This speed camera issues more fines than any other in the Canary Islands
As the December getaway begins and Christmas travel ramps up, a familiar pattern returns to the Canary Islands: heavier traffic, more distractions and, unfortunately, more speeding fines.
On an island where mobility depends heavily on a single main motorway carrying the bulk of tourist and resident traffic, speed enforcement becomes a key issue, both for road safety and for the wallets of inattentive drivers.
Although the latest complete figures relate to the last full year, they provide a clear indication of which locations will be under particular pressure during the festive period. With more vehicles on the road, people rushing to reach their destinations, and increased police presence, one Canarian speed camera once again stands out as one of the most active in Spain.
The “most fined speed camera” in the Canaries
According to data analysed by Automovilistas Europeos Asociados (AEA) using figures from the DGT, the speed camera issuing the most fines in the Canary Islands, and one of the 50 busiest in the whole of Spain, is located in Gran Canaria. It is positioned at kilometre 42 of the GC-1 motorway heading south, just before the exit for Playa del Inglés and San Fernando.
In 2024, this single camera recorded 11,403 speeding fines. While this represents a sharp drop from the 38,266 fines issued the previous year, it is still enough to keep the camera firmly in the national rankings. With thousands of extra journeys expected in December for shopping, work events and holidays, it is widely expected to be one of the busiest enforcement points again over Christmas.
A motorway central to island life
The high volume of fines is largely explained by the location of the camera. The GC-1, known locally as the Autopista del Sur, is the backbone of Gran Canaria’s road network. It connects Las Palmas de Gran Canaria with the island’s main towns and holiday resorts in the south and is used daily by residents commuting to work, tourists travelling along the coast and essential services moving between key economic areas.
The motorway provides direct access to major tourist destinations such as San Agustín, Playa del Inglés, Maspalomas and Meloneras. It also includes some of the island’s most problematic traffic points, particularly between the capital, Telde and the airport, where congestion is common.
Traffic levels are especially high on public holidays, long weekends and during peak tourist seasons, and the combination of dense traffic, frequent speed changes and long straight stretches can give drivers a false sense of security, making speeding more likely.
Christmas pressure on the roads
Although the final figures for the current year have not yet been confirmed, the usual behaviour of traffic on the GC-1 suggests this speed camera will again be extremely active during the Christmas period. Road checks are traditionally increased at this time of year, while the number of journeys rises sharply due to airport transfers, shopping trips, company Christmas dinners and travel to the main tourist areas in the south. This mix of factors often results in drivers being caught exceeding the limit by only a small margin.
Speeding fines are rising in the Canary Islands
Across Spain as a whole, speed cameras issued 3,440,655 fines in 2024, representing a 4% increase on the previous year. The Canary Islands ranked eighth nationally, with 113,942 speeding fines, an increase of 10.1% compared with 2023.
According to the AEA report, this growth reflects a rise in overall travel, the continued recovery of tourism, more intensive enforcement and the introduction of updated speed-measuring equipment. While the islands remain well below regions such as Andalusia, which recorded close to one million fines, the figures underline that speed control in the Canaries is becoming increasingly strict. Drivers, particularly those unfamiliar with local roads, are advised to take extra care this Christmas.
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