La Sécurité Routière has launched an expansion plan for multifunctional radars which, by 2030, will make the use of artificial intelligence a standard feature of road surveillance. The programme aims for wide coverage with devices capable of detecting multiple offences simultaneously, with the declared goal of improving monitoring effectiveness and reducing accident rates.
By the end of 2024, more than 1,200 Fusion 2 radars had already been installed. These systems, able to monitor dozens of vehicles across multiple lanes, use high-definition cameras and behavioural analysis algorithms to detect violations such as speeding, mobile phone use, failure to wear seatbelts and illegal overtaking. Their deployment is set to grow rapidly with the renewal of mobile systems and so-called radar cars, part of the Dexter project that envisages outsourcing management and modernising the vehicle fleet.
Alongside the Fusion 2 devices, new types of equipment are planned. These include advanced urban radars, multi-section radars designed to calculate average speed over long distances, and 3D lidar sensors capable of distinguishing vehicle categories and checking safe distances between heavy goods vehicles. An innovation plan defines three models of urban radar that may coexist: state-owned, municipal and privately managed.
The expansion of image- and AI-based systems has triggered a legal debate in France. According to Hello Avoca, the authorities argue that no direct biometric data are collected, but several experts point out that behavioural recognition could fall into that category under the European data protection regulation. Following the adoption of Article 7 on algorithmic surveillance for events such as the Olympics, the way has been opened for systematic use on the road network. The Conseil Constitutionnel has imposed requirements for human oversight of algorithms and time limits on image storage.
Citizens retain the right to be informed of radar locations, to access their personal data, to request rectification or deletion, and in some cases to object. Data retention is limited, but records remain on file in the event of an offence until proceedings are concluded. In case of dispute, individuals can appeal to the Commission nationale de l’informatique et des libertés (Cnil) or turn to legal defence tools provided by specialised platforms.
On the social front, a 2024 survey found that 78% of French drivers are concerned about the spread of such technologies, with 62% reporting that they change their driving behaviour when faced with smart radars and nearly a third saying they avoid certain journeys for fear of excessive tracking. Early trials of acoustic radars, designed to identify and penalise overly noisy vehicles, have already highlighted a high rate of errors and appeals.
