Speed camera vandalism in France puts up to 75% of devices out of action

The French government has announced the installation of 400 new-generation speed cameras, following a spate of attacks on existing devices in recent months.

The interior minister Christophe Castaner announced last month that up to 75% of speed cameras across the country had been vandalised and put out of action.  Attacks on speed camera equipment in France have increased dramatically since the reduction of the rural road speed limit to 80km/h last summer and the rise of the Yellow Vest protest movement.

The new French-made speed cameras sit on towers 4-metres high, making them less susceptible to vandalism.  A single device can check vehicle speed across five lanes of traffic, and also has the capability of checking for other driving offences, following regulatory approval.