Speed cameras: French mayors can soon install more

Mayors in France will soon have the authority to install speed cameras wherever they choose in their own area, but at the commune’s own expense – a detail that is causing some controversy.

From next year, if mayors wish to install more speed cameras at chosen points in their commune, they will be authorised to do so. The locations will need to be approved by the local prefecture, and will also be subject to a risk assessment to ensure that the cameras will have a positive effect on the risk of accidents.

And while a minimum number of speed cameras will continue to be paid for by the state, to help ensure road safety, any extra cameras will need to be paid for by the commune. 

An automatic speed camera can cost €100,000-160,000, not including the costs of maintenance or repairs in case of vandalism (which is becoming increasingly common). As a result, many mayors are taking issue with this, as the cost could represent a significant burden to small communes and those with already-stretched budgets.

An ‘additional burden’

French mayoral group l’Association des maires de France has said that this measure presents an “additional burden without financial compensation”.

One mayor, Régis Charbonnier, of Boissy-Saint-Léger (Val-de-Marne, Île-de-France), has said that he would be willing to pay to install new cameras – but he wants help to cover ongoing costs.

“The town is willing to make this effort to protect its residents, provided that the state transfers the proceeds from fines to us to cover the costs,” he told FranceInfo. 

The commune is set to install two extra speed cameras next year, in addition to one already covered by the state.

“Less than a month ago, a 58-year-old woman was struck by a vehicle and died from her injuries in the days that followed,” he said. “So the idea is to install a speed camera at that traffic light, and at the one just down the road.”

Mr Charbonnier’s suggestion that revenue from speeding offences should go back – at least partly – to the commune, is shared by mayoral group l'Association des Maires de France (AMF).

“Revenue from traffic violations goes directly to the state. If there were at least a fair share of the revenue generated by this investment, we anticipate that a number of municipalities might invest because they would find it financially viable,” said Frédéric Cuillerier, co-chair of the transport commission at the AMF, to TF1.

Speed camera as ‘political weapon’?

The new measure has also sparked controversy amid the pro-driving lobby. 

Pierre Chasseray, general director of the drivers’ association 40 Millions d'automobilistes, has said that the measure will enable certain communes to “install speed cameras everywhere” and use them as political tools.

"Speed cameras are going to become a purely political weapon,” he told LCI. “Cities that are firmly rooted in certain ideologies [that are] opposed to car use – and therefore to drivers – [will decide] to install speed cameras everywhere just to annoy people.”

There are currently around 4,750 speed cameras installed on roads across France.

Replacing damaged radars due to vandalism is estimated to cost between €20 million to €40 million annually. 40 Millions d’automobilistes says that while it does not condone vandalism, the increased damage shows that there has been a “breakdown” in trust between drivers and the state.