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Date Published: 26/10/2021

ARCHIVED - Road deaths in Spain approach pre pandemic level

ARCHIVED ARTICLE

The Government in Spain outlines a ten-year plan to reduce deaths on the roads

<span style='color:#780948'>ARCHIVED</span> - Road deaths in Spain approach pre pandemic level

The relaxation of restrictions throughout Spain has come as a welcome relief to most, but road traffic accidents, and more particularly deaths, are sadly on the rebound as travel resumes and more and more people are taking the opportunity to get away for a few days. Given that perimeter restrictions were still in place at the beginning of 2021, experts are very concerned that traffic-related deaths are now only 7% fewer than 2019 when people could travel freely in Spain.

Compared to 2020, road fatalities are up 14%, but this is unsurprising given the fact that for several months only essential travel was permitted and so the circulation on the roads was limited. With these figures in mind, the Minister of the Interior, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, has committed to reducing the number of victims by half in ten years, with the focus being on urban areas, where the death toll is highest.

According to the General Directorate of Traffic (DGT), 815 people have already died on interurban roads this year, compared with 712 last year (14% fewer) and 880 in 2019 (only 7% more). The number of non-fatal accidents is also on the increase, having jumped 15% in the last twelve months.

National travel within Spain experienced a rebound this year (90.8 million trips between July and August alone) which naturally led to more cars on the road. However, the government is redoubling its efforts to bring the accident rate down by 2030 by introducing a number of safety measures, not least by implementing strict regulations on personal mobility vehicles (VMP). A reform of the Traffic Law last month has already prohibited scooters from driving on footpaths and their speed is restricted to 25 kilometres per hour, while the next step would be the introduction of compulsory insurance and a minimum age limit for use.

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