Flash Fine Frenzy: Belgium Sees Record 21,000 Tickets Daily, Antwerp Leads the Way
Antwerp, Belgium – A new record has been set in Belgium as speed cameras issued an average of 21,000 flash fines per day in the first quarter of 2024, according to federal police figures released this week.the province of Antwerp accounted for the highest number of these infractions.
The surge in fines is attributed to the increased deployment of speed cameras across the country, and recent investments aimed at bringing more sleeping process controls – previously hampered by insufficient server capacity – into full operation. Interior Minister Bernard Quintin (MR) has pledged further investment to address the server limitations.
While the number of fines for mobile phone use behind the wheel saw a slight decrease last year, potentially due to stricter enforcement resulting in 15-day license suspensions for offenders, the number of drivers caught driving under the influence remains largely unchanged.Despite ongoing campaigns and heavier penalties, 470 people lost their lives on Belgian roads in 2023, according to Statbel. The country, along with manny others in Europe, aims to achieve zero road deaths by 2050. The increase in speed camera enforcement is a key component of this strategy.
