Speed limit cut on French roads angers rural voters

The Macron government's decision to cut the speed limit on country roads from 90km/h (56mph) to 80 is proving deeply unpopular. Between now and 1 July a mini-makeover will take place on French roads. About 20,000 signs bearing the number 90 are to disappear. In their place will be new signs, but now inside the red circle will be the lower figure.
A speed-limit cut of 10 km/h on the 400,000km that make up France's so-called "secondary" network is the government's latest salvo in its long-running campaign against road deaths. According to the road safety department of the interior ministry, the measure should save between 300 and 400 lives every year - principally because braking times will be shorter and any accidents that do occur will be less deadly. That would mean France could resume the historic trend that reduced the number of road deaths by more than 80% since the early 1970s.

The last big cut in mortality was in the early 2000s when President Jacques Chirac brought in radars and a zero-tolerance policy on speeding. But in recent years the fall has tailed off. In 2017 there were 3,684 lives lost on French roads.  The new measure may be motivated by the best of intentions. But, unfortunately for the government, that is not how most people see it.
Polls show that around the country reaction is hostile and suspicious.  Many drivers say the lower speed limit is unnecessary, based on erroneous analysis, and will complicate their daily lives. Some feel it is a cynical ploy to raise more money from fines.