Private Radar Cars to Enhance Road Safety in Southern France from 2025

Starting in 2025, the southern regions of France, specifically Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, and Occitanie, will see the deployment of private radar cars to combat speeding and enhance road safety. The initiative, led by OTC—a company with experience in managing radar operations—aims to extend its reach following a new contract valued at approximately 34.5 million euros. This contract will span two years, beginning in December 2024, and will introduce 126 radar-equipped vehicles gradually over the course of 2025.

The radar cars, which will be unmarked, are set to patrol various routes as determined by state authorities and under the guidance of departmental prefects. These vehicles will cover an extensive network of roads, from motorways and national highways to local roads, particularly targeting areas prone to accidents due to high-speed violations. This strategic deployment is expected to address the critical areas where speeding has historically led to severe accidents.

Equipped with state-of-the-art infrared technology, these vehicles are designed to detect and record speeding discretely, ensuring drivers are unaware of the monitoring process. The enforcement strategy will primarily focus on egregious speed violations, including drivers traveling over 146 km/h on motorways, 124 km/h on expressways, and 61 km/h in urban settings. Through these measures, the program anticipates a significant reduction in speed-related traffic incidents across the targeted regions.