The roads of Eure will return to a faster pace. Indeed, the Departmental Council has decided to reinstate the speed limit of 90 km/h on all its departmental roads. With this decision, Eure joins the 51 French departments that have chosen to abandon the 80 km/h limit, a measure that had sparked much debate since its introduction.
This decision, which will come into force at the beginning of 2026, is based on the observation that reducing the speed to 80 km/h has not had the expected impact on reducing road accidents. Statistics show that, despite this measure, the number of accidents has not significantly decreased in the department.
Philippe Nozière, president of the association "40 million motorists", expressed his skepticism about this measure. According to him, the return to 90 km/h is an acknowledgement of the failure of the 80 km/h limit to improve road safety. He emphasizes that reducing speed alone is not enough to reduce accidents and that it is necessary to take into account other factors, such as the state of road infrastructure and driver behavior.
Furthermore, several studies have shown that the 80 km/h speed limit has mixed effects. While it helps reduce the severity of accidents, it also increases travel times and can lead to dangerous behaviour, such as reckless overtaking. Furthermore, in rural areas, this measure has been seen as an additional constraint for residents, who are often forced to travel long distances.
Thus, the return to 90 km/h in Eure is part of a broader trend of reassessment of road safety policies in France. It remains to be seen whether this decision will improve the situation on the department's roads.