Spanish Traffic Law
- Nov 3
- 2 min read
Spain’s First AI-Controlled Highway - Speeds Up to 150 km/h!
Spain is making headlines once again, this time, for testing a stretch of motorway where artificial intelligence decides how fast you can legally drive.
On the AP-7 motorway in Catalonia, between Maçanet de la Selva and El Vendrell, a new AI-controlled system is being installed that will allow speed limits to automatically change in real time and under ideal conditions, increase from the normal 120 km/h up to 150 km/h.
This makes it the first highway in Spain to legally allow speeds above the national limit.
How It Works
The system uses a network of cameras, sensors, and weather data to monitor conditions across the highway.
Artificial intelligence then analyses the data, including traffic flow, visibility, rainfall, and road surface conditions and sets the most suitable speed limit at that moment.
These new dynamic limits appear instantly on digital road signs, adjusting to whatever the AI deems safe.
If the road is quiet, dry, and visibility is perfect, the limit can climb to 150 km/h. But if there’s fog, congestion, or rain, it can automatically drop to 100 km/h or even 80 km/h.
The Goal
Auhorities say the aim isn’t simply to drive faster... it’s to drive smarter. By letting AI control the limit, the system hopes to:
- Reduce accidents by lowering limits when conditions are risky
- Improve traffic flow by smoothing congestion before it forms
- Cut emissions and fuel use by avoiding constant braking and acceleration
- Test the readiness of Spain’s highways for connected and autonomous vehicles in the near future
The Controversy
Not everyone’s convinced. Some critics argue that relying on AI for something as sensitive as speed limits raises big questions:
What happens if the system malfunctions or misreads conditions?
How quickly will the signs update if weather changes suddenly?
And most importantly, can drivers really trust an algorithm to decide what’s “safe”?
There’s also the issue of enforcement:
If you’re doing 145 km/h when the limit instantly drops to 120 km/h, could you still be fined?
For now, this is just a trial, and drivers on that stretch are not being fined for speeds up to 150 km/h while the system is tested.
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