Uninsured vehicles now tracked by cameras in France

Now, when a vehicle is “flashed” by a camera for committing an offence - such as speeding, or running through a red light - the camera will also cross-check the registration number.

This will check that the vehicle is listed on the national database for insured vehicles.

The check will take into account the possibility that the vehicle driver in question may have taken insurance out very recently - as insurers are permitted three days to confirm new policies.

Yet, any driver who is found without insurance after this time delay will face significant fines.

Drivers on their first offence will be fined €500 (dropping to €400 for payment within 15 days, and rising to €1,000 for payment after 45 days). Drivers who are on their second offence and beyond can incur fines of up to €7,500, and repeat offenders risk losing their vehicle and/or licence completely.

The rules have been in place since September 19 this year.

Driving insurance is mandatory by law in France, but figures from road safety agency l’Observatoire National Interministériel de la Sécurité Routière (ONISR) show that an estimated 700,000 people are still driving on roads without it.