Smooth Ride or Speed Trap: The Unintended Consequences of Traffic Enforcers

Smooth Ride or Speed Trap: The Unintended Consequences of Traffic Enforcers

2024-10-11 01:03:00

Speeding below 10 km/h is often seen as a minor, almost trivial infraction. However, these small, repeated infractions can have significant consequences on road safety. Road safety experts point out that even a slight increase in speed can reduce driver reaction time and increase braking distance, making roads more dangerous for everyone.

The authorities are considering stricter measures to deter this behavior. On the one hand, some believe that these minimal excesses have no major consequences, while others plead for zero tolerance in order to reinforce driving discipline.

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The issues of tolerance for speeding below 10 km/h

Gérald Darmanin, Minister of the Interior, recently announced the end of the withdrawal of points for speeding of less than 5 km/h. This decision raises questions about the potential impacts of this measure. The Ministry of the Interior communicated that 7.2 million tickets were sent in 2020 for speeding between 1 and 5 km/h.

Speeding result in both fines and deductions of points on the driving license. Currently, speeding below 10 km/h is punishable by a fixed fine of 68 to 135 euros and deduction of one point. This new policy aims to ease penalties for minor infractions, but is sparking debate.

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The arguments for and against strict tolerance

  • Françoise Dumont, senator, wrote to the minister to express her concerns.
  • Pierre Lagache, vice-president of the League against road violence, denounces this measure, affirming that it could encourage dangerous behavior.
  • Alexandra Borchio-Fontimp and Laurent Somon co-wrote a bill to strengthen sanctions.
  • Philippe Dominati defends Gérald Darmanin’s decision, while Jean-Luc Fichet severely criticizes it.
  • François Patriat also supports the minister’s position.

This diversity of opinions reflects tensions around road safety policies. The debate focuses on the balance between leniency for minor offenses and the need to maintain strict discipline on the roads to reduce serious accidents. Speeding below 10 km/h, although considered minor, can have significant consequences on road safety and driver behavior.

The arguments for and against strict tolerance

Françoise Dumont, senator, wrote to Minister Gérald Darmanin to express her concerns regarding the end of the withdrawal of points for speeding below 5 km/h. She argues that this measure could weaken compliance with speed limits and encourage reckless behavior.

Pierre Lagache, vice-president of the League against road violence, shares this opinion. He says speeding, even minor ones, can increase the severity of accidents. According to him, a relaxation of sanctions could send the wrong message to drivers.

Conversely, Philippe Dominati defends Gérald Darmanin’s decision. For him, the current sanctions for speeding below 10 km/h are disproportionate and do not take into account the margins of error of radars. He believes that ending the deduction of points for these offenses is a common sense measure.

Alexandra Borchio-Fontimp and Laurent Somon co-wrote a bill aimed at strengthening penalties for speeding. They argue that road safety must come first and that any infraction, even minor, must be penalized to deter dangerous behavior.

Jean-Luc Fichet also criticizes the minister’s decision. He considers that the relaxation of sanctions could harm efforts to reduce road deaths. François Patriat, for his part, supports Gérald Darmanin’s position, arguing that this measure would make it possible to concentrate efforts on the most serious offenses.

These divergences show the complexity of the debate on the tolerance of speeding below 10 km/h.
Smooth Ride or Speed Trap: The Unintended Consequences of Traffic Enforcers

Potential impact on road safety and driver behavior

The French Institute of Science and Technology of Transport, Planning and Networks (Ifsttar) carried out a detailed study on fatal accidents caused by speeding between 2001 and 2010. The results show a significant correlation between exceeding speed limits, even by a few kilometers per hour, and the severity of accidents.

According to the National Interministerial Road Safety Observatory, 3,541 people lost their lives in 2022 on French roads. Some of these deaths are directly linked to speeding. Pierre Lagache, of the League against road violence, affirms that 46% serious accidents are caused by speeding, including those below 10 km/h.

Road safety measures, such as reducing the maximum authorized speed to 80 km/h on certain roads, aim to limit these accidents. However, the end of the withdrawal of points for speeding below 5 km/h, announced by Gérald Darmanin, is causing debate. Some experts fear that this decision will encourage drivers to relax their vigilance.

To summarize, here are some key elements:

  • 3,541 deaths on French roads in 2022.
  • 46% serious accidents linked to speeding.
  • Study of theIfsttar on accidents between 2001 and 2010.

These data highlight the potential impact of even slight speeding on road safety. Vigilance therefore remains essential for all drivers.

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