The speed of cars has become 30 kilometers per hour in Paris

The French authorities in the capital, Paris, on Monday began implementing a speed limit for cars in the city to 30 kilometers per hour, in the hope that the streets would become safer, quieter and less polluted.

David Belliard, deputy mayor of Paris, told France Info radio that the city wanted to encourage people to walk, cycle and use public transport.

He added that the new speed limits will contribute to reducing pollution, noise and the number of serious accidents.

And Billard added: "This is not a countermeasure to the use of cars."

The 30 km/h speed limit was already in place in about 60 percent of Paris, but will now cover the entire city.

However, a few major roads will be exempted, such as the Champs Elysees, where the speed limit will remain at 50 kilometers per hour.

"We want car use to be restricted to essential travel," Billard said.

The mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, has created new bike paths, banned old diesel cars and made the banks of the Seine free of cars.

It has also reduced parking spaces within the city in an effort to reduce car traffic.

Other French cities that do not allow cars to exceed 30 kilometers per hour are Bordeaux, Strasbourg and Toulouse.

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