More lives have been lost than saved, marking a grim start to the year in terms of road safety.
Before diving into the measures announced by the Minister of the Interior, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, to tackle road accidents, it is crucial to understand the current situation. During the first quarter, we have witnessed a worrying increase in the fatality rate of road traffic accidents.
A snapshot of road accidents
The fatality rate of accidents has risen, with a sharper increase in the number of deaths than in the number of people hospitalised. There was also a significant increase in deaths on motorways and dual carriageways, as well as in accidents involving alcohol and inappropriate speed.
The data revealed a 23% increase in deaths among people travelling by car and motorcycle, with a particularly marked increase on motorways and dual carriageways. This worrying picture included an increase in every type of accident except those involving pedestrians being hit, and the increase in deaths was concentrated in the 45 to 54 age group.
8 new measures
To address this situation, the government has announced a package of measures focusing on various areas:
- Automated speed enforcement: 95 new speed control points will be installed on the roads, 60 per cent of them average speed cameras.
- More officers in the Traffic Group: 150 new officers are expected to join, thus strengthening the effective presence of the Guardia Civil on the roads.
- Greater surveillance on motorways and dual carriageways: Special attention will be paid to the regions with significant increases in deaths on these roads, with Guardia Civil surveillance services increased by up to 50 per cent.
- More alcohol and drug checks: Preventive alcohol and drug checks on the roads will be stepped up.
- Improved safety for motorcyclists: Enforcement and surveillance campaigns targeting this group will be intensified, especially at weekends.
- Surveillance of professional transport: Surveillance of professional transport will be increased, with a particular focus on weekdays.
- Regional actions: Specific actions will be applied in each autonomous community to improve road safety, including accident analysis and collaboration with local authorities.
- Information and awareness: Specific actions will be implemented to raise awareness of road safety, using various media and messages adapted to each situation.
With this package of measures, the Ministry of the Interior aims to reverse this trend and guarantee safety on the country's roads.