From now on, anyone in France who exceeds the speed limit by 50 km/h or more will no longer receive a simple fine but will be immediately summoned to appear before the criminal court. Just as they would for driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, they could face a fine of up to €3,750.
The number of extreme speeding offences rose to more than 63,000 in France last year, with speed still the leading cause of fatal accidents. Belgian drivers should also be extra careful, as they are among the most frequently caught foreigners speeding in France.
Stricter penalties
Since December 29, speeding 50 km/h over the limit in France has been classified as a criminal offense. This means the police court will no longer handle such offences; the criminal court will.
The change in the law also entails heavier penalties. The maximum fine increases from €1,500 to €3,750, and the judge can also impose a prison sentence of up to three months. In addition, the vehicle may be seized and even permanently confiscated.
The conviction will also be recorded on the criminal record, and the driver’s license may be suspended for up to three years, without the possibility of a “work exemption”.
The judge can also impose the obligation to take a road safety course. Additionally, six points will be automatically deducted from a French driver’s license, while foreigners may be subject to a temporary driving ban in France.
Speed is the leading cause of fatal accidents
According to figures from the French road safety authority ONISR, speed is the leading cause in approximately 29% to 31% of all fatal accidents. Alcohol is identified as the leading cause in approximately 22% to 23% of cases. Among young drivers aged 18-24, the proportion of fatal accidents caused by speeding rises to over 50%.
By shifting the focus from administrative offenses to criminal offenses, the French government aims to significantly reduce traffic fatalities, which stood at around 3,400 in 2024.
Contrary to the general European trend, where road deaths are falling slightly, France is seeing an upward trend in 2025. France currently has around 48 road deaths per million inhabitants. That is precisely the EU average, but much worse than frontrunners such as Sweden (20 per million) or Denmark.
In any case, most speeding offences are detected by automatic speed cameras, and France has over 4,500 fixed and mobile radars, one of the densest networks in Europe. In 2023, there were over 30,1 million traffic violations in France. Speeding offenses accounted for the majority, at about 17.22 million, representing 57% of all violations.
Criminal record
According to statistics, Belgian drivers are the most frequently caught speeding in France, accounting for approximately 374,623 traffic fines in 2023. France uses the EU Cross-Border Enforcement Directive (CBE), which permits police to access vehicle ownership data from other EU member states.
A foreign driver banned from driving in France may still drive in their home country or other countries. In the event of an offense, it is best not to ignore a summons, although a lawyer can also represent you. In the event of a default judgment, there is a strong likelihood that the judge will impose a prison sentence.
The likelihood that the offender will serve a maximum prison sentence of three months is low, given overcrowding in French prisons. However, the sentence will be recorded on their criminal record, and on a subsequent visit to France, they risk being detained because a warrant for their arrest remains outstanding.
In Belgium, exceeding the speed limit by more than 50 km/h automatically leads to legal proceedings with the police, where you risk a fine of €80 to €4,000 and a driving ban of eight days to five years.
