Although Waze is the most popular (and probably the best) app to know your presence Fixed and mobile radars on the roadThere are many other free alternatives that perform this function. However, an increasing number of drivers are starting to use messaging apps to warn others instead of using navigation apps.

This is called “Galician method” because a few months ago we learned that a Galician will go to court in Galicia for sending control notices to 15,000 more drivers via WhatsApp. The DGT is currently looking into how to combat this.

Behaviors that threaten citizen security

Image: Michael Schwarzenberger (Pixabay)

There are countless tricks to breaking the rules on the road. And one of the most common warn other drivers The presence of radars and DGT controls. Both jammers and radar detectors and flashes are severely punished, so the mobile phone has become an excellent tool for this.

Until now, the most common method was to use a navigation app to report incidents on the road (including speed cameras), but messaging apps Like Telegram and WhatsApp They are making progress in getting instant alerts from thousands of drivers.

Neither the Traffic Regulation, nor the Law, nor the Traffic Regulation states that it is prohibited to warn about a control through a messaging application or a notification in the browser. Furthermore, applications cannot detect the presence or absence of a radar on their own; they only notifications “warn” the driver with contributions from other users.

Despite these loopholes, last May, the Traffic Authorities charged a person who was handling the situation. WhatsApp groups up to 15,000 users where the controls were reported. They did this by hiding behind Article 36.23 of the Citizen Security Law, which is considered a serious violation:

“Unauthorized use of images or personal or professional data of officials or members of the Security Forces and Troops in a manner that could endanger the personal or family security of representatives, protected facilities, or jeopardize the success of an operation in relation to fundamental rights to information”.

The user in question was Galician, hence the name of this method of operation: “Galician method”DGT director Pere Navarro told El Faro de Vigo:

“Net reporting of police checks seriously undermines road safety as it allows criminals to evade the law and puts the lives of all road users at risk. This is an unsupportive action that borders on road safety.”

The same instrument also ensures that the Government is already working with the DGT in preparing new regulations or amending existing regulations to severely penalise reporting of police checks. The aim is to define this action as follows: “very serious violation” that requires a fine of 500 euros.

Cover image | The Divided Shire

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