Try hitting the brake on the highway. 110 km/h instead of 130 does that seem possible to you? It is in any case the proposal of several personalities, such as the photographer Yann Arthus-Bertrand, the director Cyril Dion, the environmental engineer Jean-Marc Jancovici or the founder of Blablacar Frédéric Mazzella. They ask volunteers to lower their speed by 20 km/h on the main roads, which allows reduce fuel consumption by 20% and D’emit 20% less greenhouse gases. On the Mayenne area of the A81 motorway, near Laval, motorists are rather divided on this idea.
Didier, who leaves Brittany towards Beauvais, is convinced. “I’m not an extremist, but that’s what I already do. Personally, because I’m 64, I don’t care. But in 30 years, the kids, they will cry. When it comes to pollution, you have to think long term. You don’t have to think about it right away.”
I don’t like it at all because if I take the highway, it’s to go faster.
Others are totally against it, even if only to imagine driving more slowly. For Dominic, on the highway, it’s limited to 130 or nothing. “I don’t like it at all because if I take the highway, it’s to go faster. So if it goes to 110, I won’t take the freeway anymore. There are other things we can do for the planet already. And then afterwards there will be no more cars with diesel, gasoline, everything so normally we will go all electric, so the problem will be quickly resolved.“
Depending on the length of the trip
Elodie comes from Paris and wants to be more nuanced. For her, you have to find a balance between fuel economy, ecology and loss of time. Indeed, driving at 110 instead of 130 means 8 to 9 minutes more travel per hour. “On long journeys, 110 km/hour for us to go to Brest would typically take us 7-8 hours compared to a journey which usually takes 6 hours. So yes, why not, but it all depends on the length of the trip.”
In September, the Minister of Transport also recommended that the French lower their speed to 110 km/h on the motorway. Advice that was also included in the energy sobriety plan for public officials.