The number of average-speed cameras on Flemish roads has risen sharply during the past 2 years. In 2023 there were 246 of the cameras in Flanders. Now there are 1,233. The figures come from the Federal Interior Minister Bernard Quantin (Francophone liberal). They highlight the Flemish regional authorities’ growing investment in traffic enforcement.
Belgium’s other 2 regions have far fewer average speed cameras installed alongside their roads. According to figures published in the dailies ‘Het Nieuwsblad’ and ‘Gazet van Antwerpen’, Wallonia has 97 of the cameras, while the Brussels-Capital Region has 12.
On average, there are now four average-speed cameras in each of Flanders’ 285 municipalities. However, Mr Quintin has not confirmed whether all 1,233 cameras in Flanders are currently operational.
The road traffic safety expert Professor Johan De Mol of Ghent University (UGent) told the press agency Belga that average speed camera systems are “valuable tools for road safety”. However, this is only the case if they are 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”, Professor De Mol said.
The debate concerning average-speed cameras is not new. Earlier this year, Flemish Transport Minister Annick De Ridder (nationalist) cancelled the installation of 70 new camera systems. This prompted criticism from researchers that said the number of serious accidents had fallen by 56% where average-speed camera systems had been put in place.
Meanwhile, opposition parties have also accused the government of using motorists as “cash cows”. Nevertheless, experts stress that properly designed and fairly deployed cameras are crucial for road safety.