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Roads to avoid as people travel for a bank holiday weekend away
It is the last long weekend before the summer holidays and many people will be going away
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American on Interpol’s wanted list found during routine check in France
He is accused of sexually assaulting a student at a Pennsylvania college in 2013
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EXPLAINED: Why France has declared state of emergency in New Caledonia
Three people have been killed in riots since the start of the week
‘Dummy’ radars installed to cut accidents
Speeding drivers in north-east France are being targeted by new ‘dummy’ camera zones to persuade them to reduce their speeds on blackspot roads.
In February a first phase started on 37km of the D939 in Pas-de-Calais – where crashes have killed six people and seriously injured 29 in the past five years. The road was fitted with a series of speed-trap warning signs beside possible camera sites and a single automatic camera that was regularly moved.
Another movable camera has now been installed on the D928, Saint-Omer and Hesdin, with a similar series of warning signs so drivers will not be certain of its real location.
The 2mx2m battery-powered units are mounted on retractable trailer wheels, flash at speeding vehicles and send automatic penalty notices to the Antai traffic agency.
From next year, police will test a new version that uses a series of empty camera ‘shells’ set up on blackspot roads.
Only one cabine in a 100 will contain a working speed camera and measuring equipment — but there are 5,000 cabines planned across France.