Paris motorists protest 30 km/h speed camera on ring road

Motorists on the Paris ring road (périphérique) are expressing frustration over a speed camera installed near Porte de Montreuil that enforces a 30 km/h limit. The device has been active since August 24 to monitor a construction zone where lanes have been narrowed as part of an urban transformation project intended to create green spaces and partially cover the ring road by 2030.

Drivers have criticized the measure, labeling it a “trap” and arguing that it will exacerbate existing traffic congestion, especially since the general speed limit on much of the ring road was reduced to 50 km/h in October 2024. Some motorists claim the camera is partially obscured by barriers.

In response to the backlash, Sophy Sainten, general delegate of the association Prévention routière, defended the installation as a preventive tool. She noted that 29% of road accidents are linked to inappropriate or excessive speed and emphasized that the changed driving conditions necessitate stricter enforcement. Violations of the 30 km/h limit carry significant penalties, including fines and the loss of driver's license points.