Mass speeding fines handed as limit lowers on key road near Nice
Locals claim change was not made clear, but mairie says information was given in several ways
The new speed limit coincides with an effort to reduce fatalities on roads in the department. Photo for illustrative purposes only
Minerva Studio/Shutterstock
Drivers near Nice in the south-east of France are being warned over the recently decreased speed limit on a major coastal road, which has led to an influx of speeding fines with many drivers claiming they were unaware of the change.
The RM6098 saw its top speed drop from 70 km/h to 50 km/h at the end of June.
This coastal road links the end of Nice’s Promenade des Anglais with the neighbouring town of Saint-Laurent-du-Var and then Cagnes-sur-Mer. In both towns it is known as the Route du bord du Mer. It eventually connects to the A8 motorway.
This change came alongside several other initiatives to reduce fatal road accidents in the area, which has also seen the addition of several speed cameras to Nice’s famous Promenade.
However, speed cameras – able to track drivers in both directions – have also been installed on the RM6098.
This, alongside a perceived lack of information about the speed limit changes, has led to an influx of speeding fines, especially among irritated locals.
One driver told local media Nice Matin that he had received at least nine speeding fines from the road, leading to fines of over €1,000.
A particular problem cited is the cameras do not flash when they record a speeding driver, so those who have continually driven above the new speed limit – whether knowingly or not – were not being informed they were being caught and have continued to drive at the same speeds.
‘Drivers are easy targets’ for money say opposition councillors
The installation of the cameras has become a hotbed issue for local politicians.
“The goal [of the speed cameras] is not our security,” said right-wing local councillor Michel Lebon, part of the opposition in Cagnes-sur-Mer.
“It’s necessary to find a huge amount of money for [Macronist policies]… and drivers are easy targets,” he added.
However, authorities retaliated to the backlash by saying they made the changes explicitly clear.
The new speed limit was made clear through several posters and a social media campaign, says the Saint-Laurent-du-Var mairie.
There were six posters put up before the speed limit change (three in each direction along the road), as well as information on an electronic signage board.
For the first week of the new speed limit, police were present along the road to inform drivers, it added.
No fines were given out for speeding in the first 15 days of the new limit to get drivers accustomed to the change.
“This decision is in line with the principles of territorial continuity and quality of life. Lower speeds mean fewer risks, less nuisance and greater comfort for all users,” said mayor of Saint-Laurent-du-Var Joseph Segura on the town’s website.
Permission to change signage alongside the cameras to show the limit is 50 km/h has been demanded by the mairie, but it claims they are still waiting approval.
It says that it is not a legal requirement to place a sign showing the speed limit near the presence of cameras, with the signage merely stating their presence being sufficient enough.
However, the mairie is planning to add these extra signs when authorised to do so to help clear up confusion.
