In a rare dose of good news for French road users, minor speeding of up to 5km/h above the speed limit is set to no longer be penalised by a points deduction from January 1, 2024. The news was first announced by the French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin in a letter addressed to Senator for the Var, Françoise Dumont.

“Work has been undertaken at my request in order to adapt the repressive regime applicable to minor speeding,” those “less than 5km/h,” wrote Darmanin. This is not the first time that the Interior Minister has touched upon this subject, having made his desire to remove the withdrawal of points for minor speeding known via a tweet in February.

The Tweet also stated that Darmanin wishes to toughen the penalties for people driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, a trendy topic at the time of posting five days after the Pierre Palmade incident on February 14, 2023.

The Tweet reads “I want to remove point deductions for speeding less than 5km/h and thus be understanding with those who work. Conversely, I want to revoke the license of those who drive under drugs/alcohol because they are potential dangers.”

FILE PHOTO: Darmanin Reuters