The municipality of Hal is expanding its road safety infrastructure with the installation of two new average speed cameras, part of a broader strategy to curb speeding and protect vulnerable road users in the Brussels periphery. The move signals a shift toward more comprehensive speed monitoring in areas where high traffic volumes intersect with pedestrian and cyclist activity.
Local officials stated that the decision is driven by a need to manage the complex flow of vehicles, buses, bicycles and pedestrians. By implementing these radars-tronçons en périphérie bruxelloise, the city aims to move away from spot-checking and toward a system that ensures consistent speed compliance over a set distance.
“Dans ces rues, il a beaucoup de trafic de véhicules, de bus, de vélos et de piétons. En contrôlant la vitesse, la Ville veut réduire le risque d’accidents,” the municipality stated, emphasizing that the primary objective is the reduction of accident risks rather than revenue generation.
Hal’s long-term ambition is to deploy a total of nine average speed cameras across its territory. Notably, the city intends to manage these devices internally, a departure from the practice of several other neighboring municipalities that often outsource the management of their enforcement technology.
A Growing Network Across the Brussels Rand
The expansion in Hal is not an isolated event but part of a wider trend across the Brussels Rand—the ring of municipalities surrounding the capital. Recent data indicates that nearly 60 average speed cameras have been installed throughout the periphery to combat chronic speeding on commuter routes.
While the distribution varies by town, some municipalities have adopted an aggressive approach to traffic calming. Locations such as Dilbeek, Leeuw-Saint-Pierre, and Grimbergen have each implemented approximately ten such devices to manage their respective corridors.
City of Brussels: A Targeted Deployment
Within the city limits of Brussels, the approach has been more surgical, focusing on high-risk tunnels and major arteries. The city currently operates seven average speed cameras, strategically placed to prevent “brake-and-accelerate” patterns common with traditional spot radars.
The current active locations for these devices include:
- Chaussée de Gand (Berchem)
- Quai de Mariemont
- Quai Demets
- Tunnel Porte de Hal
- Tunnel Stéphanie
- Boulevard Léopold III
- Avenue Bordet
The Logic Behind Average Speed Enforcement
Unlike traditional speed cameras that capture a vehicle’s speed at a single point in time, the radar-tronçon calculates the average speed between two points. This technology is increasingly favored by urban planners due to the fact that it discourages drivers from slowing down only for the camera and speeding up immediately after.
For commuters in the Brussels periphery, this means a more consistent enforcement of speed limits across entire stretches of road, which is particularly critical in zones with high pedestrian crossings and school zones. The shift toward this technology reflects a broader European trend in road safety, prioritizing the reduction of severe collisions over the sheer number of tickets issued.
| Region/Municipality | Approximate Number of Devices | Management Style |
|---|---|---|
| Brussels City | 7 | Centralized |
| Hal (Target) | 9 | Self-Managed |
| Brussels Rand (Total) | ~60 | Mixed/Municipal |
As Hal continues to roll out its network, the focus will remain on the integration of these devices into a larger traffic safety plan. The city has not yet released the specific locations for the remaining seven cameras, but they are expected to be placed in areas with the highest recorded accident rates and pedestrian density.
Drivers in the region should expect a continued increase in these installations as more municipalities in the Rand seek to mirror the safety results seen in Dilbeek and Grimbergen. Further updates on the specific locations of Hal’s remaining cameras are expected to be released via official municipal channels as the installation phases progress.
Do you believe average speed cameras are more effective than traditional spot radars for urban safety? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
