Speeding

Unmarked radar cars will be in more French regions soon

Three more regions are set to get the private cars from 2025

Couple disguise postbox as French speed camera to slow down cars

The idea is legal as the postbox is on their private property - as long as it does not start flashing passing vehicles

‘New French speeding rule encourages aggressive drivers’

The change has enabled reckless motorists to drive even more wildly without fear of losing points, argues columnist Samantha David

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‘Speed bumps in France are dangerous for motorcyclists like me’

They cause pollution, damage vehicles and make roads unsafe, says reader

End of points penalty for ‘small speeders’ in France: mixed reaction

Foreign licences will not need to be exchanged, as before for such a speeding offence, due to the change

Explainer: Speed cameras, fines and driving licence points in France

We look at the history of France’s speed camera network and how the related fines work today

No penalty for driver caught at 275 km/h on French motorway

The court was forced to acquit the defendant based on a technicality

Boost for French drivers’ group in ‘too high’ speed bump court case

The challenge focuses on several oversized bumps in the south but a definitive ruling could impact almost all 450,000 speed bumps in France

How far back can I be fined for speeding in France?

A deadline on how long after an offence a fine can be issued is in place although it can be extended

How can I check if speeding fines were sent to my French second home?

Fines will usually increase if they are not paid within 45 days

Private radar cars on rise in France, see where plus current locations

We look at the type of vehicles used and the kind of roads they are usually found on

Still no France-UK deal to share details of speeding drivers

France has data-sharing arrangements with most European countries but swaps with UK ended with Brexit

Map: This is where private speed camera cars are operating in France

They were present in 53 departments last year, up from 39 in 2021

French roads ‘will be deadlier’ when speeding penalties eased

The government says it will stop deducting points from drivers’ licences for minor speeding offences, but opponents have called the move ‘disgusting’

French speed cameras collect €859million in fines in 2021

A driving association claims that 58% of fines relate to speeds less than 5km/h above the limit, accusing the government of simply ‘replenishing its coffers’

Driver doing 200km/h in northern France caught by police plane

The speeding car managed to shake off emergency services and was only caught after cooperation between on-the-ground gendarmerie vehicles and a Border Police plane

France tests speed cameras that also check phone and seatbelt use

The new cameras will be smaller and more inconspicuous than current models and are being tested in Toulouse and areas of Doubs

French driver got 33 fines due to average speed camera – What is this?

Woman argues she did not understand how the cameras worked, after dozens of fines arrived in a short space of time. Her family is fighting the case as the first ones took 10 months to arrive

Man fined for travelling at 98kph on e-scooter in south of France

The electric kick scooter had been modified so it was able to travel almost four times faster than normal

Driver in south of France fined for driving too slowly on motorway

The car was also found to be a non-licence vehicle, or a voiture sans permis (VSP), which are not allowed on motorways at all

Private unmarked speed camera cars to triple in France in 2021

The move is intended to free up police officers to ‘better use their skills’ in areas such as drink and drug driving detection

Unmarked radar cars to quadruple in France by end of 2020

The number of patrolling unmarked radar cars currently used by the police and private firms under contract is set to rise significantly next year

Nantes latest city in France to set 30 kph limit in centre

The city of Nantes in western France has become the latest city in France to impose a 30 kph speed limit almost everywhere, after Grenoble and Lille, in an aim to reduce noise and pollution, and improve safety.

How to spot unmarked speed control cars on French roads

As unmarked police cars catch drivers speeding on French roads using infrared cameras, a new site is aiming to catalogue all unmarked "radar cars" currently being used in France.

French village latest to install ‘shock’ speed limit signs

A village in northeast France has become the latest to install “shock” road signs in a bid to persuade speeding road users into slowing down.

Minister in favour of lowering French motorway speed limit

A proposal to reduce motorway speed limits to 110 kph in France, put forward by the citizens' Climate Change Convention, was "personally" supported today (Monday June 22) by minister of transport and ecology, Elisabeth Borne.

First French department confirms return to 90kph limit

The Haute-Marne in eastern France has become the first department to officially change back to a 90kph speed limit on departmental roads, 18 months after the government first imposed a drop to 80kph.

Driver speeding at 230kph arrested in central France

A driver doing more than 230kph in an 80kph zone - more than 150kph over the speed limit - has been stopped and arrested by gendarmerie in central France.

France had ‘historic low’ of 3,239 road deaths in 2019

There was a “historically low” number of road deaths in France in 2019, according to interior minister Christophe Castaner, as debates over safety and speed limits continue.

French village uses dark humour signs to stop speeding

A mayor in the north of France has installed some darkly comedic additions to the usual speed limit signs on a major road in his commune, to warn speeding drivers to slow down.

UK drivers caught in speed blitz, French owners escape

Drivers of UK-plated cars caught speeding in France are receiving fine notices in the post... but drivers of French-plated cars in the UK are still getting off scot-free.

New-generation radars replace cameras in France

Up to 250 new-generation speed cameras will be installed this month, with another 800 by the end of next year, to replace hundreds destroyed or damaged in gilets jaunes attacks.

French nature group: ‘Drop motorway limit to 100kph’

Reducing speed limits by as much as 30kph on French motorways as a way to “protect the environment” and “improve public transport” would be a “winning strategy”, a French environmental group has said.

Does the UK share driver details with France?

Does the UK share driver details with France if a British-registered car is flashed for speeding in France?

French city Marseille holds uninsured vehicle record

A record one in five vehicles in the southern city of Marseille is being driven without insurance, it has emerged, just over a week after it was confirmed that speed cameras will now track uninsured vehicles.

Monaco drivers face French speed fines

Monaco drivers will now pay speeding fines if flashed in France as the two governments agreed to target offenders.

French cars can now be fined in Ireland and Sweden

Drivers with French licence plates on their vehicle now risk a fine at home if they are caught speeding in two more countries - Ireland and Sweden - in addition to the 18 other nations already on the list.

Map of France shows roads changing speed back to 90kph

A map of departments in France that could change the speed limit from 80 kph to 90 kph on certain roads has been published, with the Haute-Marne (Grand-Est) the first to make the leap.

Compulsory speed limiters ‘good way to prevent deaths’

Radical action is needed to halt the number of road deaths in France, according to Chantal Perrichon, head of a road safety group, who is being targeted by the far right

Do British drivers get fines for speeding in France?

Does the UK now share driver details with France if a British-registered car is flashed for speeding in France? Does the owner of a British-registered car have to pay if they receive a French fine at their home in the UK? A.M.

Drivers must concentrate

I agree that a 90kph speed limit on narrow country roads is too high but an 80kph limit on major roads is too low.

How was trial a success?

RE your report ( 3 more regions to get unmarked speed cars , June issue), you say these cars are being rolled out “after a year-long trial in Normandy was deemed to be a success”.

France votes potential return to 90 kph on some roads

The French Assembly has voted in favour of potentially reversing the 80 kph speed limit drop from 90 kph on some departmental roads, almost a year after the controversial measure was introduced.

French speeder made false plates to punish cousin

A driver is due in court this week after creating a false number plate to trick authorities into wrongly punishing his cousin for speeding.

EU law means black boxes in new cars from 2022

Motoring lobby group fears plans to install so-called black boxes in new cars in the EU will "punish" drivers for all minor traffic infringements

France's speed limit u-turn "will not affect fines"

Road safety officials reject lawyer's claim that 'hundreds of thousands' of speeding cases could be cancelled after government u-turn on 90kph speed limits

Unmarked speed cars in three more French regions

Government unveils plan to extend use of private radar cars following trial in Normandy

‘Speed cameras of future’ to be installed in France

Hundreds of new generation “speed cameras of the future” are to be installed in France this year, and have been described as stronger and smarter than existing models.

France speed camera damage ‘cost €660m and death rise’

The destruction of speed cameras across France has cost the State €660 million from 2018 to 2019, and may also been linked to a 17% rise in road deaths to February 2019, official figures show.

French town installs ‘shock’ school warning road signs

A French town in the Saône-et-Loire (Bourgogne-Franche-Comté) has installed “shock sign” speed reminders on one of its most dangerous roads, in a bid to encourage drivers to slow down and pay attention.

Camera vandals blamed for France road deaths rise

Interior Minister reveals 75% of France's roadside safety cameras have been vandalised - and says there is a direct link to an increase in fatalities in January

Speed camera fines in France to bring in €1bn in 2019

The amount of money collected from speed camera fines is expected to rise by 12% and reach a record high of over €1 billion in France in 2019, due in part to the 80 kph speed limit introduced this year.

Spike in drivers caught speeding after limit cut

Officials predict fines will fall once drivers get used to lower speed

Court bid to stop France speed limit cut thrown out

MEPs sought temporary injunction preventing implementation of new speed limit on France's secondary routes

More foreign speeders to get fines but not Britons

Drivers from 17 countries will get fines in the post if they are caught by speed cameras... but UK drivers will still escape.

Police slam brakes on Brit racers on French autoroute

Gendarmes confiscate licences of Modball Rally drivers after vehicles clocked driving at between 180kph and 265kph on A26 near Calais

French department refuses to install new road signs

"Let the State handle it," department president says

86-year-old motorist clocked at 160kph in 90 zone

Driver told police she was 'in a hurry' to get home

Mayor bans private speed radar cars from village

Village in Gironde out of bounds to private speed radar vehicle drivers, even before they start operating in the region

Court rules on radar 'finger' case

Prosecutors had called for driver who made gesture to face prison term

First private speed radar cars hit French streets

Motorists' association launches legal bid to stop roll-out of privatised unmarked cars equipped with speed radar

Radar ‘finger’ could mean four-month jail term

One department gets tough on speeding drivers

Préfecture of Ain decides to double - and in some instances triple - sanctions for motorists who break the speed limit

Driver caught doing 202kph was ‘just testing his car’

A driver who was caught “testing” his car’s speed on a departmental road in the Vendée is risking a fine of up to €1,500 after police stopped him at 202kph.

Thousands of motorists protest 80kph speed limit drop

Thousands of bikers and car drivers have protested this weekend against the government's plans to change the speed limit on main roads from 90kph to 80kph.