Speed display signs in France: how ‘educational’ radars work

Londinières in Seine-Maritime, Normandy, is among the latest communes in France to install a speed display sign following residents’ complaints about speeding.

Known in France as a radar pédagogique, the device shows motorists their speed to encourage them to slow down, but does not issue fines.

The council bought the sign for a road into the village after reporting positive results from another on a nearby road, reports Actu.fr.

It also plans to monitor traffic for one or two months to establish the number and types of vehicles using the road. The findings will help determine whether further traffic-calming measures are needed.

How do speed display signs work?

A speed display sign shows motorists how fast they are travelling, usually on a digital screen, to encourage them to slow down if they exceed the speed limit. However, the device does not issue fines.

There are thousands of them throughout France and they are used in cities as well as rural areas.

The aim is to raise awareness of speeding and improve road safety without penalising drivers.

Mayors can install these devices using their police powers over local traffic.

While the process for installing such a radar is relatively simple, it is not the same as installing an automatic speed camera, which can record offences and lead to fines. 

For the latter, the process includes an accident-risk assessment, a request to the prefecture and consultation with the departmental road safety commission, the Commission départementale de la sécurité routière (CDSR).

However, from 2027, French mayors will have greater authority to install them but communes will have to cover the costs themselves, with each device costing around €100,000 to €160,000.