Letters: France's private speed camera cars just add to pollution
Connexion reader questions the logic of mobile enforcers
The private speed camera cars use discreet technology to detect speeding vehicles close to them
PV productions/Shutterstock
To the Editor,
I would like to raise a talking point for readers regarding private speed detection vehicles operating in France.
Using data provided in a recent Connexion article on the subject, I did a quick estimation of how much pollution these vehicles create.
I worked out that each, on average, produces 14.6 tonnes of CO2 a year chasing 84 speeding tickets.
I imagine that the majority of tickets were for minor infringements of up to 20km/h over the speed limit.
Read more: Website shares list of cars acting as speed cameras in France
So I ask the question: is it really worth it? Minor road infringement fines bolstering the government’s coffers, versus killing us off with more CO2 pollution entering our environment.
How environmentally unfriendly is that, in a country trying to lower its CO2 emissions to reach climate change directives.
Perhaps the government should spend more money on educating drivers on road use rather than on more speed detection vehicles polluting the air space.
Paul Sullivan, by email
Do you think that unmarked speed camera cars help make the roads safer? Are they a just a nuisance for drivers? Share your views at letters@connexionfrance.com
