Radars – Discovering new radars –

Discovering new radars

Radars - Discovering new radars -

A new type of digital radar, the pivot of the future automated sanction control chain, is in operation under the Frejus tunnel before its large-scale deployment. The secret list of the first locations.

Here we go: the broadest, most automated, fastest and most relentless anti-speed crackdown possible is underway.

Although the interministerial delegate for road safety Remy Heitz denies it – "it is not a tool of repression, it is a tool of road safety" -, the new automated system will make it possible to systematically sanction the slightest excess. speed, regardless of its dangerousness for oneself or for others.

"We are going to sow insecurity among offenders", brags the gendarmerie colonel Cailloz in front of the journalists gathered in Savoy for the official presentation of the new fixed and on-board equipment…

It is aboard a metallic gray Renault Megane station wagon, registered 3741 TW 73, that we discover the first mobile Doppler radar with digital SVR 2000, developed by the French company Positive and presented for the first time at the Milipol Paris Air Show in 1999 (read). As soon as a vehicle exceeds the speed limit set manually by the police, the digital camera produces a magnificent color photo transmitted to the PC either on a Zip diskette, capable of storing 300 shots against 36 for current film cameras, or by secure link.

After a search in the national register of registrations, in that of stolen vehicles and in that of car rental companies, the system automatically issues a ticket notice which is sent by the Post Office to the owner of the vehicle. The fine therefore arrives at the latest one week after the offense, against several months today. Ultimately, a single national center will manage all post-infringement treatment. It could be located in Rennes where the fine payment center is already located, but tenders are underway for other cities in France..

Does this admirable riot of technology allow flashing from behind? Clearly, are bikers concerned? "Yes!" Exclaim in heart the representatives of the interministerial mission of automated sanction control chaired by the general engineer of equipment Jacques Sicherman. But if the answer is unambiguous at the theoretical level, in practice the real actors in the chain, confronted with the realities on the ground, are much more measured..

“Quite between us, explains a policeman questioned by Moto-Net a little apart, the motorcycle phenomenon is very marginal. When a motorcyclist is involved in an accident with another vehicle, it is almost never His fault. And then, the gendarmes who carry out the checks are often themselves bikers, if you know what I mean "… A discreet wink is enough to understand that in at least eight departments of Rhône-Alpes and Auvergne, no radar is directed towards the rear of vehicles.

Not to mention that many public prosecutors still require the photo of the driver before initiating proceedings, which excludes checks from the rear. "Checks from behind are extremely rare, assures a public prosecutor active in the region, because this increases the risk of challenges which weigh down the procedure". "Ultimately, it is better to let the motorcycles pass, because they are in such a minority that the game is not worth the candle," confirms his counterpart from the neighboring city. "For now, for now!", Hastens to specify the press secretary with the very keen ear, before suggesting to continue the visit….

In the Frejus tunnel, between France and Italy, a Multanova 6F2 radar of German design, marketed by the Swiss company Multanova and distributed in France by Mercura, was selected. Two cabins, located 4 km from the French entrance to the tunnel, monitor both directions of traffic at 70 km / h. Beyond 79 km / h, the fine is guaranteed, either by interception at the exit of the tunnel or by automated processing. The device only requires human intervention to empty the hard drive every 1000 photos.

Finally, at the risk of getting angry with this press attache yet charming, but anxious to advance the great national cause of road safety, Moto-Net was able to obtain the secret – provisional – list of the first 100 locations planned on the 1 000 that the territory should count by 2005 … Because since they are "not tools of repression but tools of road safety", one might as well know precisely where they are stashed! As a preview, here are the main excerpts from this list.

Eric MICHEL

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