The DGT sued by the Union for the Defence of Motorcyclists over the installation of possible illegal radars on the crash barriers

Road safety concerns everyone, both those who travel along the carriageway and those who ensure that order is maintained at all times. To successfully carry out this task, certain measures must be taken so that the security forces can protect and look after the road. However, such precautionary measures are not always properly established, which may have happened with the innovation of installing speed cameras on the 60 new crash barrier supports on Spanish roads.

The International Union for the Defence of Motorcyclists aims to safeguard the safety of two-wheel enthusiasts and to fight against anything that could endanger their lives once they are on the road. Following the announcement of this new measure by the DGT, several doubts arose about its legality, since some of these new radars will be installed directly on the crash barrier, an element that can be fatal for motorcyclists and, above all, because the crash barrier is a safety element, so no additional element may be installed on it.

Juan Carlos Toribio, former member of the Guardia Civil and current member of the International Union for the Defence of Motorcyclists, has stated both on his Facebook page and on the official website of the association that a complaint has been lodged against the DGT. According to the former police officer, the use of these 60 new Velolaser radars is illegal if they are installed on the crash barrier itself, relying on the DGT’s failure to comply with the standard and to pass the UNE-EN 1317 test.

The Defence of Motorcyclists together with Juan Carlos Toribio, have established in the complaint filed that the DGT will have to show the results of the tests carried out, which will set out the final verdict on the legality of installing speed cameras on crash barriers. Should their operation not be permitted by law, they will be obliged to remove those radars that are currently in operation. At the same time, it has also been requested that those systems mounted on a tripod must keep a distance of 1.6 metres from the barrier.

Furthermore, a report is also demanded on the relevant tests carried out on all the crash barriers where the radar is planned to be installed, which must also pass the UNE-EN 1317 test for full operation. The TB-11 or TB-12 safety tests must be essential in order to give the go-ahead to the barriers and to opt for the coupling of this radar.

Both institutions seek to avoid confrontations on the road and to safeguard the safety of drivers, both those who use two wheels and those who use four. For now we will have to wait until we learn the results of the complaint filed by the motorcyclists’ association and until the DGT provides some statement in this regard.