Motorists outraged after new Paris speed camera flashes at just 30km/h

The installation of a temporary speed camera on the Paris ring road (périphérique) to catch anyone who speeds above 30km/h has led to confusion and anger among drivers. 

The autonomous camera was installed on August 24 on the outer ring road (périphérique extérieur) at Porte de Montreuil, where roadworks are taking place.

This temporary device is not a fixed radar but can be moved in different locations in the work zone and is being used to enforce the 30km/h temporary limit. 

Angry drivers have been reacting to the new installation on social media, with one motorist uploading video of the camera writing: “Can you imagine, on a three-lane périphérique, a roadworks radar flashing at 30km/h?” 

They also went on to say that the camera had been placed “exactly where it needs to be to quickly finance the works.” The post on X gained a lot of attention, with thousands of users commenting on the new radar.

However, the Paris police prefecture defended their decision to install the radar. 

“The Ville de Paris reduced the maximum speed allowed in the area to 30km/h and wanted to install a radar on the same stretch. Following authorisation by the police prefecture, in view of road safety concerns, a radar was installed on August 24,” the police prefecture said, according to France 3. 

For their part, the Mobilité Club de France questioned whether this temporary restriction was sufficiently explained to motorists. 

“Give the reason why you have to slow down: for the safety of those who are working. There, we would all do it without a problem,” Yves Carra, spokesperson of the association said, according to France 3, adding that the work zone only extends for a few hundred metres.

He also added that the inadequate signage could undermine the safety objective of the restriction, because motorists who do not understand why they have to slow down may fail to do so. 

For now, the radar is expected to remain in place until the completion of the works, although it could be moved to different locations on the périphérique. Motorists should therefore remain vigilant.

It is also important to note that motorists travelling at 50km/h (the normal speed limit on this section of the périphérique before the introduction of the new 30km/h limit) and caught by the camera could face a €135 fine (€90 if paid early) and the loss of two points on their French driving licence.