The French government wants the speed limit to be lowered from 90 to 80 km / h on two-way secondary roads without a central separator, in other words national roads. An unpopular measure - the French are 59% opposed to it according to a Harris Interactive poll - but assumed to "save lives", according to Prime Minister Édouard Philippe. It has been advocated for years by road safety associations, while motorist and biker associations contest its effectiveness. This reduction is part of a larger plan of around twenty measures, in January 2017, to reduce the number of road deaths, which started to rise again (3477 killed in 2016).
https://www.lexpress.fr/actualite/societe/l-abaissement-de-la-limite-de-vitesse-de-90-a-80km-h-sur-les-routes-secondaires_1974481.html
It is a bit of a shame that the speed of 90 is lowered to 80km / h than on RN and you do not touch the speed on the motorway.
Indeed lowering the speed of 130 to 110km / h would save 20% of fuel on average.
So unpopular or only economic decision?