driving
France wants 750 urban speed cameras in operation by end of 2027
Up to 150 such cameras are currently deployed on French roads
Plans to greatly increase the number of urban speed cameras are set to be introduced in France, with up to 750 cameras installed nationwide by the end of next year.
Provisions to increase the number of these speed cameras are included in the 2027 budget.
Separate from these state-funded and installed cameras, local authorities can directly request the installation of these urban speed cameras within municipal limits, subject to approval from prefectures, paying for installation themselves.
Currently between 100 and 150 such cameras are in place across France, including in cities such as Marseille, Lyon, and Toulouse.
An increase in installation is expected to coincide with a rise in offences recorded – and fines issued – with one expert estimating revenue of €300 million from urban speed cameras alone.
However, the push to install these cameras will depend on the success of the 2027 budget, which is far from certain to pass.
What are urban speed cameras?
These radars urbains or urban speed cameras are installed in high-population areas.
They can catch drivers committing offences including running red lights and speeding.
They are smaller than the ‘turret radars’ on France’s major roads, and are often discreet and hard to notice.
Signs informing drivers of the cameras are placed roadside, but can be difficult to spot in the busy urban environment and are often small, around 50cm in size.
There are reports that the turrets housing these cameras can remain empty (without a functioning camera inside), with the cameras split across multiple radars, making it difficult to track which cameras are functioning at any given time. A similar policy of ‘decoy cabins’ are used for other radars across France.
An official map of speed camera locations from France’s road safety authority, sécurité routière, can be filtered to show the location of urban radars. However, the map has not been updated since July 2025 and does not show the location of all current cameras. It may be updated in the future if new cameras are installed.
It is worth noting that urban radars are distinct from the CCTV used in several major cities to catch driver traffic offences.
Despite previous plans to use AI speed cameras to catch a range of additional offences, such rules are yet to be implemented in France.
Source of revenue for state
Drivers have reacted to the plans with a mixture of responses.
“It’s a very, very good thing, because here [in Marseille] people don't respect amber lights, or even red lights,” said one driver to public service broadcaster France Info.
“In terms of safety, I think it’s a good thing to have these cameras, given that quite a few people drive rather fast,” said another.
Some, however, believe the plans are simply a way to raise funds for the state. “I think they’re going a bit too far—it’s as if they’re so desperate to find money that anything goes,” said one to media outlet TF1.
Journalist at motoring website L’Argus Pascal Pennec estimated that the urban speed cameras could raise up to €300 million per year from 2027.
“If you take 750 urban speed cameras, multiply that by an average fine of €100, and assume a minimum of 4,000 fines per camera, you quickly reach €300 million,” he said.
In 2025, nearly €1 billion was raised from speed camera fines, and in 2026 estimated revenue from fines relating to all traffic offences is set to reach around €2 billion – making €300 million a not-insignificant increase to the total funds raised.
Not all of the money from fines goes directly to state coffers, however.
The €947 million raised from speed cameras in 2025 was split as follows: 35% was allocated to road safety, 37% to the renovation and development of transport networks, 23% to repaying the national debt, and the remainder to public health and the administration of traffic fines.
