- Cascading speed controls have been introduced in some areas of Spain to catch drivers
- They use secondary radar devices before or after a fixed radar
- They measure whether motorists significantly adjust their speed to evade detection
New technology has been introduced on Spanish roads that detects whether drivers are slowing down moments before a speed camera and then accelerates once they have passed it.
Authorities have begun using secondary radar devices before or after a fixed camera site to measure whether drivers are only briefly reducing their speed to avoid detection and the fines that would come as a result of being caught over the limit.
The new ‘anti-braking’ radars have been implemented in the Northeast area of Navarra after a successful pilot test in 2020.
And experts have warned that the technology, if effective, could be deployed on British roads in the future.
Secondary radars before or after a fixed radar in Spain allow authorities to detect (and punish) drivers who brake suddenly before reaching the marked radar or who accelerate strongly shortly after passing it.
The cascade system involves the use of a secondary mobile radar device just before or after a fixed radar, sometimes up to a kilometer away from the conventional radar.
Radar is then used to detect whether a motorist has braked excessively to avoid triggering a posted fixed camera, or has accelerated significantly after passing its location.
The innovative technology has received the green light from the Spanish government’s transport department, the General Directorate of Traffic (DGT).
The goal is to identify motorists who attempt to evade fines by only momentarily reducing their speed to evade detection.
This setup has already been shown to discourage speeding in the region, with motorists risking fines of up to €200 (£175) if caught by secondary speed cameras.
This anti-braking technology was put to the test during Holy Week 2020 by the Collegiate Police of Navarra and was recently implemented throughout the medieval Basque region, including its capital and largest city, Pamplona, famous for its annual bull running.
Given that Spanish speed cameras, which are gray and often situated lower on the roadside than their UK equivalents, are already harder to detect, the addition of secondary monitoring measures could make this one of the most prolific speed traps on Europe’s roads.
In the photo: a radar in Barcelona. Unlike the United Kingdom, where radars are painted yellow, the devices in Spain are gray and much more difficult to detect.
Dash camera and speed camera detection device maker Road Angel says it is a more advanced version of the technology deployed in Britain.
And so, said the head of the company. The express who believes Spain’s anti-braking cameras could hit our roads next year.
They would be the next step up from the usual speed cameras that have been used in Britain since 1999.
While early examples of this technology could only calculate a driver’s average speed between two designated cameras, the latest average speed cameras can use a network of up to 1,000 separate devices to take multiple measurements over a stretch of roadway.
Road Angel founder Gary Digva says the new Spanish technology could be incredibly effective if brought to the UK, where motorists often brake hard before approaching a fixed speed camera to avoid detection, then accelerate immediately afterwards. .
‘If it occurs [in the UK]”These devices will detect and penalize more drivers who exceed speeds, encourage more drivers to respect the legal limits and improve road safety,” he explained.
‘One in four fatal collisions is caused by speeding on UK roads. [meaning] More than 2,500 people are seriously injured each year due to speeding.
“These shocking statistics alone should encourage motorists to think twice before speeding, but it is safe to say that new technology will further penalize motorists who drive over the legal limit, thus helping to keep the Kingdom’s roads Safer Kingdom for all users.
“By catching drivers who slam on the brakes before passing the speed camera, as well as using technology to stop drivers who speed again after the camera, new radar devices will be able to penalize many more drivers than current systems.
This month it was revealed that Greater Manchester Police have installed more than 100 of these high-tech, two-way, “ultra” radars across the city, which can not only monitor speeding offenses but also drivers who illegally They don’t wear a seat belt or handle a phone. in the wheel
Digva previously warned that the future Advances in artificial intelligence could see radar technology become more advanced in the future, and they warned police could even use drones to monitor the speed at which drivers travel from above.
Reports of speed detection anti-braking devices potentially coming to our roads come in the wake of new two-way ‘ultra’ cameras being used across the country.
Greater Manchester Police confirmed this month that it has installed 100 VECTOR-SR cameras to detect speeding drivers in the city.
These cameras are flicker-free and use the latest in infrared technology, meaning there is no need to paint white lines on the roads they are monitoring.
