2024 Map: see where in France road speeds are reverting to 90 km/h limit
Several departments have made changes, more are under consideration
Speed limits on secondary roads have reverted to 90 km/h in a majority of French departments but not all their routes have changed
Henry Saint John/Shutterstock
Speed limits on secondary roads have returned to 90 km/h in a majority of French departments.
However, in many of these, only a small percentage of eligible roads have seen the 90 km/h limit introduced.
Changes made in 2018 saw speed limits on departmental roads (routes départementales) fall from 90 km/h to 80 km/h.
However, from 2019 onwards, departmental authorities could revert to the original 90 km/h speed limit if they wished, providing they undertook a study of the impact of doing so.
Read more: Speed limits now raised back up to 90km/h by most French departments
Despite 50 departments changing these limits – with three more currently considering doing so – only a handful have seen all eligible roads within them return to 90 km/h.
In almost all others where a revision has taken place less than 20% of eligible roads have seen limits changed. In Haut-Rhin the reversion percentage is just 1%.
Overall, nearly 56,000 km of roads have returned to the 90 km/h limit.
Eure is the latest department considering a change to its speed limits.
A vote by local officials in February 2025 will be held, following the obligatory studies in spring 2025, with changes potentially taking place in 2026.
Read more: Anger as another area of France decides to return to 90 km/h on many roads
Two other departments, Gard and Morbihan, are currently carrying out studies over increasing the limits.
Below, the map shows which departments have changed their speed limits back to 90 km/h.
Those in purple have changed all or most eligible roads back, and those in dark green have not changed any. Other departments are at varying levels.
Read more: How to keep track of changing speed limits on French secondary roads
How do I know the speed limit?
In departments where the speed limits differ, drivers may be concerned they could be unknowingly speeding.
80 km/h is the standard limit and applies to the network generally, with roads at 90 km/h the exception.
Roads where the speed limit is 90 km/h must be clearly signalled to show if the limit changes.
Read more: Do adverse weather conditions affect driving rules in France?
