Have you ever been flashed by surprise believing to know the location of all the fixed radars? It is therefore possible that you have crossed a radar car. These vehicles equipped with automated speed control systems has been circulating in France since 2013 and are mainly managed by private companies. With the expansion scheduled for spring 2025, it becomes crucial to be vigilant at any time so as not to come across a trivialized car that would flash you.
Controversial and expanding vehicles
Since 2018, the majority of these radar cars have been led by employees of private companies, although some are still maneuvered by public service agents. This subcontracting remains controversial, in particular due to potential conflicts of interest and the practices of certain drivers revealed by former agents.
In 2025, the network of radar cars extends considerably. Three new regions join the system: Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Occitanie and Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur (PACA). This deployment adds 126 new vehicles to the existing fleet, bringing the total number to around 550 radar cars in circulation in France. Only Île-de-France and Corsica are currently spared by this mobile surveillance system.
The three signs that do not deceive
To locate these trivialized cars, you must be attentive to the subtle details. Here are the three signs that will allow you to identify them for sure:
- The black box: radar cars are equipped with a black box on the dashboard, visible from the front and sometimes from the rear if the window is not tinted. This device houses the infrared sensor used to measure the speed of vehicles.
- Discreet cameras: they have two small cameras on the windshield to record offenses, with LEDs visible in the dark. At the back of the vehicle, if the window is not tinted, you can see a black rectangle with thick contours stuck on the rear telescope, which allows you to read the signaling panels and flash the vehicles arriving in the opposite direction.
- The particular license plate: A distinctive sign of radar cars is their license plate. It presents a different writing font, with narrower and rounded characters, and a reflective plastic support which makes it particularly visible, especially at night. This plate is mounted on a retractable support, allowing access to the radar hidden behind.
Radar car models
In 2025, the list of models used for this surveillance mission widened. We now find Ford Mondeo, Citroën Berlingo, Peugeot 508 and 308, Volkswagen Passat and Golf, Seat Leon, Skoda Octavia, and even Dacia. Knowing these models can help drivers to be more vigilant, but it should not be forgotten that not all vehicles in these models are radar cars.
If it is possible to recognize a radar car by being attentive to these signs, the simplest and the surest is not to make speeding. Radar cars can now flash in both directions of traffic, even with a central landfill, thus expanding their field of action. In addition, they mainly target the roads limited to 80 or 90 km/h. Respecting the speed limitations will prevent you from trouble and, above all, will allow you to guarantee your safety and that of those around you on the road.
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