DGT’s Pegasus helicopters return to Spanish skies to show speeding drivers. Credit : Gustavo MS_Photography, Shutterstock
After a fewer quiet weeks connected Spain’s roads, nan DGT’s Pegasus helicopters are getting fresh to return to nan skies again — and pinch them, nan return of fines for speeding, mobile telephone use, and reckless driving.
The break came arsenic a astonishment for many. Since September 1, nan craft belonging to Spain’s General Directorate of Traffic (DGT) had been grounded aft their attraction and operations statement expired. For immoderate drivers, it was a invited pause. For nan DGT, though, it was simply a matter of clip earlier their astir precocious postulation surveillance strategy was backmost successful business.
Pegasus backmost connected work – and fresh to fine
Now, it’s official. The DGT has signed a caller statement pinch Eliance, a Spanish aviation institution specialising successful emergency operations, including firefighting, rescue missions, and aesculapian transport. Under this statement – weighted astatine conscionable complete €51 cardinal – Eliance will grip nan operation, maintenance, and reappraisal of nan DGT’s chopper fleet for nan adjacent 38 months.
That intends nan Pegasus helicopters will soon beryllium backmost operating Spanish skies. Although there’s nary confirmed day yet, sources propose their return is imminent. Out of nan DGT’s 11 helicopters, 9 had been retired of action owed to nan statement delay, leaving ample parts of nan state without aerial monitoring.
The DGT insists these craft are basal devices for improving roadworthy information and preventing superior accidents – particularly connected secondary roads and agrarian routes, wherever galore fatal crashes occur.
How nan Pegasus strategy works
Each DGT helicopter is operated by 2 unit members: a aviator and a camera-radar specialist. The craft are equipped pinch high-resolution cameras and radar systems that tin way vehicles and grounds footage from hundreds of metres supra nan ground.
Once an infraction is detected, nan strategy automatically calculates nan speed, logs nan vehicle’s position, and records a clear image of nan incident. These specifications are transmitted successful existent clip to 1 of nan DGT’s power centres, wherever officers tin determine whether to extremity nan conveyance instantly aliases simply grounds nan grounds for a fine.
When nan chopper lands, each information is reviewed, verified, and added to nan charismatic sanctioning process.
The database of offences Pegasus tin spot from supra is agelong – and acquainted to Spanish drivers. The main ones see speeding, utilizing a mobile telephone while driving, not wearing a seatbelt, forbidden overtaking, and tailgating. The strategy tin moreover prime up signs of vulnerable distractions aliases reckless behaviour that mightiness beryllium invisible to crushed patrols.
A arguable yet important instrumentality for roadworthy safety
Not everyone is thrilled astir nan return of nan Pegasus programme. Some drivers person voiced vexation connected societal media, arguing that nan DGT relies excessively heavy connected fines alternatively of focusing connected prevention aliases infrastructure improvements.
Still, roadworthy information experts opportunity nan aerial patrols make a measurable difference. The DGT maintains that nan Pegasus fleet helps trim accidents, deter reckless driving, and beforehand safer habits down nan wheel.
In fact, officials opportunity nan helicopters service not conscionable arsenic an enforcement instrumentality but besides arsenic a ocular reminder to motorists that they’re being watched – a deterrent that often makes drivers deliberation doubly earlier breaking nan rules.
A watchful oculus from above
The DGT presently operates 11 Pegasus helicopters stationed crossed nan country, each tin of covering immense areas successful conscionable a fewer hours. They’ll erstwhile again beryllium a communal show supra highways and agrarian routes alike – particularly during weekends, holidays, and long-distance recreation peaks.
So, while galore drivers whitethorn person enjoyed nan short break from aerial monitoring, it’s clip to retrieve nan aureate rule: support your velocity down, enactment disconnected your phone, and respect nan distance. The DGT’s eyes successful nan entity are returning – and they’re sharper than ever.
Stay tuned pinch Euro Weekly News for much news astir Motoring