Driving in France: more ‘autonomous mobile’ radars in use - what are these?

Mobile autonomous speed cameras are expanding in use in France with more of the devices spotted in different areas.

A radar autonome déplaçable has been noticed in the north of France on the RD928 in the Pas-de-Calais department since April 7, flashing drivers along a busy section of the road. 

Authorities are looking to capture drivers going above the limit as roads are expected to be busy due to the start of school holidays in the area. 

These speed cameras are unique in that they can be set up to run autonomously without the presence of a police officer (unlike mobile radar units) as they are battery powered. 

They can stay in a certain location for a few days before being moved and set up somewhere else by the authorities.

In the case of the speed camera in Pas-de-Calais, there is no specific traffic sign warning of the presence of the radar according to local media. 

However, drivers are usually informed of the temporary presence of a nearby radar via a sign.

It comes as France looks to maintain a record low in road deaths – figures so far in 2025 have seen fatalities at a record low. 

Read more: Graph: See how French road fatality figures compare to previous years

At the same time, fines from speeding drivers bring in billions in revenue for the government.

You can find an official map of where radars of all types are located on French roads here. 

Two reasons cameras can be installed 

France road safety authority (sécurité routière) states that these cameras can be installed to improve safety along “sections of road on which enforcement is reinforced and carried out using several types of radars (mainly autonomous radars, but also fixed and mobile radars). 

“The autonomous radars are moved along the route so that the position of the enforcement is variable,” it adds on its website.

In addition, they can also be employed to improve safety in areas where roadworks are taking place.

This is the case near Lyon along the A46 motorway, where two such cameras have been installed.

They are in place whilst works on the Sermenaz viaduct take place and a lower speed limit (70 km/h) is in force in the area.

Objectives are “to ensure compliance with the maximum speed limit at this construction site [and] to enhance the safety of road users near the construction site as well as that of personnel working on this site,” the Rhône prefecture said. 

The sécurité routière website states that in 2017, over 200 autonomous mobile radars were in force around France. 

The radars, although they can flash drivers recorded going only 1 km/h over speed limits, follow typical margin of error rules in France alongside the other types of speed camera. 

Read more: Driving in France: what are the acceptable ‘error’ margins of speed cameras?