Spain's DGT launches summer traffic operation, forecasts 5.6 million trips

DGT Operación Verano 2026 5.6 million trips V‑16 beacon Pegasus helicopters

The Dirección General de Tráfico (DGT) activated the second special device of Operación Verano 2026 on 31 July 2026. The agency expects 5.6 million vehicle movements on the weekend of 31 July–2 August and a total of 54.5 million long‑distance trips throughout August. A mandatory V‑16 beacon must be displayed to signal incidents, and the new V‑13 “L” plate remains required for novice drivers.

The operation includes intensified surveillance: fixed and mobile radars, Pegasus‑equipped helicopters, drones, roadside cameras and additional traffic‑police agents. Reversible lanes, extra carriageways and alternative‑route advice are being deployed on major corridors such as the A‑6, A‑3, AP‑7 and others. Regional forecasts cite 716 079 trips in the Valencian Community, 151 000 in Cantabria, 138 800 in Guadalajara, 126 000 in Huelva and similar volumes across other provinces. Drivers are urged to plan journeys, avoid peak hours, respect speed limits and refrain from mobile‑phone use while driving.

Entities: Alejandro Suárez · Alicante · Alicante Province · Catalan Traffic Service (Servei Català de Trànsit) · Dirección General de Tráfico · Dirección General de Tráfico (DGT) · Francisco Toscano · Guadalajara province · Guardia Civil · Operación Verano 2026 · Pegasus (helicopter system) · Pegasus helicopter

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.

[○ 1 SOURCE] The DGT forecasts 138,800 vehicle movements in Guadalajara province for the first weekend of August. (DGT)
[● 3 SOURCES] Drivers must display a V‑16 beacon to signal road incidents during the summer operation. (DGT)
[○ 1 SOURCE] New drivers must display a V‑13 ‘L’ plate; failure incurs a €100 fine. (DGT)
[○ 1 SOURCE] Drivers compare Google Maps and Waze for route planning during high‑traffic periods. (Media analysis)
[● 5 SOURCES] The DGT forecasts 5.6 million vehicle trips this weekend as part of Operación Verano 2026. (DGT)
[○ 1 SOURCE] Ignoring an S‑13 zebra‑crossing sign incurs a €200 fine. (DGT)
[● 2 SOURCES] The DGT expects a total of 54.5 million long‑distance trips in August 2026. (DGT)
[○ 1 SOURCE] The DGT uses Pegasus helicopters to monitor traffic during Operación Verano 2026. (DGT)
[○ 1 SOURCE] Novice drivers must display a V‑13 “L” plate; failure incurs a €100 fine. (source)
[○ 1 SOURCE] The DGT expects 126 000 trips in Huelva province during the operation. (source)
[● 10 SOURCES] The DGT launched the second special device of Operación Verano 2026 on 31 July 2026. (supporting_article_ids)
[● 4 SOURCES] During the operation, a mandatory V‑16 beacon must be displayed to signal road incidents. (source)