Paris’ new mayor proposes city-wide 30km/h speed limit

World Streets reports Mayor Anne Hidalgo suggested lower speed limits across the Parisian road network would increase safety for motorists and pedestrians and reduce vehicle emissions and air pollution.

Under the plan, the 30km/h limit would apply to all roads with the exception of a small number of major roads into the city and along the Seine, which would be capped at 50km/h, and the city’s ring road, which has recently been cut back from 80km/h to 70km/h.

There are already a number of 20km/h zones in Paris where cars share the roads with large numbers of pedestrians and cyclists.

Currently around one third of Paris’ road network is limited to 30km/h, while the majority has a 50km/h cap.

Uniform speed limits throughout the city are also intended to reduce confusion for motorists, improving clarity for drivers by removing constant speed zone changes.

If approved, Paris would become one of the slowest cities in the world in terms of the average speed permitted for motorists.

The lowest signposted speed limit in the world is believed to be in Israel, where vehicles driving in some car parks are restricted to driving at no more than 3km/h.