The DGT monitors our roads with fixed and mobile radars, helicopters and even camouflaged motorcycles. But in recent times, the agency has decided on one speed controller above all others: the section radar.
For several months now, the statements made by Pere Navarro, director of the DGT, regarding speed control have only deepened the issue. He claims that “they are fairer” and did not hide the fact that the elimination of the 20 km/h margin for overtaking on secondary roads facilitates the installation of this type of radar.
All this has served as an excuse for the DGT to Increase section radars on Spanish roads. A total of 88 new controllers of this type are expected to arrive on our roads by 2024.
In recent weeks there has been much talk about the new radar on the section of the A-8 highway between the Ontón viaduct and the town of Castro Urdiales, in the province of Cantabria. For six kilometres, traffic will be monitored and, curiously, the maximum speed allowed will be increased to 100 km/h, despite the fact that at some points it is currently only possible to drive at 80 km/h.
This curiosity has made this new controller go viral, and he has also become famous for his distance. However, the six kilometres monitored are far from the longest section radars.
A radar section of more than 30 kilometers
If the six kilometres of this new controller seem like a lot, they are nothing compared to the longest section radar in Spain.
It is one of those located on the CL-615 road, in an ascending direction, which holds the title of the longest radar in Spain. Starting at kilometer 34.61 of said road, the DGT monitors a stretch of 32.895 metros constantly. With 33 kilometres in length, this is the longest section radar in Spain.
The curious thing is that we say that it is “one of those located” on this road because driving on this and other roads in Palencia requires paying close attention to speed. On that same road, the CL-615, but in a decreasing direction, there is also the second longest section radar in Spain. It is located at kilometer point 1.706 and extends for 23.136 kilometers.
However, these are not the only section radars that drivers from Palencia will find on this road. In ascending order, another section radar extends for 11.669 kilometres from kilometre point 49.975. In descending order, from kilometre 38.312 we will find another one for 11.679 kilometres.
And the other case for study is that of the CL-613 highwaywhich is also a constant for section radars. In ascending order, starting from kilometer point 11.92 we find a radar of 3.489 km. Nothing compared to the one installed at kilometer point 15.41 from which we leave after 17.456 kilometers monitored.
The strategy is repeated in ascending order on the same road. At kilometre point 15.41, 3.487 kilometres of road are monitored and further ahead, at kilometre 32.7, we find a radar again at 17.454 kilometres.
Photo | DGT
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