Overstepping the speed limit of 50 kilometers per hour in France could stop being fined and become a crime, which could even carry prison sentences. The new law has already been published in the Official Journal of France, similar to our BOE, two weeks ago. The Ministry of the Interior is already studying whether Spain could adopt this measure or whether it would be an excessive penalty.
The measure provides that offenders can be sentenced to up to three months in prison and to a fine of €3,750. In addition, it will be recorded in the criminal records, with the consequences this may have for restrictions on civil life.
Until now the law provided a maximum fine of €1,500, the loss of 6 points from the driving license and becoming a crime only in the case of recidivism. But, according to the Interministerial Delegation for Road Safety, that punitive mechanism was not “adapted to the severity of the facts,” and that is why the decision is now to tighten it.
France has a major problem with deaths in road accidents due to excessive speed and the Government is trying to reduce this figure by tightening sanctions.
In 2024, France recorded 63,217 speed violations above the estimated limit, which represents a 69% increase compared to 2017, according to Road Safety. Excessive speed is considered the second cause of fatal traffic accidents. In 2024 there were 3,190 fatalities in the country.
SPAIN: 1 IN 4 ACCIDENTS
During the year 2024 Spain registered a total of 1,785 fatalities in 101,996 traffic accidents nationwide. This represents, compared to 2023, that fatalities decreased by 1%, while road accidents with victims increased by 1%. Compared to 2019, the baseline year of the Road Safety Strategy 2030, accidents with victims have decreased by 2%, but the number of fatalities has increased by 2%.
Deaths associated with speeding as a cause accounted for 24% of fatal accidents, according to data collected by the General Directorate of Traffic (DGT), despite annual awareness campaigns and the deployment of new speed cameras, which extended at the European level, in collaboration with the RoadPol association (European Roads Policing Network).
According to the DGT, these accident figures are nothing more than consequences of a habitual driver behavior. About 60% of those surveyed admit to driving above the allowed speed on conventional roads, expressways and motorways. In urban areas, the proportion approaches 50%.
Traffic accidents are one of the most widespread causes of death in our country. The responsibility is not only due to excessive speed. There are other reasons such as alcohol and drug use, driver distractions caused by external factors, and driving under adverse weather conditions or mechanical failures of vehicles.
