Press releases

Departure Operation: five tips to avoid traffic jams using technology

Millions of Spaniards have been waiting for months to take a break from work, which means highways and roads will be more congested than ever. SPC recommends five tips to avoid traffic jams during the Departure Operation thanks to technology. The Directorate-General for Traffic (DGT) places the peak period of the so-called Departure Operation between late July and early August. Of the 93 million long-distance trips expected this summer, 49 million will take place in August. As a result, the roads will be more crowded with vehicles than ever, causing inconvenience due to traffic jams and long queues. To avoid all these problems, SPC, the Spanish technology company specializing in consumer electronics products, offers five tips to avoid issues during the Departure Operation by using technology.   Plan your route and recalculate it when necessary with mobile geolocation solutions. Almost all smartphones and tablets include GPS, allowing you to use geolocation services like Google Maps or other apps available on the Play Store to choose the best route and, more importantly, recalculate it in real time if it indicates a traffic jam ahead on the highway or road. To make proper use of these services, it is recommended to use a high-performance mobile device that performs calculations accurately and allows downloading the latest updates of the apps and maps included.   Check in advance the times when traffic is heaviest to avoid them using available web services. The DGT not only publishes an annual list of the roads expected to be most congested during the Departure Operation but also the times when traffic will be heaviest. It is important to consider these times both when leaving and returning to avoid them as much as possible and find the clearest route. Another option is to check the DGT cameras in real time via a mobile or tablet to see the current road conditions.   Take the weather forecast into account during your trip with weather apps for your smartphone. When driving long distances, the experience varies greatly depending on the weather: if it’s sunny, roads will be in better condition and you can drive at a good speed; if it’s rainy and cold, roads may be slippery, so it’s better to reduce speed. To anticipate these setbacks, all mobile operating systems include some app that allows you to check the weather. Of course, to be 100% sure, it’s a good idea to compare the forecast with that on the AEMET website or a local weather service.   Plan your stops along the way and check their capacity with Google’s recommendations. Using your preferred geolocation service, you can study your route in advance and note the service stations where you can take the necessary breaks. Searching online, you will find reviews that help you identify the best-equipped stations and the times of day when they have fewer parked vehicles. This way, you can avoid both queues and additional stress.   Make sure your tank is full and use your smartphone to find the cheapest gas stations. It may seem obvious, but just like doing preventive maintenance on your car, filling the tank is essential to stay on the road or highway longer without having to stop prematurely, possibly coinciding with more people than you’d like. If you do need to refuel at some point, the passenger can search for the nearest gas station: if you want to find the cheapest one, Google Maps has a feature for this, although you can also use specific apps like Gasolina y Diésel España or Gasall. [button url="https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0506/9678/1998/files/NP_Cinco_consejos_para_evitar_atascos_en_la_Operacion_gracias_al_uso_de_la_tecnologia_VF...docx?v=1658918575" text="Download"]