Flanders Issued Record 6.43 Million Traffic Fines in 2025

Flanders recorded a historic 6.43 million traffic violations in 2025, more than double the 3.1 million fines issued in 2017, according to new data from the federal police published by Het Laatste Nieuws. Over 5.36 million of these were speeding fines, breaking the previous record of 5.13 million set in 2024. Speed cameras account for more than eight out of ten traffic fines in the region.

The Surge in Enforcement

The dramatic increase is largely attributed to the activation of approximately 1,000 new trajectory control systems over the past two years, supplemented by the continued impact of traditional speed cameras. Unlike conventional cameras that flash a single point, trajectory controls measure average speed over a stretch of road, making them significantly harder for drivers to evade.

As HLN data journalist Ines Penders noted: “That we are caught more often is largely due to the activation of about 1,000 new trajectory controls in the past two years, supplemented by the undiminished impact of classic speed cameras.”

The expansion has been remarkable in scale. As of 2024, 349 local trajectory control systems were installed or planned across Flemish municipalities, while on regional roads the number of trajectory controls increased twelve-fold over eight years, reaching 198 actively installed systems by mid-2025 with 27 more being installed. This infrastructure build-out represents one of the most significant investments in automated traffic enforcement in the region’s history.

Provincial Breakdown

The data reveals stark regional disparities across Flanders’ five provinces. Antwerp leads by a wide margin with 1,783,739 speeding fines issued, followed by Flemish Brabant (1,320,290), East Flanders (1,118,227), West Flanders (675,995), and Limburg (468,953). These differences reflect not just driver behavior but also policy choices, road design, and the number of cameras deployed by each municipality.

According to VRT NWS, traffic safety institute Vias has emphasized that local context plays a crucial role — the number of fines in a given area depends heavily on municipal enforcement policies and infrastructure decisions.

The ‘Flash King’ of Deurne

The single most prolific speed camera in Flanders is located on the Antwerp Ring road in Deurne, just before the bypass toward the Netherlands. This camera recorded 116,000 violations in one year, generating approximately €8 million in revenue — equivalent to at least 13 drivers caught every hour, as reported by De Morgen. The camera has since been temporarily removed due to roadworks.

Safety vs. Revenue Debate

The explosion in fines has intensified a heated debate over whether municipalities use trajectory controls primarily for road safety or revenue generation. Municipal fine revenue grew from €43 million in 2019 to €124 million in 2023 — nearly tripling. The small municipality of Lo-Reninge, with a population of roughly 3,000, collected approximately €1 million from just five trajectory controls — about €490 per resident.

Critics, including Flemish Parliament member Maurits Vande Reyde (Open Vld), argue that some controls are placed on high-traffic roads rather than genuinely dangerous locations. The controversy is further fueled by the role of private companies, which receive €24 per fine out of a minimum €53 when municipalities outsource operations — creating what critics describe as perverse financial incentives.

Defenders, however, point to the safety record. Mayor Lode Morlion of Lo-Reninge argues the revenue funds vital infrastructure projects like a bicycle bridge over the IJzer river. Research supports the safety case: studies by Transport & Mobility Leuven researcher Stijn Daniels found a 56% reduction in serious accidents — fatalities and severe injuries — where trajectory controls are installed, along with an 85% reduction in severe speeding violations of 10 km/h or more over the limit. International research shows an average 30% reduction in all accidents in controlled zones.

Policy Response

In July 2025, Flemish Mobility Minister Annick De Ridder (N-VA) responded to the controversy by scrapping 70 of 82 planned trajectory controls on regional roads. She ordered a study from the Vias institute on municipal trajectory controls, expected in summer 2026, and mandated more warning signs to announce controls to drivers. “Duidelijke communicatie over handhaving is essentieel voor het vertrouwen in het beleid,” De Ridder stated — clear communication about enforcement is essential for trust in policy.

What to Watch For

The Vias study on municipal trajectory controls, ordered by Minister De Ridder and expected in summer 2026, could lead to new regulations requiring demonstrated safety need — such as accident history — before municipalities can install these systems. This may fundamentally reshape how local governments approach traffic enforcement.

The rate of expansion is likely to slow following De Ridder’s decision to scrap 70 planned installations on regional roads, though the existing network of over 1,000 trajectory controls will continue operating. An open question remains whether behavioral adaptation among drivers will reduce violations over time, or whether the record-breaking trend will continue as remaining new controls come online.

Only two municipalities in Flanders had no speed cameras or issued no fines at all, underscoring how pervasive enforcement has become. The broader trend also raises questions about how Flemish enforcement compares with Wallonia and Brussels, which have significantly fewer fines per capita. For now, Flanders’ drivers face more speed enforcement than ever before — and the debate over whether that is primarily about safety or revenue shows no signs of resolution.