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ARCHIVED - New DGT warning signs for transport vehicles
The signs are designed to warn vulnerable road users in Spain of blind spots on certain vehicles
The General Directorate of Traffic (DGT) has launched a new warning sign to alert road users to the danger of blind spots that affect certain larger vehicles such as vans, buses and trucks. The main objective is to protect other motorists, cyclists, scooter users and pedestrians, particularly in urban areas. According to the DGT, 80% of the people who died in cities in Spain in 2020 were classed as vulnerable users, and the new signage informs people of where a driver’s blind spot might be so that they can position themselves more safely.
The communities of Madrid, Barcelona, Zaragoza and Longrono have worked with the DGT on the initiative and will place the signs on all public vehicles, a move which follows similar enterprises in London, France and Germany.
For now, the use of the warning sign in Spain is not mandatory but it is strongly recommended for transport vehicles with more than nine seats and vehicles used to move goods and collect waste in urban areas.
According to data from the DGT, in 2020 alone, 153 pedestrians, 134 motorists, 22 cyclists and seven scooter users died on urban roads and the vast majority of fatalities occurred as a result of collisions between commercial and heavy vehicles and vulnerable road users. In addition, there has been an increase in the traffic of commercial and heavy vehicles throughout Spain, which in some cities account for 25% of the circulating traffic. The general population is also getting older, with 70% of pedestrians who died as a result of road accidents in cities in 2020 over the age of 65.
With more cars than ever on the roads and a huge increase in the number of electric scooters, the DGT believes it is imperative that measures be taken to improve driver visibility.
For drivers choosing to display the signs, they must meet the technical requirements set down by the DGT to ensure maximum durability and visibility. In addition, the warning signs must be placed in such a way that they can be clearly seen by other road users and must not obstruct any lights, indicators or the driver’s field of vision.
Images: DGT
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