The backlash against the 50 km/h speed limit on the Periph returns to the Ministry

The Paris City Hall’s decision to lower the speed limit to 50 km/h on the ring road has sparked anger among “40 million motorists”.

Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo announced on November 22, during her Climate Plan 2024-2030, her intention to reduce the maximum authorized speed on the entire Paris ring road from 70 to 50 km/h. Her laudable goal: “Responding to the major environmental challenges of today and tomorrow.”

“40 million motorists” points out the lack of impact studies conducted and the non-consideration of the emission factors from road traffic evaluated by Cerema. Today, Tuesday, November 28, the association has contacted Transport Minister Clément Beaune in a letter asking him to intervene in the matter of lowering the ring road speed limit to 50 km/h.

The study conducted by Cerema concludes that for a passenger vehicle, CO₂ and NOx emissions are minimal at speeds close to 70 km/h. Therefore, a speed of 50 km/h would increase these emissions according to the report. An astonishing fact that needs verification, as it is generally accepted that emissions decrease with speed. If emissions were equal or even similar at 50 and 70 km/h, that would already be a positive point.

For Philippe Nozière, president of the “40 million motorists” association, “a reduction to 50 km/h would bring no environmental benefit! This decision is to be added to the list of anti-motorist measures implemented by the Paris city hall.”

It is now up to the minister to decide.