Salamanca, Spain – Spanish traffic monitoring has ushered in a new era. With the installation of the country’s first average speed camera, also known as “Radar de Tramo,” in Salamanca, the Dirección General de Tráfico (DGT) has hit a nerve – and a lucrative one at that. Within just six weeks, an inconspicuous area has been transformed into a veritable cash cow for traffic fines, with a 100-euro penalty due every 30 seconds. This raises the question: Is Spain on the eve of a comprehensive expansion of these radar controls?
The Epicenter of Speed Traps: Montalvo Estate in Focus
The scene of this new speed camera sensation is the Salamanca 20 urban highway, more precisely the busy industrial center of the Montalvo estate. Here, the Autovía Urbana, the southern bypass, and the A-50 converge – a perfect traffic hub and, as it turns out, an ideal target for the DGT. Alfonso García “Motorman,” a renowned automotive expert, expressed surprise on the COPE radio station Poniendo las Calles: “This is strange, it’s surprising.” He revealed that the radar covers a stretch of 461 meters from kilometer 91.975 to 92.436. The speed limit is a strict 50 km/h. Anyone who completes the stretch in less than 33.2 seconds will be fined 100 euros. Currently, it’s all about the money; no points deductions are yet planned.
Salamanca’s New Cash Cow: A Success Story in 45 Days
The efficiency of this new system is remarkable. Although only operational for a month and a half, this speed camera is already the third most productive fine generator in Salamanca. An astonishing balance that fuels the effectiveness, but also the debate about traffic safety and revenue.
Unlike traditional speed cameras, where drivers often brake abruptly just before the camera, average speed cameras force drivers to adhere to the speed limit throughout the entire stretch. This promotes consistently compliant driving behavior. Especially in this area, a hotspot for heavy trucks and commercial vehicles frequenting the Montalvo industrial area, the temptation to speed proves irresistible – and costly.
Interestingly, the initiative for this installation did not come from the offices in Madrid but from the traffic authorities of the province of Salamanca themselves. This shows that local initiatives can significantly influence the national discussion about traffic safety in Spain.
