Paris authorities have begun to gradually reduce the speed limit on the French capital's busy ring road in order to improve "safety and quality of life".
According to Paris mayor, Anne Hidalgo, the speed limit along the entire 35-kilometre Boulevard Peripherique - known as the "Periph" - will drop to 50 km/h from its current 70 km/h limit now.
The signs for the new speed limit are expected to be fully installed by 10 October.
The move has triggered criticism from drivers and other opponents, with the conservative political parties denouncing the measure as "socially unfair."
The ring road is one of France's busiest thoroughfares, used by around 1.2 million drivers every day, most of them from the Ile-de-France region that includes Paris.
But Paris authorities say they want to improve the quality of life and reduce noise pollution for the 550,000 people living nearby.
"When you reduce speed, you reduce noise for all the people who live near this ring road," said David Belliard, the mayor's ecologist deputy in charge of transport.
"We're going to give them a better quality of life," he said, adding that locals would also sleep better.
"The right to sleep is extremely important."
Reducing pollution, road accidents
BruitParif, an organisation that measures urban noise pollution, expects the measure to result in a 2 to 3-decibel drop in noise levels.
City officials also argue that the move will lead to fewer road accidents. Some experts also argue that the measure will help reduce emissions and improve air quality.
Paris and its suburbs exposed to excessive air-noise pollution, research shows
With average daytime speeds estimated at 37 km/h, the new limit is only likely to have a major impact at off-peak hours.
Valérie Pécresse, the head of the Ile-de-France region, said on Tuesday the lower speed would disproportionately affect people working night and early-morning shifts.
She condemned the measure as "socially unfair," and a number of industries including hotels and restaurants have struck a similar note.
(with AFP)
