Since the first speed radars in Spain came into operation in Madrid and Barcelona in March 1970, we have gradually become accustomed to the presence of these devices on the roads throughout the country. Currently, nearly 3,000 fixed radars scan Spanish roads daily, of which 232 are in the province of Madrid, according to the III Radar Observatory of Spain published by Coyote.
In the city of Madrid, according to the list published on the City Council's open data portal, there are a total of 35 fixed radars. These devices, strategically distributed at critical points of the road network, have the main objective of guaranteeing road safety and promoting compliance with established speed limits, thus contributing to reducing accidents on urban roads.
There is no doubt that the M-30, one of the busiest ring roads in Madrid, concentrates a significant number of these fixed radars, which also translates into a significant increase in speed control. At the same time, this massive presence of cinemometers not only reinforces road safety in the ring that surrounds the city center, but also makes this area the one that accumulates the most penalties for speeding.
In 2023, the M-30 maintained its position as the road with the highest number of speed violations, as occurred in previous years. In total, the Madrid City Council registered 273,166 complaints on this artery, with the radar located at km 4,150 of the M-30, as the device that contributed the most to these statistics, with 48,438 complaints and a collection of 5,111,000 euros. according to the latest report prepared by the driver advocacy organization Associated European Motorists (AEA).
The data published by AEA reveals that seven of the 10 speed cameras that issue the most fines in Madrid are located on the M-30. However, the devices located on the A-6/Puerta de Hierro Avenue, near the Costume Museum, and the one located at km 19.06 of the M-30 are the ones that have experienced the greatest increases in number. of complaints made regarding the previous year. Specifically, the first of them imposed 52% more fines (32,578 compared to 21,358) and the one located at km 19.06 of the M-30, 85% more (31,761 compared to 17,104).
However, AEA warns in its report that throughout 2023 a 2.5% decrease has been noted in the number of speed complaints made by the M-30 radars. This is due to the fact that many of them were inoperative due to the remodeling works that were carried out on said road and the repeated judicial pronouncements that forced the Madrid City Council to review their correct operation.
Likewise, AEA highlights in its study the “blackout” suffered by the section radars located on Avenida de Córdoba/Glorieta Cádiz and at the entrance and exit of the A-5, due to the numerous judicial rulings against the Madrid City Council forcing to cancel imposed sanctions.
The drivers' defense organization also highlights the exponential increase, around 1,500%, in complaints filed for exceeding the speed limit of 30 km/h on unmarked roads. Among these roads he mentions Avenida de la Victoria, Castillo de Candanchú Street, Entrevías Avenue and Machupichu Avenue.
The Madrid City Council's radars made 518,638 complaints in 2023, which represents an increase of 7% compared to the previous year (484,100). In total they collected 59,426,500 euros compared to 52,066,200 euros the previous year, bringing the average penalty of fines imposed by the radars from 107.5 euros in 2022 to 114.5 in 2023.
Regarding the M-30 radars, in 2023 they made 273,166 complaints, 2.5% less than in 2022 (280,195), and the amount of the penalty was 103.8 euros, a figure very similar to the average of the previous year (103.4 euros).
