Spain’s New Radar Doesn’t Check Speed: It Measures Following Distance

Authorities have begun installing signs on motorways and major roads warning that upcoming radars monitor vehicle spacing. The penalties are steep: a €200 fine and a four-point deduction from the license. Spain’s license system starts with 8–12 points, which can be increased with spotless driving or chipped away by infractions. Drop to zero, and the license is revoked.

By law, the minimum gap on highways and two-lane roads must be at least 70 meters. That’s what the new radars will automatically check. In the latest catalog of road signs, the symbol carries the designation S991f. According to La Razón, it has already become the most confusing sign for many motorists.

Drivers complain that estimating such precise distances is tricky in real traffic, especially in heavy flow. The traffic authority counters that radars and signs are only installed in accident-prone zones and will work on the same deterrent principle as speed cameras.

There’s more at stake in the event of a crash: if investigators determine the culprit failed to keep the legal distance, the fine can rise to €500 and six points can be stripped from the license. On Spanish roads, watching your spacing is now just as important as watching your speed.