General topics » France and 30kph limits

My visits to France both in April this year and previous years made me often say their approach to 30kph (20mph) was measured and sensible. Having just returned from revisiting Colmar and the Route des Cretes this is no longer the case. 30kph limits are in many more town and extend over longer distances. If you try to comply then just like the UK following traffic will be tailgating you . Having listened to the justification for 20mph limits in the UK it is clear they are based on emotions and poor research. One example of this is the IAM (institute for Advanced Motorists for those outside the UK) April 2021 survey ‘Drivers‘ Opinions of 20mph speed limits’. This is misleading and should never have been published. Even Neil Greig Policy & Research Director at the IAM in an email to me stated :-

'Our annual Safety Culture survey tracks the ‘opinions’ of a representative sample of 2000 drivers across the UK. I am well aware that ‘opinions’ don’t always match ‘actions’ and this is borne out by our policy on 20mph which is very much against area wide speed limits informed by only changing a few signs. Such [/i]20mph zones have been a failure in our view – both on safety grounds (there is rarely a safety issue across a whole area) and in promoting active travel (if a road still looks and feels risky people don’t cycle on it).
When asked in many surveys that I have seen “do you support 20mph limits” people do seem to be supportive (esp outside schools and their homes) but are then happy to drive above the limit elsewhere.'

This begs the question why did the IAM issue a report they do not fully believe in?
Despite the limits France as always is a great motorcycling area and the Route Des Cretes is a memorable ride.

I get tailgated often when abiding to 30mph limits. It is interesting how many of the tailgaters turn off into local estates too, so probably locals.

I suspect that the issue may not be excess speed at 30 mph but that drivers and riders are either/and not adhering to the 30 or are paying little attention to what they are doing. You can stop pretty much on a sixpence at 30mph if you are focused on what is going on around you.

I've heard locals in Scotland say that they thought it was a good idea initially but that now they are fed up with it.

Maybe we get what we deserve? If we can't adhere to the 30mph limits reasonably then 20mph limits are a heavy handed approach to the problem. I find riding the RS at 20mph a bit of a nuisance.

I seem to remember a survey a while ago of speeders through a particular village. It turned out the culprits were mostly locals.

Interesting, I have to say that I realise I’m more considerate ( drive/ ride more slowly) though my own village and usually 25 mph max., than I do in others - have rebuked myself several times on this. Seems many are more likely to speed in their own neighbourhood.

Yes, I agree with your last sentence about people's driving in their own patch, It's amazing.

True!