Traffic Cameras in the Tramuntana: Tender Starts Soon

Progress finally on the Ma-10 cameras

If you are out on the Ma-10 in the evenings, you know the scene: engine roars, headlights cutting through the curves, drivers who appear a bit cocky. For months cameras have been discussed; now the bidding process is to start soon. The island council announced this – and with it the project is being brought back onto the road.

In short: it is about around 40 devices that are to be installed along the Tramuntana main route. The total estimated costs are about 1.2 million euros. Some cameras will be equipped with automatic number plate recognition (ANPR), others are devices that can measure noise. The technology should document violations and, where necessary, forward them to the national traffic authority.

Why all this? The answer is simple: complaints. Residents from places like Valldemossa, Deià and Sóller have repeatedly complained about nightly races and loud engines. The annoyance grows on weekends because the peace is lost and dangerous situations arise. I have myself slept hardly at 11 pm because the engines pounded over the valley, says a neighbor from Deià.

What has been slow so far

The project apparently did not progress without hurdles: Since spring of last year there has been little movement, deadlines were repeatedly postponed. Now an official contract is to be tendered so that the devices can be in operation as early as the beginning of next year. Will that work? Administrative approvals and local consultations still need to be clarified.

The planned cameras should be placed at critical points – on tight hairpins, at viewpoints where onlookers and driving pleasure often meet. The aim is not to spoil driving for tourists, but to prevent illegal races and increase road safety.

Data protection and controls

Of course cameras raise questions: who has access to the footage? How long is data stored? According to the island council, the systems are designed to operate legally and only forward data in clear violations. Yet skepticism remains – especially among critical voices in the population.

The combination of license plate readers and noise meters is not technically new, but perhaps not in this form for the Ma-10. If everything goes according to plan, the first measurements will be captured automatically and forwarded to the responsible authorities – fewer manual checks, more automatic detection.

What residents and drivers expect

Many residents hope for peace on weekends. Some drivers welcome additional controls because driving enjoyment should not come at the expense of others. Others warn against excessive monitoring of the route. A pragmatic middle ground would be helpful: clear rules, visible notices and regulated deployments rather than permanent surveillance.

For the coming weeks: the bidding process will be prepared, bids solicited, and authorities want to check whether the timeline can be kept. It remains to be hoped that the balance between safety, privacy and the typical Tramuntana feeling can be achieved.

Conclusion: A step toward more traffic control on the Ma-10 is imminent. Whether the cameras really curb the problems now depends on implementation and acceptance. And on the weather – on clear autumn evenings you hear the engines particularly loud.