Many drivers risk being flashed on this busy road and paying dearly for it.
They are becoming more and more numerous and, above all, more and more sophisticated. Radars have never brought in so much money to the State, to the great displeasure of motorists. Above all, new offences included in the Highway Code increase the chances of being caught driving your vehicle.
Of course, speeding remains the main offence detected by radars. But these small electronic boxes are now capable of detecting around ten offences, such as not wearing a seat belt, not respecting safety distances, driving in the wrong direction or crossing a continuous line.
But a recent offence is now in the radar’s eye: driving in a carpool lane. This lane, generally the one located furthest to the left of the road, has been popping up all over France for some time. It is reserved exclusively for vehicles carrying at least two people. In other words, it is prohibited for drivers alone in their vehicle. After several months or even years of testing, road safety is gradually moving up a gear. No more pedagogy, most carpool lanes are now monitored by radars that flash as soon as they spot a vehicle in violation.
This is what will happen very soon on the A48 motorway north of Grenoble. Tested since 2020, the carpooling lane between the Voreppe toll barrier and the capital of the Isère department, laid out over 8 kilometres, will soon be subject to fines. Single drivers who use the carpooling lane will run the risk of being flashed by an automatic speed camera and will be exposed to a fine of 135 euros, which could put more than one person off.
Supposed to come into force on September 9, this measure had to be postponed for a few days according to France Bleu Isère, the time for the prefectural decree to be processed. The sanctions are however already applicable in several cities in France, such as Paris, Lyon, Rennes and Strasbourg.
To avoid being caught out, it is essential to know how to recognize a carpool lane. They are indicated by a sign representing a white diamond on a blue background or in the form of bright white diamonds on a black background above the road in question. Given the amount of the fine, we cannot recommend enough that you respect these signs, which is not yet the case for many motorists.