The Leader Newspaper
Since 2019, the DGT has used eleven drones to monitor, control and manage traffic. They are primarily intended for traffic surveillance and, according to the rules that regulate its operation, “in particular through these systems, the following will be intensified: surveillance in risky sections; those aimed at the protection of vulnerable users of roads in transit, in particular, cyclists, motorcyclists and pedestrians; monitoring distractions while driving; and speed controls”.
Three drones have the technical report from the Spanish Metrology Centre to monitor traffic and detect violations, while the remaining 8 are used to monitor and regulate traffic.
In fact, between January to August 2020, the drones –which have flown more than 430 hours: 316 for surveillance and 55 for regulation– had captured 220 infractions, the majority for not respecting road priority (28%). They also highlight the incorrect use of seat belts (16%), the use of the mobile phone behind the wheel (12%) or not respecting the longitudinal markings of the road (12%). A clear example in the protection of vulnerable people is that 4% of the infractions captured by drones are for overtaking cyclists without respecting the minimum safety distance.