France’s road safety authority has launched a public tender to expand and modernise automated enforcement devices with the use of video and artificial intelligence. The move aims to broaden the scope of automated fines to cover a wide range of offences, with implications for professional drivers and haulage firms operating in the country.
According to reports by L’Argus and RTL, the new generation of cameras would go beyond traditional speed and red-light enforcement. Using AI video analysis and lidar-3D technology, they are designed to automatically detect:
- drivers holding a phone in hand
- not wearing a seatbelt
- tailgating (insufficient safety distance)
- illegal overtaking
- misuse of bus lanes, cycle boxes, or road markings
At present, France has around 4,000 fixed enforcement devices in service, alongside 500 outsourced radar cars operated by private companies. Under the current plan, the number of “radars tourelles” alone is expected to grow from a few hundred to about 1,700 by the end of 2028.
Higher fine risks for haulage companies
For road transport operators, the expansion of enforcement could have a direct impact. Tailgating and overtaking bans are already sensitive issues for heavy goods vehicle drivers in France. More widespread and technologically advanced controls are likely to increase the number of fines, both for domestic and foreign drivers.
Fleet managers may need to step up compliance training and factor a higher risk of penalties into operational planning, particularly on routes where time pressure and congestion increase the likelihood of infractions. As with existing speed camera fines, cross-border data exchange mechanisms mean that vehicles registered abroad will not be exempt from detection.
Cab surveillance raises data protection concerns
Motoring associations, including 40 millions d’automobilistes and La Ligue des Conducteurs, have criticised the project. They argue that relying heavily on automated enforcement risks reducing the presence of police on the roads, with consequences for tackling dangerous behaviours such as drink- and drug-driving.
There are also legal and privacy concerns. Since AI cameras will capture images inside vehicles to verify seatbelt use or phone handling, the French data protection authority (CNIL) may have a role in setting limits, and legal challenges are expected.
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A European precedent?
The tender, which runs until the end of October 2025, is part of a wider “radars 2026–2030” programme. If successful, the French approach could set a precedent for other EU countries, where road safety authorities are under pressure to reduce accidents while keeping enforcement costs down.
For hauliers and professional drivers, France’s adoption of AI-powered enforcement technology is therefore more than a domestic development; it could mark the start of a broader European trend.
