Spain’s most clever speed trap: why drivers continue to forget this one

You know that relief you feel when you hit the brakes after passing a speeding camera and breathe out a few moments later? Drivers in Palencia (northern Spain) might need to change their strategy.

Welcome to the country’s longest average speed section—so long, in fact, you’ll probably forget you’re even being watched.

So, What’s the deal with Spain’s longest ‘Tramo’ radar?

These aren’t the usual speed cameras. The “radar of tramo” does more than just snap your license plate in one place and hope for success. There’s actually a camera placed at both the beginning and the end of the road. They record the exact time you enter and exit, and—here’s the clever bit—calculate your average speed for the whole lot. There’s no point in braking hard just before the finish line; if your speed has crept up, you are still responsible.

The longest tramoradar in Spain can be found on the CL-315, heading east. It covers 32.9 kilometers (that’s over twenty miles). The longest tramo radar in Spain is on the CL-315 heading east. It covers 32.9 kilometres (that’s more than twenty miles). If that’s not enough, Palencia has the second and third longest, too—on the CL-615 (23.1km, heading south) and the CL-613 (17.45km, both ways).

The idea is not to catch the slow-moving. It’s not only about catching the heavy-footed. In other words, you’ve got to keep your speed in check the whole way through—not just when you spot the sign.

What about the cities themselves? Madrid is also a great place to visit

You’re not off the hook because you aren’t on the road. In Madrid, on Calle Sinesio Delgado, there’s the longest urban tramo section in the country—1.78km in one direction, 1.8km in the other. The speed limit for the tram is 50 km/h. They’ve added additional cameras to catch anyone trying to avoid or join midway.

These radars in the city are not wasting time. The DGT (Spain’s traffic authority), is more vigilant than ever.

Why so many drivers are caught by long-range speed cameras in Spain

Let’s be honest: it’s easy to get distracted on a long, quiet road—music on, window down, thoughts drifting off to dinner or the weekend. This is why tramo radars that are so long catch many people off guard. You’ve likely forgotten that you were being timed by the halfway point.

There’s no way to avoid them. The only way to avoid a fine is to stick to the speed limit for the entire stretch – not just when you see a warning sign or a police car lurking in the layby.

Next time you drive through Palencia or Madrid, take a deep breathe, turn on your cruise control, and enjoy the view. You’ll save yourself a nasty surprise in the post—and maybe even discover a bit more of Spain’s beautiful countryside while you’re at it.