“Easy, easy!”: watch out, major changes to speed limits are coming from January 1, 2025

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After a year 2024 already marked by several restrictions, including the Paris ring road being reduced to 50 km/h, new measures will come into force in January 2025. And I might as well warn you right away: not everyone will like it!

First change major: the generalization of zones limited to 70 km/hon certain national and departmental roads. This measure will particularly concern sensitive natural regions and densely populated areas, such as coastal areas or the edges of nature reserves. The stated objective is to preserve local ecosystems and reduce pollution in these particularly fragile areas.

This new restriction is in line with the policy of reducing speeds that has been initiated in recent years. And it's not over yet: the authorities are even considering extending the speed limit to 110 km/h on more sections of motorway.

In cities, the trend is clear: people are slowing down, and not just a little! After the successful experiments in Paris, Grenoble and Lille, more and more urban areas should adopt the 30 km/h speed limit in city centres. This measure, which has many motorists gnashing their teeth, aims to reduce noise pollution and improve air quality.

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The intelligent limiter enters the arena

To ensure that everyone respects these new limits, the intelligent speed limiter should show what it is capable of. Mandatory on all new vehicles since July 2024, this device reads road signs and automatically adjusts the vehicle's speed. Practical for avoiding unintentional speeding and the fines that go with it!

These changes are accompanied by other restrictions that will complicate the lives of motorists in 2025. Vehicles classified as Crit’Air 3 will be permanently banned from low-emission zones (LEZs) in several large cities such as Paris and Lyon. A measure that will force many owners of diesel vehicles registered between 2006 and 2010 to change their mount.

To top it all off, the ecological penalty will be toughened with a CO₂ emission threshold lowered to 113 g/km, compared to 118 g/km currently. Enough to make you think twice before buying an SUV!

• National and departmental roads in sensitive natural areas will increase to 70 km/h
• The 30 km/h limit will become widespread in city centers
• Smart speed limiters become mandatory on new vehicles

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