For those who have the money to pay, speeding fines can seem like a light slap on the wrist, a very mild punishment for committing a serious traffic violation.
With that in mind, the French government has passed a new law that will see drivers and motorcyclists who exceed the speed limit by 50 km/h or more face up to three months in prison, in addition to a fine of around $4,000.
Speeding is considered a very serious traffic offense in France, but until now you could only be convicted if you were a repeat offender.
However, authorities discovered that this was not enough. In 2024 alone, authorities recorded 63,217 cases of drivers exceeding the speed limit by at least 50 km/h, an increase of 69% compared to 2017.
Now, in addition to possible jail terms and fines, judges can suspend your driver’s license and prevent you from applying for a new driver’s license for up to three years. They can also confiscate your vehicle and ban you from driving certain vehicles for up to five years.
This offense will be recorded on your criminal record, you will receive six points on your driver’s license, and they may even require you to take a road safety course, which you will have to pay for yourself.
And it’s not just in France. Several US states have passed specific legislation against so-called “super speeders”, signaling a change in how speed limit violations are dealt with by authorities.
Photo: Triumph. This content was created using AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
