New technology will allow traffic monitoring cameras to catch drivers trying to avoid penalties
Anyone driving in Spain could be caught out by the new cameras(Image: Wiki Commons/ Simo Räsänen)
UK tourists visiting Spain are being warned of a new road safety change, affecting holidaymakers who plan to hire a car and drive around the European country.
Spanish news site Majorca Daily Bulletin has reported that the Spanish traffic authority in Spain – DGT – has started deploying new speed cameras equipped with technology which can measure speeds and detect sudden braking from more than 1,000 metres away.
These cameras, which utilise LiDAR laser technology, will be able to monitor up to six lanes while remaining undetectable by driver alert devices and will not visibly obvious.
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Anyone driving in Spain, including tourists in hire cars, can be handed on-the-spot fines for a variety of driving offences including speeding.
Majorca Daily Bulletin reported that the DGT has allocated a budget of €1,020,000 for this upgrade to road safety, which includes the installation of 122 new speed cameras throughout 2026 and 2027. This investment aims to enhance road safety by addressing speeding and risky driving behaviours more effectively than traditional radar systems.
Unlike standard radars that measure speed at a single point, these new devices use laser pulses to continuously record vehicle behaviour over extensive stretches of road. This capacity prevents common evasive tactics like abrupt braking near known checkpoints, ensuring drivers cannot bypass sanctions through such manoeuvres.
As well as monitoring speed and braking, the new cameras will be able to detect irregular lane changes, illegal overtaking, and inadequate safety distances. But currently, legal restrictions determine which infringements automated systems can sanction at present.
The new cameras are aiming to prevent drivers from braking suddenly near checkpoints to avoid penalties.
According to the UK Foreign Office, the police can give you on-the-spot fines for a variety of driving offences including speeding. If you accept the fine and pay within 20 days, it will be reduced by 50%.
On top of that, Spain has strict drink-driving laws. Police regularly carry out roadside checks for alcohol and drugs. Penalties for drink-driving include fines, loss of licence and a prison sentence, according to the FCDO.