France and Belgium tighten speed controls as radar deployment and new study reveal high violations

In northern France, a mobile speed‑radar was installed at the Dourges exchange (exit 17) on the A21 motorway, directing traffic toward Lens. The speed limit at the site was lowered to 90 km/h and the radar operates only in the Douai‑Lens direction, remaining in place until 14 August while the nearby A1 is closed for works.

A separate study by the Belgian road‑safety institute Vias found that two‑thirds of drivers exceed the limit in 30 km/h zones. The average speed recorded in these zones was 41 km/h, with 65 % of motorists would have been fined if a radar were present and 6 % driving more than 30 km/h over the limit, a record speed of 119 km/h being noted. The study also noted improvements on highways, attributing them to increased segment‑radar deployment and the rise of electric vehicles. Vias recommends expanding visible speed controls and adapting infrastructure to curb speeding in low‑speed zones.