driving
‘Educational’ speed camera returns to busy road in Brittany
First installed three years ago, the aim is to educate motorists without issuing fines
Published
A so-called ‘educational’ speed camera has been reinstalled on a road in Brittany to encourage motorists to slow down.
The device, which is known in France as a radar pédagogique, was first installed by the La Motte commune, in Côtes-d’Armor, in December 2023 at the junction of La Croix-Jartel and La Croix-Montfort streets.
It was put back in place at the beginning of November, near the entrance to the commune, and displays a speed limit of 50km/h.
The road is considered a traffic black spot, according to Actu.fr, as motorists often exceed the speed limit.
How do educational speed cameras work?
The aim of the camera is to educate motorists. For this reason, it does not record offences or issue fines.
Instead, it uses a digital display to show drivers how fast they are going, encouraging them to slow down if they are travelling faster than the speed limit.
There are thousands of these signs installed throughout France.
An ‘educational’ speed camera was recently installed in Londinières, Seine-Maritime, for example, after residents complained about speeding.
Mayors have the power to install them, although the process for installing conventional speed cameras is more complex. For local authority cameras, it involves an assessment of accident risks, a request to the prefecture and consultation with the Commission départementale de la sécurité routière (CDSR), the departmental road safety commission.
From 2027, French mayors are set to gain more power to install conventional speed cameras, although the costs will have to be covered by their communes. They are estimated to cost between €100,000 and €160,000 each.
