The speed limit on most major roads in France may well be 80km/h, but drive at 85km/h when you encounter a speed camera and you will probably escape a fine.

That is because, as in most other countries, France allows for a margin of error should you exceed the speed limit. That tolerance relates to the speed camera, not the driver!

The way it works depends on whether the camera is fixed or mobile.

In the case of a fixed camera, the margin of error is 5km/h for speeds up to 100km/h. For speeds above 100km/h it is 5% of the measured speed. Thus, on an autoroute, with a maximum speed of 130km/h, the margin of error is 6.5kph, meaning that no driving offence will arise up to 136.5km/h.

As far as mobile radars (in police cars and private agency cars) are concerned, the margin of error is 10kpm for speeds less than 100km/h and 10% for speeds equal to or in excess of 100km/h.

So if you are caught speeding at 90km/h in an 80kmph zone, by a mobile camera, your speed will be registered at 80km/h.

In short, therefore, a fixed radar will will flash when you exceed by at least 6km/h the speed limit, whilst a mobile camera will flash when the speed limit is exceeded by at least 11km/h.