It's a feature that millions of French users have been hoping for: allowing Waze to accurately report the location of mobile speed cameras. Available on iPhone, Android, and via the Android Auto and CarPlay in-vehicle systems, this option is hailed as a major step forward by the Waze community across the globe. However, a shadow persists, and it comes in the form of France: France is an exception.
The law, an inflexible safeguard
Why this French specificity? The answer has been anchored in legislative stone for over a decade. Decree No. 2012-3 of January 3, 2012, amending the Highway Code, is clear: it prohibits "the possession, transport, and use of radar detectors." This ban applies to both dedicated devices and features integrated into GPS devices or mobile applications like Waze. The stated objective of the Road Safety Authority is clear: to encourage constant compliance with speed limits, not just when approaching indicated checkpoints.
Breaching this rule in France is not trivial. Accurately reporting a speed camera via Waze exposes the offender to a fine of €1,500 and the loss of six points on their driving license. A prospect that's dissuasive enough to make you think twice.
Waze adapts to France with "danger zones"
Faced with this strict legislation, Waze has no choice but to comply. To continue serving its French users legally, the app maintains its "danger zones" system. Introduced in 2012, this feature alerts users to a potentially monitored section of road, without ever indicating the exact location of a fixed or mobile speed camera. A compromise that, while less precise, remains within the law.
It's important to emphasize that, contrary to some interpretations, the precise speed camera reporting feature is not a recent innovation that Waze would refuse to France. Indeed, it's rather a historical capability of the app that has never been legally accessible on French territory. The latest updates available don't change anything.
In most other countries, drivers benefit from this detailed information without hindrance. For the time being, no change in French legislation is on the agenda, leaving French motorists to navigate with "danger zones" while their neighbors benefit from increased precision.
This restriction, however, doesn't prevent Waze from making other improvements in France. These include the addition of a quick navigation button for the most frequent routes. The interface has also been redesigned to be more intuitive, particularly for Apple CarPlay users. Finally, a new audio icon makes it easier to manage sound alerts. In addition, artificial intelligence is being used in the application to analyze driving habits and automatically suggest the most suitable routes based on time or traffic.
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