Flashes return on French speed cameras

Visible flashes are returning to French speed cameras this year, and are set to be tested in the departments of Gard, Marne, and Yvelines first, before being rolled out to more areas nationwide.

Visible flashes – when a speed camera emits a strong ‘flash’ of light as it records a speeding transgression – have not been operational on most speed cameras in France for several years, as the devices can operate well without them, using invisible infrared systems instead.

Invisible systems began to be brought in around 10 years ago, with authorities saying at the time that this was partly to create a feeling of uncertainty among drivers, who might feel they could, at any time, be caught by a camera without realising it, and that they would thus take more care.

Now, however, the government is bringing the flash back. It is now considered to be a good ‘educational’ tool, as it raises awareness among drivers of when a camera is working, and if they (and/or drivers around them) have been caught speeding.

Three departments testing the system

Gard (Occitanie) is one of the three departments to have been testing the system since early January. 

Its prefecture said in a statement: “The flash allows drivers who are speeding to immediately realise that they have committed an offence, thus preventing them from only becoming aware of the offence later, when they no longer have the context in mind. It also alerts other vehicles in the vicinity.”

Yvelines (Ile-de-France) and Marne (Grand Est) have also had the flash system installed for testing. 

The system is coordinated and led by national automated checking service, le Département du contrôle automatisé (DCA), a section of the Interior Ministry in charge of planning the deployment of cameras. 

The tests will continue for around a month, and if deemed successful, the ‘flashes’ will then be gradually rolled out nationwide. 

Some 1,500 ‘tower cameras’ and 350 fixed urban cameras could be equipped with the system.

It comes amid plans to greatly increase the number of speed cameras in France overall, especially in urban areas, where some 5,000 new 'local authority' cameras are expected to be installed from from 2026 to 2035.

‘A good thing’

Flashes make speed cameras more visible, and already an opinion poll conducted in Yvelines – reported by specialist driving website Autoplus, and BFMTV – has found that 46% of drivers prefer speed cameras that flash, and even 50% of drivers who have been caught out by a flashing camera prefer them.

More than half (54%) say that the main benefit of the flashing cameras is the fact that they give “immediate information”.

One driver welcomed the system, telling BFMTV: “It’s not so bad, at least you know whether you’ve been ‘flashed’ or not.”

Another said: “I think it’s a good thing, at least you know what’s happening, and you’re less surprised by what comes next, and whether you could have done anything [to prevent it] or not.”

‘Changes absolutely nothing’

The installation of a ‘flash’ on speed cameras will not change their function, and the thresholds for speeding offences will remain the same. 

Similarly, radar cars (vehicles that follow a pre-set route and can catch speeding drivers on the roads) will not have flashes installed, and will instead remain equipped with invisible infrared speeding detection systems.

Pierre Chasseray, from driver association 40 Millions d’Automobilistes, told BFMTV: “The main problem we have with speed cameras is that they are flashing tiny excesses of speed.” He added that introducing visible flashes will “change absolutely nothing”, and that drivers will still receive fines just as before.