France U-turns on cuts to road speed limits

The French government has watered down unpopular new speed limits on B roads just days before European elections.

The decision last year to cut the speed limit from 90 km/h to 80 km/h on secondary roads is often cited as one of the key factors that sparked the “yellow vest” revolt, with provincial motorists complaining it was a ploy against them.

The cut was championed by Edouard Philippe, the prime minister, but with eight out of 10 French people against the reduction, Emmanuel Macron, the president, rapidly suggested that “something better accepted and more intelligent” should be found.