Frequently asked questions
The questions we are asked before installing Speedix.
In short
What is Speedix?
Speedix is a driving assistance app for Android, built for France. It warns you as you approach danger zones, traffic incidents and reports from other drivers, while you follow your usual GPS.
Is Speedix free?
Yes. The app is free to download and use, shows no ads, and requires neither an account nor an email address.
Is there a legal radar alert app with no subscription?
Speedix is one. It has no subscription and no in-app purchase.
Does Speedix replace Waze or Google Maps?
No, it runs alongside them. Speedix does not plan routes: it works in the background while your navigation app stays in front, and voice alerts reach you even with the screen locked. On Android, a floating window also shows the alerts on top of your navigation. The steps are on the page Your alerts on top of Google Maps.
Is Speedix available on iPhone?
Not at the moment. Speedix is available on Android, from Google Play.
Does Speedix work outside France?
No. Speedix only covers France.
What the law says
Are radar alert apps legal in France?
Yes, as long as they announce a zone rather than a point. Since 3 January 2012, signalling the exact position of an enforcement device has been prohibited. Driving assistants, which announce an extended stretch of road, remain allowed. Speedix is one of them: its zones run for about 800 m in built-up areas, 2 km outside them and 4 km on motorways. The details are on our compliance page.
Are radar warning devices banned in France?
Yes. The decree of 3 January 2012 prohibits using, and even carrying, a device that signals the position of a speed check. It carries a fine of up to €1,500 and six licence points. A driving assistant is not concerned, since it announces a stretch of road without placing anything inside it.
Why a zone rather than an exact position?
First because the law requires it. At the wheel you gain from it too: warned early enough, you slow down without braking at the last second. Speedix never says where a speed check stands within the zone.
How long is a danger zone?
It depends on the road: about 800 m in built-up areas, 2 km outside them, 4 km on motorways. These are minimums. Speedix lengthens a zone where the road calls for it, never the reverse.
On the road
How am I warned?
A first alert as you approach the zone, a second as you leave it. Voice or beep, your choice. The exit alert can be switched off.
Do I need to keep Speedix on screen while driving?
No. Speedix keeps running in the background, screen off included, and you still hear the alerts.
Do alerts play through the car's Bluetooth?
Yes. They go through the hands-free kit like a call: the car stereo switches over by itself, whatever source you are listening to.
What happens if I exceed the limit inside a danger zone?
An alarm sounds for as long as you stay above the limit. The tolerance is 3 km/h by default and can be adjusted in the settings.
Does Speedix work in tunnels?
GPS signal is lost there. Speedix then checks the database embedded in the app, with no connection, and warns you if a tunnel danger zone is listed nearby.
Does Speedix support Android Auto?
Not at the moment. Voice alerts do play through the car's Bluetooth.
Data and reports
Where do the danger zones come from?
From the list of fixed enforcement devices published as open data on data.gouv.fr, crossed with what drivers observe. Drivers also report what no file holds, starting with risk zones.
Which traffic incidents does Speedix announce?
Three kinds today: accident, stopped vehicle, road hazard. They arrive in real time and clear by themselves once they are no longer current.
How do I report a hazard to other drivers?
With one gesture. You pick roadworks, obstacle or accident, then state your direction of travel. Drivers behind you are warned at once, and Speedix asks them whether the hazard is still there.
What data does Speedix record?
No account and no email address. The device is recognised by an anonymous technical identifier. With your consent, your position is recorded when you report a hazard, confirm an alert or leave a zone. If you decline, the app remains usable. The details are on our privacy page.
