• France
• Paris

Paris, Dec 29 (EFE).-

Speeding over 50 kilometers per hour (around 31 miles per hour) in France has gone from being a simple traffic violation to a criminal offense and may even lead to prison sentences, starting Monday.

Under the new provision, published in the Official Journal last week, offenders can be sentenced to up to three months in prison and a fine of 3,750 euros ($4,417), as well as a criminal record entry.

Until now, exceeding speed limits by more than 50 kph entailed fines of up to 1,500 euros, in addition to the loss of six points on the driving license. And it became a crime in case of repeat offenses.

But, according to the Interministerial Delegation for Road Safety, the earlier mechanism was not tough enough to act as a dissuasive measure against dangerous driving, prompting them to opt for more severe penalties.

In 2024, 63,217 cases of speeding over 50 kph were recorded in France, representing an increase of 69 percent compared to 2017, according to Road Safety.

Excessive speed is considered the one of the leading causes of fatal road accidents. In 2024 there were 3,190 deaths in the country. EFE

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