Nearly half of all drivers caught speeding are foreigners

Nearly half of all drivers caught speeding on Belgian roads last year were foreigners, according to figures released to VTM Nieuws by the police. A total of 323,721 drivers were caught speeding in 2014, up 44% on the previous year’s figure which stood at 224,536.

The reason for the surge is attributed to road monitors. Most foreigners are unaware of the system. The leaders among foreign offenders are the Dutch – some 97,901 were caught driving too fast on Belgian roads. They are followed by the French, with 93,199 offenders and Luxembourgers, who accounted for 38,703 fines.

Many of the speeding fines imposed on foreigners go unpaid, as not all countries are willing to pass on the personal data of their citizens. Mobility minister Jacqueline Galant is looking to ensure that speeding tickets are sent to the homes of all foreign traffic offenders. She is proposing a measure that will oblige all European countries to release relevant information, as is already done in France. Galant hopes that parliament will approve the measure in September.

Just 160,000 foreigners paid their speeding ticket last year.