Speed radars increasingly being vandalised in France
Up to 15% of radars are currently out of service
Between 2018 and 2022, tens of thousands of acts of vandalism were recorded across the radar network
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Up to 15% of France’s fixed speed cameras are currently out of service, many due to deliberate damage, as a sustained wave of vandalism spreads across the country.
Recent incidents in southern France illustrate a pattern that police say is becoming more organised and more frequent.
In Bouches-du-Rhône, two turret radars near Meyrargues and Peyrolles-en-Provence have been set on fire multiple times since February, using similar methods involving combustible materials placed at the base of the structure before being ignited.
Gendarmes have launched an appeal for witnesses following the latest attacks in April, noting the repeated targeting of the same installations within days of repair.
A growing national trend
The southern incidents form part of a wider escalation in damage to speed cameras across France, with multiple regions reporting sustained or accelerating attacks.
In Vaucluse, authorities say vandalism has nearly increased tenfold over five years. In Eure-et-Loir, every radar in the department was damaged at least once in 2025, with more than 100 incidents recorded and repair costs reaching €400,000.
Other areas show similar persistence. In Brittany, a radar in Morbihan has been destroyed and reinstalled repeatedly - burnt down three times between 2024 and 2025 - in a pattern local officials describe as difficult to stop.
Nationally, the scale is significant. Between 2018 and 2022, tens of thousands of acts of vandalism were recorded across the radar network. Today, around 15% of the country’s 4,700 - 5,000 fixed cameras are estimated to be out of service at any given time.
Footage shared on social media has also amplified the trend, with videos showing attacks on radars circulating widely, including cases involving improvised explosive devices.
While penalties are severe - up to seven years in prison and €100,000 in fines in aggravated cases - they do not appear to be acting as a deterrent.
Safety concerns and political tension
Authorities stress that the consequences go beyond property damage. Road safety officials argue that speed cameras have a measurable impact on driver behaviour, particularly on stretches of road where they are installed.
As one gendarmerie commander in the Vaucluse told France Info, “studies in France and across Europe show that the placement of speed cameras changes the behaviour of motorists and motorcyclists on the roads where they are installed.”
Replacing damaged radars is estimated to cost between €20 - €40 million annually - funds that could otherwise be directed towards road safety improvements or infrastructure upgrades.
Motoring group 40 Millions d’automobilistes says the actions reflect a “breakdown” in trust between drivers and the state, arguing that speed cameras are increasingly seen as punitive rather than preventive, while making clear it does not condone vandalism.
