The DGT's measures and their impact on roadside assistance
The reduction in traffic patrols and, consequently, in assistance call-outs could have a negative impact on road safety in the long term.
Recently, the Dirección General de Tráfico (DGT) presented an alarming report on the rise in road accidents during the first quarter of the year. With a 16% increase in the number of deaths, the Minister of the Interior, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, announced a series of measures aimed at halting this trend. However, these measures have caused controversy among the members of the Asociación Unificada de Guardias Civiles (AUGC), who have expressed their discontent in an open letter.
The controversy: technology versus human resources
The main criticism from the Guardia Civil traffic division is that the DGT's new measures to penalise offenders come at the expense of the human resources needed to assist and help drivers. According to the Guardia Civil, this strategy does not adequately address the need for a human presence and assistance on the roads.
The figures speak for themselves: in 2013, there were 660,448 traffic patrols, which carried out 517,353 assistance call-outs. By contrast, in 2023 the number of patrols fell to 44,084, with only 286,553 assistance call-outs carried out. This significant reduction in human resources has affected the Guardia Civil's capacity to provide roadside assistance, a vital function for road safety and for roadside assistance companies.
Crucial functions of the Guardia Civil traffic division
The Guardia Civil traffic division plays an indispensable role in accident management and road safety. Its work includes securing the accident scene, controlling unauthorised access and creating a safe perimeter for other emergency services. In addition, its officers provide initial assistance to victims, acting quickly in situations of imminent danger to life, and protect evidence that is crucial to subsequent investigations.
The Guardia Civil also carries out a technical police inspection of the scene, collects data for the reconstruction of the accident and passes this information on to the relevant authorities. Once the situation is under control, they authorise the removal of the vehicles involved and the restoration of traffic. This chain of actions is essential to ensure that traffic returns to normal safely and efficiently.
Impact of the new measures
The measures announced by the DGT, which prioritise speed enforcement using advanced technologies, are causing a decline in assistance and rescue work. This decline not only affects the capacity to respond immediately to accidents, but also reduces the preventive presence of the Guardia Civil on the roads, a key factor in deterring reckless behaviour by drivers.
While there is no doubt that technology can play an important role in improving road safety, it must not be a substitute for the human resources who carry out essential roadside assistance and rescue work.
It is crucial that the authorities reconsider the balance between the use of technology and the need for adequate human resources to guarantee a comprehensive response to traffic incidents. The Guardia Civil traffic division, with its experience and ability to handle complex situations on the road, remains an irreplaceable component of the road safety strategy. Only through a balanced, complementary approach combining technology and human resources will it be possible to effectively reduce accidents on our roads and provide the necessary assistance to those who need it at critical moments.