Don't speed in Europe-cameras will nail you & fines will arrive weeks/months later

They're worse in some countries and cities than others.

They have radar cameras on the causeway going out to Venice, and they nailed me for 1.6 mph over the speed limit. It was $45 to Hertz for service charges telling the police my name and address, and $155 for the ticket. The City of Venice demanded the money wire transferred to their checking account in Euros. There are bill payment services online that will charge a Visa account and pay the bill for you in Europe for a reasonable service charges.
The trip to Venice was still worth it--despite the ticket.
The moral is just to hold down your speed--especially in Italian cities.

I actually wish we had these in North America. Keeps people honest, and it makes sure that villages and towns belong to pedestrians, not cars.

Yes, when I lived in Germany, I didn't look forward to getting the occassional souvenir photo of myself in the mail, but hey, it's called a "speed limit" and I was in the wrong.

Ben,

In the UK we have cars with red letter L plates on for learners (give them a wide berth) and green letter P for recently passed, but sometimes in France I come across cars with a large letter A. I'm guessing it is something similar but I don't know.

In the UK both L and P plates don't restrict the speed - is it the A plates with speed restrictions?

Yes A plates in France restrict speed. P plates used to be required in Northern Ireland and restricted speed to 45 mph but these were replaced by N plates which carry no restriction for learners or newly qualified.

The anarchist, er, apprentice plate. Reduces the limit by 10 km/h out of town and by 20 km/h on motorways with a 130 km/h limit.

Like the red R in Northern Ireland where the bearer is restricted to 45 mph during the probationary period. Apparently. Got left standing still in NI by an R driver when I was doing close to 60 in Co Antrim.

In the UK we now have average speed cameras in certain areas especially in road work zones. They work out your average speed over several miles /kilometres. You have been warned.

Average speed cameras are popping up throughout Europe. Camera enforcement has always been a big thing compared to the US, where is it pretty rare. Cameras also enforce bus lanes and pedestrian-only zones (known as ZTL is Italy).

Lesson: know and obey the traffic laws carefully and don't whine if you get caught.

We have similar system here to those that Nigel described. "L" signs for Learners and "N" signs for Novices (these are magnetic and can be placed either outside the vehicle or inside, as long as they're clearly visible). Both have strict terms attached to them. Our present government abolished the hated photo radar cameras as an election promise several years ago, so speeding tickets are only issued by police (although we still have red light cameras in many areas).

Although we don't have photo radar, many police cars are fitted with dual radar systems so they can register speeds from vehicles either behind them or in front of them. When the police car is moving, their speed is included in the calculation so the radar only reflects the speed of the target vehicle. With the new low profile light bars, it's hard to spot a police car in traffic (and of course there are unmarked cars too).

Ordinary speeding tickets result in a $138-196 ticket plus three demerit points for each offense. Drivers who exceed 10 points may have their license suspended. The most serious offense is excessive speeding, which carries much higher and more costly penalties.....

• Exceeding speed by more than 40 km/h over the limit means a fine of $368 and 3 points.
• Exceeding speed by more than 60 km/h over the limit means a fine of $468 and 3 points.
• On the first offense, the vehicle is impounded for 7 days plus towing & storage costs - at least $210.
• On a second offense within 2 years, vehicle is impounded for 30 days plus towing & storage costs - at least $700.
• Any subsequent offenses within 2 years, vehicle is impounded for 60 days plus towing & storage costs - over $1200.

It doesn't end there however. As all car insurance in the province is through our government insurance agency, ICBC, driver's who have racked up demerit points can expect to get nicked again when they renew their insurance. Breaking the rules here can become very expensive.

It's not surprising that the Traffic Tutor type of average speed camera is increasing in popularity. What a lucrative source of revenue for cash-strapped governments, and the offenders can't really complain as they were in fact breaking the law.

We have more visible signs for newbies.

A sign on top of a car, like on a cab but higher, with a big L (well, the Hebrew equivalent), so you can spot the learner even if it's several cars ahead of you, so practical, especially in cities. The sign can be folded down when a learner isn't driving.

All new drivers have to display a "new driver" sign in the rear window for a year. The signs are attached with suction cups, so easy to remove as necessary.

The radar warnings on the GPS have been abolished for a few years in France--too handy warning drivers. So if you update an older GPS, the French ones will disappear.

Interesting Ken - with the L and N plates - they don't do that here in Nova Scotia - maybe someday they'll get on board...

Nicole,

Actually my terminology wasn't entirely correct, and I've amended my post accordingly. The "L" and "N" signs are a small magnetic sign that is affixed to the back of the car, as shown here.....

http://www.icbc.com/driver-licensing/new-drivers/Pages/Get-your-L.aspx

The "N" sign is similar......

http://www.icbc.com/driver-licensing/new-drivers/Pages/Get-your-N.aspx

Many people just clip them to the back of the vehicle, somewhere near the license plate, while others prefer to tape them in the back window. With signs mounted on the outside, these can sometimes be "pinched" by unscrupulous individuals, and it's a nuisance to have to get back and get replacement signs.

Having three of my kids go through the licensing system here, you don't need the magnetic signs, but they are convenient because you can move them from car to car ( so from mom's to dad's etc) and when mom is driving her car she can remove them, however any clear sign is permitted and my kids have semi permanent ones taped to the back inside window of their cars signs they made themselves.

I am surprised Nova Scotia hasn't gotten on the graduated licensing program.

They do have the graduated licensing here (for quite a few years now) - but no requirements for L or N things on the plates/car windows (unless I am horribly unobservant)