These are the new DGT drones that will be watching over you

Redacción 27 April 2018 2 min.

These are the new DGT drones that will be watching over you

The DGT’s new drones begin operating over the May Bridge weekend.

After debuting undetectable radars and reducing the maximum speed on conventional roads, the new DGT drones are the latest measure launched by the agency to control traffic. This surveillance system is in the testing phase and does not yet have a penalising role.

The new DGT drones will begin operating during this May Bridge weekend, when the traffic agency expects 7.4 million long-distance trips to be made. The special surveillance operation will run from 3 p.m. on Friday 27 April to midnight on Tuesday 1 May. The heaviest traffic will be between 3 p.m. and 10 p.m. on Friday 27 April, and between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. the following day.

These are the new DGT drones

During this holiday period, the new DGT drones will operate on a trial basis. They will carry out surveillance and traffic management tasks, but for now they will not penalise drivers for their offences. This new surveillance system will therefore complement the Pegasus helicopters, the Veloster mobile radars and the Civil Guard ground patrols (including the mobile radars mounted on Civil Guard motorcycles).

The DGT currently has five drones: 1 Phantom 2, 1 Phantom 4 Pro, 1 Matrice 200 and 2 S900 units. The agency plans to add seven more drones, bringing the total to 12 units. Their operating range is around 500 metres, they fly at an altitude of 120 metres, and have 2 hours of flight endurance.

“The incorporation of these unmanned aircraft into the DGT’s aerial surveillance services will contribute to better traffic management, greater protection of vulnerable road users (cyclists) and a better service during special operations, such as the motorcycle Grand Prix races, the Paso del Estrecho crossing or this weekend’s operation“, said Gregorio Serrano, director of the DGT.