‘Discreet’ speed cameras frustrate drivers around Toulouse
Cameras are placed on poles in amongst trees or on downhill roads
The speed cameras, known as équipement de terrain urbain (urban field equipment), are placed in particularly accident-prone locations
Shutterstock / Ensapa37, TF1
Drivers in Toulouse are being caught out by ‘discreet’ urban speed cameras - some placed in amongst trees or fixed onto lampposts - leading to surprise fines.
Some six urban speed cameras have been installed in the city, some on downhill stretches of road, where cars tend to accelerate.
“I only found out about them through the various fines I have received, and I must admit I would have preferred to have been warned first as a preventive measure,” a motorist from Toulouse told TF1.
A taxi driver also highlighted that some of his colleagues have received up to €500 of speeding fines over the period of a year.
The cameras, known as équipement de terrain urbain (ETU, urban field equipment) are placed in particularly accident-prone locations.
“It has never been about trying to trap anyone or recording as many offences as possible… We saw a very high volume of offences initially and then a decline,” said Haute-Garonne sub-prefect David Foltz.
One of the cameras has seen the number of speeding offences fall by nearly 60% since its installation, as drivers gradually became aware of its presence.
“At 50 km/h, the risk of killing a pedestrian or cyclist is nine times higher than at 30 km/h. And that is one reason why speed enforcement in towns is particularly important,” stated Pierre Lagache, vice-president of La Ligue contre la violence routière (League against road violence).
The first urban speed camera in Toulouse was installed in November 2023, with a further five appearing in 2024.
Invisible flashes
Visible flashes – when a speed camera emits a strong ‘flash’ of light as it records a speeding transgression – have not been operational on most speed cameras in France for several years, using invisible infrared systems instead.
This is the case with the urban cameras in Toulouse, however visible flashes are set to return to French speed cameras this year.
They will be tested in the departments of Gard, Marne, and Yvelines first, before being rolled out to more areas nationwide.
They are considered to be a good ‘educational’ tool, raising awareness of when a camera is working, and if drivers have been caught speeding.
A map to identify speed cameras
The French government has created an interactive speed camera map (La carte des radars), allowing drivers to identify where these cameras are placed.
The tool allows you to select a department from a drop-down list. You can also zoom on the map to find a specific area and filter results by the type of speed camera.
According to the map, some 20 urban cameras exist in France, with three around Marseille in addition to the six in Toulouse, and ten in the Doubs department, particularly near Montbéliard and Belfort. The final camera is in Valenton (Val-de-Marne).
However, it is possible that several more cameras exist in cities around France, as the most recent urban camera to be added to the government map was done so in February, 2025.
Reports suggest that ‘discreet’ cameras have also been placed in Montpellier and Lyon.
