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The three French regions set to get extra unmarked speed traps

Three regions of France are set to get an extra 60 unmarked cars with speed cameras inside after a successful trial in Normandy last year.

Published: 23 May 2019 14:31 CEST
The three French regions set to get extra unmarked speed traps
The cameras will be in unmarked cars operated by private firms. Photo: AFP

The first cars manned by private firms – rather than the French state – were put on the roads in Normandy in April 2018 for a pilot scheme.

Now the French government says that the scheme was a success and three other regions – Brittany, Pay de la Loire and Centre Val-de-Loire – will see the cars rolled out from January 2020.

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Fixed cameras have become major targets for vandals. Photo: AFP

A total of 60 cars – 19 in Brittany, 20 in Pays de la Loire and 21 in Centre-Val de Loire – will run six hours a day, seven days a week.

They will be unmarked and drivers will have no way of knowing when they have been caught by the speed camera.

The French government's website stated: “Radar cars will operate on routes and time slots set by the State services according to local accident criteria.

“They will have equipment capable of reading speed limit signs allowing the radar to operate independently, without any intervention from the vehicle driver.

“For speed measurements of moving vehicles, higher tolerance limits will be used.”

If a driver is caught speeding, the speeding ticket will be processed by the centre national de traitement (CNT) based at Rennes, in exactly the same way as fines issued by police or fixed speed cameras.

Currently, French police have mobile speed cameras concealed in 383 unmarked cars, which are responsible for snaring around 1.5 million cars a year. 
 
But a lack of resources means the police cars with mobile cameras are only in use for an average of one hour a day.
 
Bringing in private firms will mean there there is more possibility for the cars to be out on the roads for much longer.
 
And where two police (or regional police) officers are currently needed for the job, private firms will only need one person. 
 
It was originally planned that the roll-out of unmarked cars beyond Normandy would begin in 2019, but the scheme has now been delayed until the start of 2020.
 
The issue of speeding fines has become a contentious one in France after the government's new 80km/h limit on secondary roads emerged as one of the major grievances of the 'yellow vest' movement.
 
The protesters in rural areas saw the new limit as simply a way for the government to make money from them out of speeding tickets, and thousands of static speed cameras all over France were vandalised.
 
The government insisted that the limit was purely a safety measure, designed to cut the high number of deaths on the roads in France.
 
However, after months of pressure, Prime Minister Edouard Philippe earlier this month announced that he would devolve the issue to local governments, many of whom have already said they intend to scrap the 80km/h limit and go back to the old limit of 90 km/h.
 

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PROPERTY

How to ensure your French property is insured for storm damage

Storm Ciaran’s property-wrecking passage through France - with another storm forecast for the weekend - may have many people wondering how comprehensive their insurance cover is. 

Published: 3 November 2023 15:45 CET
How to ensure your French property is insured for storm damage

In the wake of Storm Ciaran, thousands of property owners in France are preparing insurance claims – with initial estimates of the bill for damage between €370 million and €480 million.

Home insurance is compulsory in France, whether you own the property you live in or you rent – and it must include some level of storm damage cover. 

Check also to see if your insurance provides cover in case of a declaration of a catastrophe naturelle.

The garantie tempête (storm guarantee) covers damage caused by violent winds. What constitutes a ‘violent wind’ varies from contract to contract, but there appears to be a widespread consensus of agreement on wind speeds over 100km/h.

In most insurance contracts, this covers damage caused by the storm and within the following 48 hours – so you’re covered if, for example, a tree weakened by the storm comes down within that period and damages your property.

Be aware that, while the storm guarantee automatically covers the main property, it generally only covers any secondary buildings and light constructions – such as a veranda, shed, solar panels, swimming pool or fence – if they are specifically mentioned in the contract. 

The same is true of any cars damaged by debris. A basic insurance contract might not include storm damage, so it is always worth checking.

Damage must be reported to your insurer as quickly as possible. The deadline for making declarations is usually five days after any damage is noticed. This is especially important for second home owners, who may not be at the property when the damage occurs. 

In some cases – such as in the aftermath of Storm Ciaran – insurers may extend the reporting period. But under normal circumstances, it’s five days after the damage has been discovered.

What happens next

To make a claim, the first thing to do is contact your insurer by phone or email. Your insurer will take you through the next steps, but usually you have to send in a declaration – which should include an estimate of any losses and for any repairs, with evidence where possible, such as photographs and any receipts for purchases. 

Your insurer may also request proof of wind intensity, which can be provided for example by a nearby weather station.

The insurance company may appoint an expert to come and assess the damage, so make sure to keep damaged property safe until they arrive, as well as all invoices for any urgent repair work. 

What if you’re a tenant?

If you rent your property, you must report any damage inside the accommodation to your insurer and also notify your landlord so that they can file their own claim. 

In the case of a co-propriete, you must declare damage inside the accommodation to your insurer, while the trustee sends his own declaration to the collective insurance (which sometimes covers the private areas) .

How long does it take for claims to be settled?

Payment of the compensation provided for by the “storm guarantee” depends your home insurance contract. After the insurer has estimated the amount of damage, compensation is generally paid between 10 and 30 days following receipt of the insured’s agreement.

What if we got flooded?

In the case of flooding, you may have to wait for a natural disaster order to be issued. 

Catastrophe naturelle

The ‘state of natural disaster’ is a special procedure that was set up in 1982 so victims of exceptional natural events, such as storms, heavy rain, mudslides and flooding, as well as drought, can be adequately compensated for damage to property.

The government evaluates each area and deems whether it qualifies for the status of catastrophe naturelle (natural disaster). 

Essentially once a zone is declared a natural disaster, victims can claim from a pot of funds created by all insurers. If the zone is not declared a disaster, insurance companies are under no obligation to pay out. 

Under a “state of natural disaster” residents are covered for all those goods and property that are directly damaged by the phenomenon, in this case storms.

It applies to residential or commercial buildings, furniture, vehicles and work equipment that are already covered by insurance policies.

Homes must be already covered by a multi-risk insurance policy for the status of natural disaster to count.

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