Transport authorities in France say they intend to drive through new European rules to stop foreign motorists putting their foot down with impunity.
The worst culprits are the Germans, followed by the British and Italians.
"Too many traffic violations go unpunished" with many foreigners having a total disregard for French speed limits and speed cameras, transport minister Dominique Bussereau told Le Figaro, which published details of his clamp-down plan.
A study by the French transport ministry found 900,000 German driver, 550,000 Britons and 350,000 Italians are flashed by French cameras every year.
Although foreign motorists only make up five per cent of traffic on French roads, they are responsible for 27 per cent of all speeding offences. The summer period is the worst, with a half of all offences caused by foreigners.
"They behave like the laws of the road don't apply to them," said a transport spokesman.
Mr Bussereau hopes to get European transport ministers meeting in Luxembourg this week to agree on the tougher rules, outlined in an EU directive in March. If so, they could be applied in 2010.
He will be calling for a Europe-wide number plate exchange system so that those caught going through red lights, speeding, drunk driving or without a seat belt in one country can be punished in their home nation.
"I am confident our proposals will be favourably received," he said.
In August, French police sounded the alarm over British motorists, saying they had become a safety menace on the country's roads after crossing the Channel.
The problem had got so bad that officers from England were sent to patrol motorways near northern French ports in a bid to convince Britons that they too must abide by national speed limits.
The worst speeding stretch is on the A26 motorway which heads south from the ferry and channel tunnel in Calais: three-quarters of of all drivers pulled over for speeding on the 70-mile stretch of road are British in the summer months. It even has speed warning signs flash up in English, as well as French.
Lewis Hamilton, the Formula One driver, was banned from driving in France last December when he was pulled over on the A26 doing 122mph in a Mercedes.
The limit on French motorways is 81mph in dry conditions and 65mph in the wet.
Currently, speeding offenders are handed a £65 on-the-spot fine, and are escorted to the nearest cashpoint if they cannot pay up. Anyone refusing to pay is liable to arrest and having their car impounded.
Police can also suspend a licence for speeds 25mph above the limit, and impose fines of up to £1,200.
The worst culprits are the Germans, followed by the British and Italians.
"Too many traffic violations go unpunished" with many foreigners having a total disregard for French speed limits and speed cameras, transport minister Dominique Bussereau told Le Figaro, which published details of his clamp-down plan.
A study by the French transport ministry found 900,000 German driver, 550,000 Britons and 350,000 Italians are flashed by French cameras every year.
Although foreign motorists only make up five per cent of traffic on French roads, they are responsible for 27 per cent of all speeding offences. The summer period is the worst, with a half of all offences caused by foreigners.
"They behave like the laws of the road don't apply to them," said a transport spokesman.
Mr Bussereau hopes to get European transport ministers meeting in Luxembourg this week to agree on the tougher rules, outlined in an EU directive in March. If so, they could be applied in 2010.
He will be calling for a Europe-wide number plate exchange system so that those caught going through red lights, speeding, drunk driving or without a seat belt in one country can be punished in their home nation.
"I am confident our proposals will be favourably received," he said.
In August, French police sounded the alarm over British motorists, saying they had become a safety menace on the country's roads after crossing the Channel.
The problem had got so bad that officers from England were sent to patrol motorways near northern French ports in a bid to convince Britons that they too must abide by national speed limits.
The worst speeding stretch is on the A26 motorway which heads south from the ferry and channel tunnel in Calais: three-quarters of of all drivers pulled over for speeding on the 70-mile stretch of road are British in the summer months. It even has speed warning signs flash up in English, as well as French.
Lewis Hamilton, the Formula One driver, was banned from driving in France last December when he was pulled over on the A26 doing 122mph in a Mercedes.
The limit on French motorways is 81mph in dry conditions and 65mph in the wet.
Currently, speeding offenders are handed a £65 on-the-spot fine, and are escorted to the nearest cashpoint if they cannot pay up. Anyone refusing to pay is liable to arrest and having their car impounded.
Police can also suspend a licence for speeds 25mph above the limit, and impose fines of up to £1,200.
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