Speed Cameras by Country 2026: 40 Networks Compared
Enforcement data for 40 countries: where fixed networks are densest, how few km/h over the limit triggers a ticket, and where detector hardware is illegal.
This table covers 40 countries; 15 of them run dense fixed-camera networks, and most start issuing fines just 3-6 km/h above the posted limit.
The table covers 40 countries, and the number that decides whether you get a ticket is a small one: enforcement typically begins 3-6 km/h above the posted limit, before any allowance for measurement error. Some of those countries run dense fixed-camera networks — the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Belgium among the heaviest — while others rely on mobile units that move week to week. Cross-border collection has tightened as well, so a foreign number plate no longer offers the cover it once did, and the detector rules differ again from the camera rules.
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Calculate Your Fine →Key Findings
- 40 countries with speed camera enforcement data
- 15 countries have extensive camera networks (high density)
- Most common tolerance: 3-6 km/h above the limit before a fine is triggered
- Foreign plate enforcement is increasingly common across the EU
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Speed Camera Enforcement by Country
| Country | Camera Density | Mobile Radar | Tolerance (km/h) | Detector Apps Legal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albania | low | Yes | 10 | Yes |
| Australia | extensive | Yes | 3 | Yes |
| Austria | extensive | Yes | 3 | Yes |
| Belgium | extensive | Yes | 6 | Yes |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | low | Yes | 10 | Yes |
| Bulgaria | low | Yes | 10 | Yes |
| Canada | low | Yes | 10 | Yes |
| Croatia | moderate | Yes | 10 | Yes |
| Czechia | moderate | Yes | 3 | Yes |
| Denmark | extensive | Yes | 3 | Yes |
| Estonia | moderate | Yes | 6 | Yes |
| Finland | extensive | Yes | 3 | Yes |
| France | extensive | Yes | 5 | No |
| Germany | extensive | Yes | 3 | Yes |
| Greece | low | Yes | 10 | Yes |
| Hungary | moderate | Yes | 10 | Yes |
| Iceland | low | Yes | 5 | Yes |
| Ireland | moderate | Yes | 7 | Yes |
| Italy | extensive | Yes | 5 | Yes |
| Japan | extensive | Yes | 10 | Yes |
| Latvia | moderate | Yes | 5 | Yes |
| Lithuania | moderate | Yes | 5 | Yes |
| Luxembourg | moderate | Yes | 3 | Yes |
| Montenegro | low | Yes | 10 | Yes |
| Netherlands | extensive | Yes | 3 | Yes |
| New Zealand | moderate | Yes | 4 | Yes |
| North Macedonia | low | Yes | 10 | Yes |
| Norway | extensive | Yes | 3 | Yes |
| Poland | moderate | Yes | 10 | Yes |
| Portugal | moderate | Yes | 5 | Yes |
| Romania | low | Yes | 10 | Yes |
| Serbia | low | Yes | 10 | Yes |
| Slovakia | moderate | Yes | 6 | Yes |
| Slovenia | moderate | Yes | 5 | Yes |
| Spain | extensive | Yes | 7 | Yes |
| Sweden | extensive | Yes | 3 | Yes |
| Switzerland | extensive | Yes | 3 | No |
| Turkey | moderate | Yes | 6 | Yes |
| United Kingdom | extensive | Yes | 3 | Yes |
| United States | low | Yes | 8 | Yes |
Camera Types Explained
- Fixed cameras: Permanently mounted, often signposted. Common in urban areas and on motorways.
- Mobile radar: Handheld or vehicle-mounted speed traps. Used for targeted enforcement.
- Average speed cameras (section control): Measure speed over a stretch of road. Increasingly common in Belgium, Netherlands, Italy, and Austria.
- Red light cameras: Often combined with speed detection at intersections.
Radar Detector and App Legality
Using speed camera detector devices or apps is illegal in several European countries:
- Illegal: France (heavy fines), Switzerland, Belgium (detectors only)
- Legal: UK, Germany, Sweden, Spain, Italy (with conditions)
Even where apps like Waze or Google Maps are legal, dedicated radar detector hardware may be prohibited. Check each country’s specific rules.
Foreign Driver Enforcement
The EU Cross-Border Enforcement Directive means that speed camera fines can follow you home. Countries with aggressive foreign plate enforcement include Belgium, France, Netherlands, and Switzerland.
How to stay fine-free abroad (without cheating)
That 3–10 km/h tolerance exists to cover calibration error, not to give you a buffer — in Switzerland or the Netherlands, 4 km/h over is a fine, full stop. And with section control spreading across Belgium, Italy and Austria, braking for one camera achieves nothing: the system averages your speed over the whole stretch. Waze-style warnings are legal in most of Europe but banned in France and Switzerland, so switch them off at the border. Driving a rental? The fine lands weeks later, plus the rental company’s admin fee. The boring fix works best: cruise control, 5 km/h under the limit, done.
Related Tools & Guides
- Speeding Fine Calculator — estimate your potential fine
- Driving Fines Comparison — penalty comparison across countries
- Speed Limits in Europe — know the limit before you drive
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Frequently Asked Questions
The United Kingdom has one of the highest densities of speed cameras in the world. The Netherlands and Belgium also have extensive networks.
It varies. Apps like Waze are legal in most countries but banned in France (as a radar warning feature) and restricted in others. Dedicated detector hardware is more commonly illegal.
Most countries allow 3-6 km/h over the posted limit before triggering a fine. This accounts for speedometer and camera calibration. However, some countries like Switzerland have very tight tolerances.
Yes. EU countries share vehicle registration data, and fines can be forwarded to your home address. Non-EU countries vary in their ability to pursue foreign drivers.
Modern cameras can read most international plates. Whether the fine is actually pursued depends on bilateral agreements between countries.