It is true that the dreaded speed cameras are the main deterrent for many, given the prospect of a fine. But there are other measures that combat speeding.
The different types of speed camera, together with one-off speed enforcement campaigns—such as those in summer—are fundamental tools that the Dirección General de Tráfico (DGT) deploys with the aim of reducing road accidents, as the European Union (EU) has been demanding for years. The list of the most dangerous stretches of Spanish roads is published under the name INVIVE (Intensificación de la Vigilancia de la Velocidad, Intensified Speed Monitoring).
Reducing speed is also the purpose of other devices which, depending on the traffic density in the area and the speed limit, are strategically placed so that drivers pay attention and do not exceed the permitted limits. These are the existing speed humps:
Raised pedestrian crossing
Raised pedestrian crossing with a maximum height of 10 centimetres and a maximum length of four metres, also known as a trapezoidal cross-section. Here the distance between the start of the ramp and the asphalt—five millimetres—is very important, as it prevents the vehicle from being damaged when driving over it.
Speed hump
Speed hump or circular cross-section, placed before or after some pedestrian crossings or areas where traffic must be slow; they are made of tough plastics. The peak can be a maximum of six centimetres high, and the length up to four metres.
The distance between one and the next must be at least 50 metres (with a maximum of 200 metres). As for the materials used, since these are devices that have to be fitted to the carriageway, they must be very tough (the paint too). The most commonly used are concrete and quality plastics, depending on whether they are pedestrian crossings or speed humps, respectively.