2023-08-02 17:53:01
As if it were a “Big Brother”, thousands of eyes watch us when we hit the road. These are radars, devices and cameras, both fixed and mobile, whose mission is to ensure that traffic regulations are complied with, whether it involves respecting speed limits, the minimum safety distance, traffic lights at red or even ensure the use of seat belts or child safety measures.
With regard to speed limits, the DGT has made more than 5.3 million observations (of which 2.4 million have been used for analysis) to x-ray compliance with the rules on Spanish roads. To this end, gauges have been installed at one hundred urban and interurban points, measuring the speed of circulation in free flow (conditions in which drivers can freely choose the speed at which they circulate, not being limited by traffic -eg congestion- , the infrastructure -curves, slopes, speed bumps, etc.-, presence of radars, works, or the weather).
The result is that the level of compliance is higher on dual carriageways and highways than on conventional ones, and on urban roads at 50 km/h than on those with a 30 km/h limit.
The average speed and the percentage of vehicles that do not comply with the speed limits are higher during weekends than on weekdays, on all types of road (motorway, dual carriageway, conventional and urban roads, on 30 and 50 km/ h).
The average circulation speeds are also higher during the day than at night. For example, on the highway 116.9 km/h during the day compared to 112.1 km/h at night. And consequently, the percentages of vehicles that respect the limits at night are higher than during the day, except on conventional roads and urban roads (30 and 50), where the respect to the limit is greater during the day.
In any case, these are the main systems used by the DGT to check compliance with traffic regulations.
1
Speed cameras or cinemometers
These are the most common and are called cinemometers. There can be two types: without operator, if they are fixed; and with an operator, if they are mobile. The cinemometers without an operator are marked on the road, a few meters before their location. Mobile phones, precisely because they are in continuous movement, cannot be signaled in advance. However, the DGT indicates on its website where all its cinemometers are located.
In the case of mobile radars, the areas of dangerous sections in which surveillance (and therefore the use of radars) is greater are indicated. Mobile radars are a system that is located in a car or motorcycle belonging to the Traffic Civil Guard.
While the speed radar measures the speed of a vehicle at a precise moment, the section radar takes the average speed of the vehicle between point A and point B. They are made up of a kind of gantry with cameras: one where the section begins and another where it ends. Their locations are also provided by the Directorate General of Traffic.
Section radars have been operational since 2010, they are installed on motorways, dual carriageways and conventional roads and can be several kilometers long.
To warn drivers of the proximity of a section of controlled speed, it is signaled in advance with the corresponding panel.
Speed controlled by DGT radar
Actually they are not ‘radars’ proper, like cinemometers. It is a system of cameras that record continuously, the license plate of each vehicle is identified at the entrance and exit of the stage. A computer relates the identical license plates, checks the passing times and calculates the average speed of the vehicle.
When the average speed of the course is below the limit, there is no violation. But if the average speed of the journey exceeds the limit, the complaint of the infraction is processed.
The traffic helicopters, known as Pegasus, are also part of the DGT radar network. Their job is to measure speed in the same way as the rest of the radars, but they also check that the safety distances are respected at all times.
Airborne radar provides an advantage: it is more selective and allows the behavior of drivers to be observed, identifying risk behaviors. Pegasus can act from a height of 300 meters and a kilometer away from the target. The purpose of the system is to know the geographic coordinates (latitude and longitude) of the vehicle being controlled in order to calculate its speed.
The DGT explains how Pegasus FP works
First, it locates the helicopter’s position in space with extraordinary precision, through various mechanisms (gyroscopes and accelerometers) and a computer program added to the surveillance cameras. A laser then measures the distance between the helicopter and the vehicle every three seconds. With these data you can find out the successive positions of the vehicle and calculate its average speed for penalty purposes. Once the infringement is confirmed, a frame of the recording is sent electronically as evidence to the Automated Complaints Treatment Center (ESTRADA) from where it is processed. And immediate action is even planned in cases of crime, contacting a Civil Guard patrol from the same helicopter.
They began to be operational in 2019. Their size is so compact (close to 50 cm) that they can even be carried by Civil Guard motorcycles, not just cars, according to the RACE. These types of radars are difficult for the driver to detect (in fact, they are recognized as ‘invisible radars’), and they are easily manageable and transportable by the authorities.
This type of cinemometers that work both day and night can be placed on a tripod or attached to a sign by means of a magnetized device.
They have a range of between 15 and 50 meters and up to two lanes from their location. In addition, the velolasers register speeds ranging from 30 to 250 kilometers per hour, which attests to their great precision. In fact, they are able to distinguish between light and heavy vehicles, something especially useful when it comes to setting the respective penalties.
Velolaser of small dimensions FP
As for the speed of action, the technology of these cinemometers allows the closest agents to be notified immediately when an infraction occurs so that they directly issue the fine. Its margin of error stands at 5%, below the 7% in which traditional radars moved.
It consists of placing a mobile cinemometer a few meters beyond the fixed radar and serves to catch drivers who exceed the permitted speed limit. They are fixed or mobile radars that are placed after the first fixed radar in a certain section and at a relatively close distance. As the driver does not know where they are, he will have to maintain the correct speed at all times if he does not want to be fined. It serves as a possible ‘anti-braking’ measure for those who brake when they see a radar to pick up speed once they have passed the control.
6
continuous line cameras
The DGT is testing this system using two cameras that monitor vehicles on acceleration roads that are going to join a main road. In the event that the cameras detect that the continuous line is not respected, they will penalize the offender with a financial fine of 200 euros, although in this case without withdrawal of points.
This type of radar does not take into account the speed of the vehicle, but is in operation so that red traffic lights are respected, hence its name. It is a camera that checks which vehicles continue to circulate when they find this traffic sign.
Its operation is based on a camera 25 meters from the traffic light, enough distance for the photograph taken to show both the traffic light and the license plate and the location of the car. To contrast, the system takes two photos: the first to see the traffic light before the car passes and the second to see it when it has already passed.
Skipping a red light entails a fine of 200 euros and the loss of 4 points from the driving license.
8
belt camera and radar
This radar has the mission of controlling that the occupants of a vehicle wear the seat belt. They are capable of taking up to 50 photographs per second. They are usually on gantries and poles, and 60% are on conventional roads.
Thermal radars can detect the number of people traveling in an FP vehicle
Thermal radars are also being tested. Their main characteristic is that they can measure the temperature of the different parts of the vehicle to find out how many people are inside. They serve to know when a driver is occupying a low occupancy lane that does not correspond to him.
Buses, taxis and private cars with at least two occupants can travel in the so-called Bus-HOV lanes. Also vehicles that have the Zero Emissions label. There are about 200 radars of this type. Not wearing a seatbelt entails a fine of another 200 euros and the loss of 3 points from the license.
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