Radar Mesta Fusion 2, the radar of the future that could arrive in Spain very soon

Radars are one of the tools the Spanish DGT uses to detect the offences that occur on the roads. They normally record speeding and, for some time now, other types of offences as well, such as using mobile phones, not wearing a seatbelt, or not having compulsory insurance. All very efficient, but in France they are starting to use an even more effective type of radar.

The Mesta Fusion 2 radar began operating in the summer of 2019 and has become a real nightmare for drivers who break the rules on French roads. It is a turret-type radar, identifiable by its narrow tower-like appearance with three openings for its radars and cameras. This radar is very efficient and surpasses every one we know of so far.

The manufacturer of this radar is the company Idemia, a technology subsidiary of the multinational Safran. The four-metre-high posts that house these radars have three cameras. With them, a distance of 200 metres is covered and several lanes in the same direction of travel, so it can determine speed and the various offences committed by drivers.

Among the various offences this new radar detects, the most common stand out, such as speeding; using a mobile phone while driving; driving below the minimum speed of the road; improperly driving in a reserved or restricted lane; running a Stop or Give Way sign; and stopping improperly at a junction.

But this Mesta Fusion 2 radar goes further and is also capable of detecting offences such as overtaking on the right on motorways and dual carriageways; failing to keep a safe distance on roads, motorways and dual carriageways; overtaking on the hard shoulder, and other offences that are not currently recorded by radars.

High reliability

What is impressive about these radars is their capacity to handle up to 32 vehicles and 8 lanes. Their margin of error is 1%, and they are able to discriminate between vehicles. This is also especially practical in cities, since they can read number plates and penalise vehicles that are not permitted in urban areas with traffic restrictions.

This new type of radar is still in testing, although France is expected to install around 1,200 units on its roads. There is a catch: at first only 25% of them will be real, while the rest will be decoys installed to make drivers aware of the risk. But beware, because the working ones will keep changing, so one of these radars may not work for a given period and then be active for a while.

Will Mesta Fusion 2 radars arrive in Spain? Most likely. They are the next generation of traffic radars and if their use in France proves effective, it would not be surprising if they spread to other European countries. For now, the most modern radars on Spanish roads are the Veloláser radars, as well as those fitted to Pegasus helicopters, which continue to record offences and prevent accidents.

https://youtu.be/s_jIHnm3Zso