Mobile speed cams catch 300k drivers

MOBILE speed cameras mounted on unmarked police cars picked up 300,000 speeding motorists on the streets of France in their first year of operation.

According to a statement by the Interministerial Delegation for Road Safety (DISR), of the 300,000 offenses recorded, 180,000 violation notices were issued as a result of evidence supplied from the new generation mobile cameras.

The others could not be prosecuted as photographic evidence was unclear, according to Le Figaro, which published the figures

A total 24,000 of those caught were speeding on the streets of Paris, it has been revealed.

In total, 99 unmarked police cars - Renault Meganes and Peugeot 208s - are currently equipped with the two-way cameras, hidden behind the vehicles' registration plates.

By the end of the year, the fleet of equipped vehicles is set to increase to 200, with a further 100 added next year. Renault Berlingos will also be fitted with the mobile cameras.

You can see a video of the mobile cameras in action here.

Henri Prevost, of DISR, told Le Figaro that the mobile devices have proved more efficient than older fixed cameras.

Speeding drivers may not be aware that they have been caught out, as the “flash” from these new generation mobile cameras is infra-red.

The permitted margin of error of these cameras is 10kph where speed limits are lower than 100kph and 10% for speed limits above 100kph.

That means the cameras will operate when motorists are driving in excess of 146kph on autoroutes, 124kph on express ways, 102kph on national or provincial routes, and 61kph in provincial areas.

Photo: BFMTV screengrab