Full throttle to license revocation: 177 km/h on the Ma-13 near Sa Pobla

Full throttle to license revocation: 177 km/h on the Ma-13 near Sa Pobla

Key question: Why are such extreme speeding offences still possible in Mallorca?

In the early morning of May 15, with the sun still low, a car passed a Guardia Civil patrol car on the Ma-13 near Sa Pobla at 177 km/h. The speed limit on that section is 80 km/h, echoing a recent case of 175 km/h on the Ma-13. The patrol car's measuring device recorded the speed and a check followed.

The driver, 48 years old, was identified. He was not arrested and was allowed to continue his journey after verification. He is being investigated for a serious offense against road safety. Under Spanish criminal law, such offenses can lead to three to six months' imprisonment and a driving ban of one to four years.

That sounds harsh — and it is. Yet the scene often remains abstract in many minds: a number on a display, a fines catalogue, a possible court case. The real question is how quickly such a number can turn into an accident, an injured person, or a death — especially here, where country roads and settlements lie close together.

Critical analysis: being measured once does not automatically mean being permanently punished. For speed violations of this magnitude, besides police documentation the wheels of the justice system often come into play. Proceedings can drag on, and in the meantime the driver remains mobile. Prevention therefore does not work solely through threatening penalties; it depends on enforcement, technology and politics.

What is missing from the public debate: we talk a lot about individual cases, but too rarely about systemic issues. How good is the signage? How consistent are fixed cameras or average-speed checks along the Ma-13? Are there evaluations of repeat offenders? And what preventive measures exist for new drivers or for delivery companies whose drivers cover many kilometres on the island's roads every day? There are other examples, such as a motorcyclist in Marratxí caught at over 200 km/h, that underline the scope of the problem.

An everyday scene from Sa Pobla: on Sundays at the market bicycles weave between cars, tractors pass by with freshly harvested crates, children walk from the school bus along the pavement. The Ma-13 is not a motorway with wide exits; it is a living space — with noise, cicadas and the smell of diesel and bakery in the air. Earlier reports even described an illegal acceleration contest in Sa Pobla. Flying past there at double the speed is a gamble with human lives.

Concrete solutions: first, more average-speed section controls instead of only point radar measurements. Second, visible speed reductions and physical measures at critical spots — raised crossings, road narrowings, well-placed signs. Third, mandatory awareness courses for extreme offenders, combined with speedy judicial processing.

Additionally, the role of insurers and employers should be discussed. Companies could require training for drivers with repeated offences or forbid them from using certain vehicles in cases of gross negligence. Insurers could consider tiered premiums for proven high-risk drivers.

Technology also helps: more mobile units, but also permanent roadside systems. Information campaigns at places like bus stations, large supermarket car parks or schools in Inca and Sa Pobla could raise everyday visibility. Small measures like clearly visible warning posters reading 'Here 80 km/h – children nearby' are not glamorous, but they work.

The Guardia Civil rightly reminds people of the dangers of excessive speed. However, that warning must not be the only response. Controls must follow, the judiciary must decide swiftly, and at the same time we need measures that curb the urge to speed — not just punishment, but a change in routine.

Conclusion: the figure 177 km/h is alarming, but it is not just a statistic. It exposes gaps in the network of technology, law enforcement and prevention. Whoever smells freshly baked pa amb oli in Sa Pobla in the morning does not want to hear sirens. Real road safety therefore means moving several levers at once — enforcement, infrastructure, education and swift sanctions.

One final thought: when we talk about safety on the island, we talk about neighbours, children and bakers — not just points on a record. That should spur us to tackle both the simple and the tough measures at the same time.