A new, innovative radar has been installed on the N10, in the Angoulême-Poitiers direction, near Couhé (Valence-en-Poitou). This device, called "weigh-in-motion equipment" (EPM), is capable of detecting not only truck overloads, but also speeding. With its two three-meter-high masts, it resembles a section radar.
This radar works using piezoelectric sensors embedded in the roadway, which measure the weight of moving vehicles. White stripes on the road indicate the location of these sensors. However, the EPM is only activated during coordinated checks between law enforcement and Dreal officers, which allows only trucks in violation to be intercepted a few kilometers away.
A similar radar already existed in the Poitiers-Angoulême direction, but the new system can monitor both lanes. This installation is particularly useful on the N10, a road heavily used by heavy goods vehicles, as many hauliers prefer to avoid the A10 motorway between Bordeaux and Poitiers to save on tolls.
The advantage of this system is that it allows for precise targeting of offending vehicles without disrupting traffic flow. Residents along the N10, who experience heavy traffic, can thus expect a reduction in the nuisance caused by overloading and speeding trucks.