A new road control device is appearing on French roads, and it risks raising eyebrows. The Hydra, a new type of radar developed by Bruitparif, does not target speed but excessive vehicle noise. A first in France which already raises many questions.
Gone are the days when respecting speed limits was enough to avoid fines. This new intelligent radar, with a unique design with its imposing multi-sensor antenna, now tracks vehicles that are too noisy. The technology deployed allows precise measurement of the sound emissions of each vehicle passing nearby, with a limit set at 85 decibels. A threshold which was not chosen at random, since the majority of vehicles approved in France emit less than 80 decibels.
The experiment, launched in 2022 in seven French municipalities (Paris, Nice, Toulouse, Bron, Saint-Lambert, Rueil-Malmaison and Villeneuve-le-Roi), is now entering its active phase. The town of Bron, in the Lyon suburbs, will be the first to activate verbalization from the next school year. The other test municipalities will follow quickly, before a gradual national deployment.
Sanctions that are debated
Violators face significant fines. Classified as a 4th class contravention according to article R318-3 of the Highway Code, the offense carries a fixed fine of 135 eurosreducible to 90 euros in the event of payment within fifteen days. A sanction which applies regardless of compliance with speed limits, thus creating an unprecedented situation: a driver who perfectly respects the highway code may find himself fined solely for noise pollution.
This new system is part of an increasingly important repressive arsenal. Authorities, particularly in urban areas, are seeking to address growing concerns about noise pollution. The main targets are modified vehicles, particularly those equipped with non-compliant exhaust pipes, which contribute significantly to urban nuisances.
The installation of these sound radars represents a paradigm shift in the approach to road safety. Beyond simple speed regulation, it is now the environmental impact of vehicles that is monitored.
For motorists, this new regulation implies additional vigilance, not only on their driving behavior but also on the condition and conformity of their vehicle. A necessary adaptation which will not fail to give rise to debates, in particular on the multiplication of control devices and their impact on freedom of movement.
- A new intelligent radar, called the Hydra, fines vehicles exceeding 85 decibels, even while respecting speed limits
- The fine amounts to 135 euros (90 euros if paid quickly)
- After a test phase in 7 cities, the system will be gradually deployed throughout France, starting with Bron, near Lyon.
