Number of average-speed cameras in Flanders quintuples in two years
The number of average-speed cameras in Flanders has risen sharply, from 246 in 2023 to 1,233 this year, a fivefold increase in just two years. The figures, released by Interior minister Bernard Quintin, highlight the region’s growing investment in traffic enforcement.
By comparison, Wallonia has 97 such installations and Brussels 12, according to Het Nieuwsblad and Gazet van Antwerpen.
“With significant investments in recent years, enforcement has become far more efficient,” said Quintin, of MR. On average, there are now four average-speed cameras in each of Flanders’ 285 municipalities. However, Quintin did not confirm whether all 1,233 cameras are currently operational.
"Too many are positioned just after a speed limit drops, for example from 70 to 50km/h. That’s a trap for drivers"
Traffic safety expert Professor Johan De Mol of Ghent University called the systems “valuable tools for road safety”, but only if installed correctly. “Too many are positioned just after a speed limit drops, for example from 70 to 50km/h. That’s a trap for drivers,” he said.
The debate around average-speed cameras is not new. Earlier this year, Flemish Mobility minister Annick De Ridder of N-VA cancelled 70 planned installations, prompting criticism from researchers who cited a 56 per cent reduction in serious accidents where such systems are in place.
Opposition parties have also accused the government of turning motorists into “cash cows”. Experts, meanwhile, continue to stress that properly designed and fairly implemented cameras are crucial for road safety.
#FlandersNewsService | © BELGA PHOTO DIRK WAEM
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