Speed Cameras and General Road Safety laws.

[Deanscroft]

Beware - there appears to have been a speed camera recently installed on the road out of Pollenca Town approx 1km towards Sa Pobla. Speed limit here is 90kmph.

 

[El Gordo]

Thanks Deanscroft.

I know there is one on each carriageway on the motorway from Palma to the Pollensa turnoff but I have never been able to spot them!! (going too fast?)

Its difficult keeping your speed down with such good roads and KM/h does not seem as fast as when in mph!!!

 

[sws97sdg]

Agree Gordan, especially the road from the motorway, when I turn off onto it I wind the window down and the holiday starts there, lovely road to drive, also agree with the Kmh, very difficult to work out what speed you are supposed to go, journeys normally consist of me saying 'what speed limit is it here' etc

 

[roig cat]

Do Sat Navs warn you about speed cameras in Mallorca?

 

[sws97sdg]

Certainly not that one if its new, there aren't many others anyway are they, other than on the motorway?

 

[Belladonna]

Mentioned these in my last big blog I think. First time we had seen them in such numbers. Spotted one on the roundabout after Crestix church (may spell that wrong - Crestix not church - its early), just before you zig zag onto the motorway. They were attempting the "hide behind a tree" exercise! Also seen a couple on the road between Pollensa and the church, but that was the day after the Fira and wondered if it was just an end of month outing for them to make up the income!
They have definitely become more prevalent now and we spent our late dash back to the airport scaning the bridges over the motorway!

 

[Nick]

Yes, there is a speed camera there. Saw it last week. Rather ultra modern it is too.

Beware, it is not bright yellow and large like ours. You are on top of it before you know it!!!

 

[El Gordo]

Do Sat Navs warn you about speed cameras in Mallorca?

I am sure I read somewhere that it was illeagal to use a SAT NAV in Spain if it showed Speed Camera positions/Warnings

 

[suzystew]

Thanks for the speed information. Coming over in 4 weeks time and nice to know.

 

[The Wob]

Radar detectors etc are definately illegal in France. Heavy on the spot fine if you are caught with one. Even if you have brought it out on your own car from the UK and it is switched off. Just having it in the vehicle is an offence.

Not sure about Spain, but it would not surprise me.

The Wob

 

[El Gordo]

There are lots of articles regarding driving in Spain on the internet.

I found this advice on idealspain.com:

Navigation aids and DVD´s etc.
This is a grey area of the law. Some say these aids are illegal yet they are now commonplace. The driver must not use any screen based aid to navigation (or entertainment) while on the road. You must pull completely off away from traffic. (It makes sense really; after all, you are not allowed to drive down the road with a map on the steering wheel). DVD players and screen based devices other than those directly needed to operate the car must be positioned so the driver cannot see them

Do you want to take the chance!!!!

 

[clinkham]

Screens n'things

There are lots of articles regarding driving in Spain on the internet.

I found this advice on idealspain.com:

Navigation aids and DVD´s etc.
This is a grey area of the law. Some say these aids are illegal yet they are now commonplace. The driver must not use any screen based aid to navigation (or entertainment) while on the road. You must pull completely off away from traffic. (It makes sense really; after all, you are not allowed to drive down the road with a map on the steering wheel). DVD players and screen based devices other than those directly needed to operate the car must be positioned so the driver cannot see them

Do you want to take the chance!!!!

From The AA web site (amongst all the adverts selling you stuff) in their foreign travel advice for Spain they say -
"Other rules/requirements in Spain:
It is recommended that a driver who wears glasses should carry a spare pair with them if this is noted on your driving licence.
Apparatus with a screen which can distract a driver (such as television, video, DVD equipment) should be positioned in places where the driver is unable to see them. This excludes GPS systems. It is prohibited to touch or program the device unless parked in a safe place.
The use of radar detectors is prohibited."

The AA will now fix your domestic heating boiler. Not a lot of people know that...

 

[Belladonna]

.... So the AA say we can see the GPS but must not listen to any bleeps that happen to coincide with any speed cameras. Whereas Ideal Spain are sayiing we cant use them at all!? Well, I'm with the AA so should I just carry my badge with me and turn the sound down!
Thank you Michael Cain!

 

[Smiddy]

Not strictly Mallorca, but a friend has just received, to her UK home address a hefty fine from the police in Malaga for speeding. Would assume the same system is now being introduced in Mallorca, beware!

 

[alex]

I was stopped in France 2 hyears ago and the gendarme recognised my inforad speed detector and commented on it but did not say it was illegal - unfortunately he was very excitable about my speed!!

 

[Pollpott]

Deanscroft, Hola, Belladonna,
Re Speed Cameras...
Don't you think it would be more beneficial to reduce your speed rather than warning other drivers of where the speed cameras are? The speed limit signs are there for a reason - to slow you down for the safety of yourselves and others.
Sws97sdg...How can you say you get confused? The signs are in Kmh, not mph.
I just hope I'm not on the roads at the same time as you all are.

 

[sws97sdg]

Hi Tony, I agree re the speed limits, I always drive at the speed limits where ever i am so speed cameras aren't an issue for me. This is why I get confused, I always try to keep to the limit, they change quickly from 90 down to 70 then to 50 as you get close to a town then down to 45 in a town, while I am trying to work ouit where to go I am also trying to remember the last speed limit sign we went past, they dont seem to have as many around as we do.

 

[Belladonna]

Oh Tony! And there was I hoping to wave at you whilst on my mobile and eating a sandwhich at the same time! LOL! Joking of course!
Totally agree with what you have said obviously, as I am sure everyone else is.
I think my point of view is that it is far too easy to inadvertantly go over the speed limit when there is a clear, wide road - usually out of season. I am actually in favour of knowing where speed cameras are because it DOES make you aware of your speed and you DO slow down. So it's a win win situation for all concerned to know there are cameras around - except the police who may not get quite so much money in their coffers!

 

[Pollpott]

Hi Sws and Belladonna,
I was a bit scared of opening this post to read the replies, I thought you were all going to slag me off and call me all sorts of names!
I'm glad you didn't.
I was actually 'done' for speeding just before Christmas in the UK. I was doing 34 mph in a 30mph zone. I was given the option of a fine and points on my licence or attending a Speed Awareness Course. I opted for the course.
It was a 4 hour course on the dangers of speeding. Most of it was pretty boring but it did open my eyes to the dangers and some of it stuck.

The first thing we had to do was given our reasons, or excuses, for breaking the speed limit. Some of the answers were amazing..
'I was hungry and was rushing home for something to eat.'
'I didn't know that I was breaking the speed limit because I never look at my speedomoter.'
'Everyone else was speeding, I was just keeping up with the.'

So I wasn't trying to preach to anyone or sound all goody goody.
Anyway, I can't drive anymore! No licence. I had an epileptic seizure a week after I was caught speeding and had to send my licence to the DVLA, as required by law after a seizure.

I like walking anyway and public transport is great! See you PP later in year.
Tony

 

[Sparky]

Of course knowing where the speed cams are does make people slow down but then they just speed up again as soon as they are past them.
Every Monday morning on Spanish TV they give the numbers of accidents on the roads over the weekend and also show some pretty graphic pics and videos, while not all are speed related, the majority are so i really fail to see how anyone wins. Speed kills and maims so many people every week.