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Local France
07-04-2025
- Automotive
- Local France
France rolls out 'flash free' speed cameras
It's a common experience for drivers - you see a bright flash and realise with horror that you have been exceeding the speed limit, and it's likely that a speeding ticket will soon be arriving in the mail. However France is increasingly switching to 'flash free' cameras, so you might be entirely oblivious until the ticket arrives. The first Fusion 2 Mesta turret radar cameras were deployed on French roads in 2019, but in recent months the rollout has been accelerated, and now there are around 400 of them around the country. Advertisement The plan is for them to gradually replace the older cameras, and be used for new camera sites, until they eventually represent around 75 percent of France's fixed speed cameras. The country currently has 4,000 fixed speed cameras in operation, and this year the number is expected to rise to 4,160, according to Capital France . You can see a map of where they are located on the Securité Routière website. This is in addition to mobile cameras and to police officers carrying out roadside speed checks. When you are entering a stretch of road where cameras are deployed, you should see the below sign. A French road sign warning drivers of speed cameras ahead. Photo by PHILIPPE HUGUEN / AFP Speeding in France is usually punishable by a fine and/or points being added to the driver's licence, although in cases of very excessive speed - or when speeding is combined with another type of traffic offence such as dangerous driving - it can result in the loss of the licence. Radars, fines and points: France's speeding laws explained
Local France
04-04-2025
- Automotive
- Local France
Radars, fines and points: How to understand France's speeding laws
When driving in France, it is important to pay close attention to signage and to respect the speed limit at all times. Speeding is not only dangerous, but it can also get you a hefty ticket. Even though it may not be a big deal to go just a couple kilometres over the limit in your home country, speeding is taken very seriously in France. You can be pulled over by a police officer for speeding, but you could also be caught by a speed camera and not even realise it until you get a fine in the mail. Pay careful attention to the signs showing the speed limits - it's not uncommon for the limit to change regularly along the same road, especially the rural single lane routes. The country currently has 4,000 speed cameras in operation, and this year the number is expected to rise to 4,160, according to Capital France . You can see a map of where they are located on the Securité Routière website. Standard speed limit rules In France, you risk both a fine and points removed from your French licence. Most foreigners in France (excluding Brits) are required to swap their licence for a French licence one year after moving here. You can find details in our separate article. Advertisement For non-EU tourists who are driving their own cars in France, whether or not you receive a point on your foreign licence depends on whether your country (or state) has a reciprocal agreement with France. If you have snapped by a speed camera while in a hire car, rental companies will relay your information to French authorities, and they may also apply a surcharge for fines. READ MORE: Can France confiscate your foreign driving licence? If you are caught going less than 5km/h above the permitted speed, then there is no longer any risk of having points taken from your licence, but you still risk a fine. The fines are correlated to the type of 'class of offence'. As such, if the speed limit was more than 50km/h the standard ( forfaitaire ) fine would be €68, which is the amount for a 3rd class offence. If the limit was less or equal to 50km/h the standard fine would be €135, which is the amount for a 4th class offence. READ MORE: What to do if you get a speeding ticket while driving in France This fine can either be decreased ( minorée ) if you pay quickly, or it can be increased ( majorée ) if you do not pay within the time limit specified in your fine. The instructions for how to pay will be included with the fine, along with instructions to give details of another driver if you weren't driving at the time. You can see the remaining offence 'classes' in the table below. The most severe would be the 5th class offence (going 50km/h above the limit) which leads to a removal of six points from your licence and a fine of up to €1,500. Service Public chart of speeding offences in France, in English. What is the 'margin of error'? In theory, any speeding can lead to a fine, but if you are caught by a speed camera then there is a 'margin of error' to consider too. Keep an eye out for signage indicating that you have entered a zone with radar enforcement. Despite rumours that these would be changing in 2025, French media has confirmed that there are no plans to change radar 'margins of error'. These are outlined by French law , and they depend on the type of speed camera. Advertisement Fixed speed camera ( radar de vitesse fixe ) - This would be a box-looking radar device along the side of the road that is permanently placed there. It has a margin of error of 5km/h under 100km/h. Over 100km/h, a five percent margin is applied. Basically, this means if the fine says you were driving at 78km/h in a 70km/h zone, then you subtract the margin of error to get the vitesse retenue. In this example, 78 - 5 = 73. Regardless of the margin of error, you were still speeding three kilometres above the limit, and thus you will get a fine but no points on your licence. Mobile Speed Cameras ( les radars mobiles ) - These are the speed cameras installed in police vehicles , and they are less accurate. The margin of error is 10km/h for speeds below 100km/h, and it is 10 percent for speeds above 100km/h. Advertisement Stopped radar cars ( radars vitesse embarqués ) - These are speed cameras positioned inside or outside of vehicles along the roadside. The margin of error is also 5km/h under 100km/h, and five percent above 100km/h. You might not see a 'flash' Several speed camera models do not 'flash' anymore. In fact, since 2019, France has deployed over 400 units of the latest 'Fusion 2 Mesta turret radar' (the latest 'fixed radar' on the side of the road). This camera uses an invisible infrared flash, so you may not know that it caught you speeding. According to Le Figaro , France plans on deploying more of these units across the country, and eventually they will represent 75 percent of speed cameras on the roads. Vocab guide Exces de vitesse - speeding Maximum vitesse - speed limit Vitesse retenue - Your recorded speed minus the margin of error. This is the speed used to calculate your fine if you were caught by a radar device. Appareil de contrôle - The type of speed camera or device that registered you as speeding Amende minorée - Fine at the decreased level. This applies if you pay quickly. Usually the limit is 46 days, from the date the ticket was issued. Amende forfetaire - The standard fine. This is the amount you pay if you do so within the 'standard' period (meaning 47-76 days). Amende majorée - The increased fine for late payment. This is the amount you would pay after 76 days. Avis de contravention - Ticket/ notice of violation Formulaire de requête en exonération - Request to contest the ticket. This form will come with the ticket in the mail. You can fill it out and send it back to contest the charge and request a reimbursement. Keep in mind that unless someone else was driving your vehicle, or it was sold/ destroyed/ stolen, then you must pay the ticket and request reimbursement.
