Automated cameras have been installed on the A3 motorway to enforce the carpool lane, with a system of €74 fines for solo drivers scheduled to begin in spring 2026.
Two new cameras designed to enforce carpooling regulations have been installed on the A3 motorway between Croix de Gasperich and the Berchem service area. The system will automatically identify and fine motorists driving alone in the lane reserved for vehicles with multiple occupants.
The cameras, announced for installation this autumn, are mounted on the central reservation of the recently widened A3. Positioned approximately one hundred metres apart, each camera faces one direction of traffic to monitor compliance.
On this initial 3.5km stretch of the widened A3 – which has been open for seven months – the left-hand lane is reserved exclusively for buses and cars with at least two occupants, as indicated by the "2+" symbol painted on the road surface.
According to the National Roads Authority, which confirmed the details on Tuesday, the cameras will enter a test phase "in the coming months." The system will become fully operational and begin issuing automated fines once new dynamic message signs are installed. These signs, similar to those on the French A31, will also provide drivers with real-time speed recommendations based on traffic conditions.
A €74 fine from spring 2026
The automated fine system is scheduled to become fully operational in spring 2026, according to a May parliamentary response from Minister for Mobility Yuriko Backes. From that point, drivers caught using the car-share lane while alone will automatically receive a fine of at least €74. No fixed penalty notices will be issued until the system is officially activated.
The cameras are equipped with advanced shape-recognition technology designed to prevent evasion. Roland Fox, Director of the National Roads Authority, assured the news website Virgule that the system can distinguish a human from a mannequin. "Dolls are detected just like dogs are", he stated, indicating that cheaters should not be able to slip through the net.
The primary goal of the enforcement is to deter the numerous rule-breakers who undermine the system and irritate compliant drivers. The ultimate objective is to encourage carpooling, thereby reducing the number of vehicles on the road for the same journeys.
Initial feedback on the dedicated lane has been positive. The Ministry of Mobility reported in mid-September that carpoolers and bus users are experiencing significant time savings, particularly during rush hour. On average, the lane saves "about four minutes towards Luxembourg (between 6am and 11am) and about five minutes towards France (between 3pm and 8pm)."
In a related measure, variable speed limits have been implemented on the A3 since 15 September. The maximum speed is now 110km/h outside of peak hours and is reduced to 70km/h during rush hour.
