More French regions use private unmarked speed camera cars

More regions are getting ready to roll-out unmarked privately operated speed radar vehicles on their roads, following a successful trial in Normandy two years ago.

Motorists in the Centre-Val-de-Loire, Grand Est and Bourgogne Franche-Comté are advised to be on their best behaviour from the early part of the year as unmarked private camera vehicles take to the roads checking for speeding drivers.

Some 20 vehicles - which have cameras at the front and rear - are already operational in Loiret and Loir-et-Cher, according to newspapers Le Parisien and La Nouvelle République.

While cars are driven by private operators, their journeys are planned by the prefectures, while police validate and administrate the fines process.

Radar cars are also due to enter service in the Grand-Est, notably in the Marne department from early January, as the local press reported last month, while they will begin operating in Bourgogne Franche-Comté in the first quarter of 2021.

AutoPlus magazine estimated that 40 radar vehicles were operating at the beginning of October, out of a total of 402 latest generation vehicles. It added that the cars were expected to enter service in Hauts-de-France and Nouvelle Aquitaine in the coming months.