5 km/h detected by radars (thus slightly more in reality), are more about carelessness than serious crime.
Thus, after months of electoral promises, the government has announced a relaxation that will unfortunately not take effect until summer and the start of holidays. It will be effective from January 1, 2024. However, everything is just a matter of semantics: the offense will still be real and the fine still payable. Okay for the points, not for the money! The wasp is not crazy: 50% of the 21.5 million tickets issued in 2021 originated from speeding less than 20 km/h. The loss of revenue would be enormous for the state.
As a reminder, infractions under 20 km/h are heavily penalized. 135 euros (reduced to 90 euros if paid quickly) in urban areas, and 68 euros (reduced to 45 euros if paid quickly) on rural roads.
Of course, this announcement does not please everyone, and some associations denounce it as sending a bad signal that will mechanically lead to higher mortality. Implicitly, it could also be argued that the thresholds for issuing tickets are completely outdated. The question raised today is relevant: up to 20 km/h over the speed limit, the penalty is the same as for 1 km/h.
Shouldn’t we reevaluate the thresholds for issuing tickets and losing points more thoroughly: 5, 10, 20, +30 km/h? The one over 50 km/h is also totally out of date in an era where energy sobriety should also be considered when defining speeding violations. Not just the danger.
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