2024-01-04 12:57:20
The year 2023 ended with 1,145 deaths on Spanish roads, which is the same number as in 2022, according to the provisional balance provided by the Minister of the Interior, Fernando Grande-Marlaska.
In total, 1,048 fatal accidents were recorded on Spanish roads, in which 1,145 people died and another 4,495 were seriously injured.
This balance occurs in a context in which greater mobility has been recorded than in previous years since 2023 is the highest year for road trips since 2014 but is the fifth lowest in accidents since that period.
The DGT’s concern is the high number of accidents involving motorcycles and mopeds, as well as accidents on conventional roads.
Specifically, in 2023 a total of 463 motorists have died on Spanish roads, the highest number recorded since 2014. In addition, 42% of road accidents were due to leaving the road, for which the minister highlighted the need to respect speed limits. For this reason, the DGT has commissioned a study on this case “since 7% of road exits are related to drowsiness.”
Also noteworthy is the number of accidents recorded, close to 10% of the accident rate in the last year. This has been one of the reasons that has led the DGT to eliminate the mandatory use of emergency signaling triangles on highways and highways.
According to Grande-Marlaska “we have had more displacements than in 2022 and there have been no more deaths than in 2022. These are bad data, as they are every year, but it is necessary to contextualize them to adopt the necessary measures and correct them as much as possible.”
Reduce accidents
To reduce these accident figures, the DGT will establish a mandatory course for B permit drivers with three years of experience who want to drive motorcycles of up to 125 cubic centimeters.
Likewise, it will update the content of the points recovery courses to incorporate a specific profile for motorists who have lost their points balance and for whom safe and efficient driving courses will be scheduled.
Besides, the General Directorate of Traffic (DGT) In 2024, motorcyclists will be required to use a full-face or modular helmet and approved gloves when riding on the road.
Other measures announced by Grande-Marlaska are an update of the catalog of traffic signs, since the current one dates back to 2003. In this regard, it has announced that new signs will be included for the Low Emission Zones (ZBE), related to the driving of Personal Mobility Vehicles (PMV) such as scooters and electric bicycles, and the improvement of some of the icons used today. «The last catalog is from 2003 and 20 years later it is undoubtedly necessary to update it to include new phenomena such as low emission zones, personal mobility vehicles and the improvement of some of the icons used on traffic signs», the minister has detailed.
Regarding the changes planned in the Traffic Regulations, accompanied driving will be allowed and regulated from the age of 17, a measure that is already in force in other European countries such as France or Germany, and which according to Grande-Marlaska “shows results.” “positive in reducing accidents because it encourages younger drivers to accumulate hours of experience behind the wheel.”
Automated driving
The Minister of the Interior has announced that this year the traffic regulations and vehicle regulations regarding automated driving will be modified and, to this end, a process of consultation and participation will be launched with the affected sectors.
“With this reform, Spain will demonstrate that we are a country interested in and committed to the autonomous vehicle,” the minister stated about the project, which has been agreed upon with the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Tourism and the automotive sector.
With this project, the Government will seek to develop a new legal framework for automated driving which, according to the minister, will be approached “with the conviction of automated driving and the benefits that it will bring us by reducing the incidence of human error, “optimizing vehicle flow and reducing polluting emissions.”
Likewise, the minister has indicated that autonomous driving will facilitate mobility for certain users such as the elderly.
The next reform will also make it mandatory to leave the left lane of traffic free on highways and highways when adverse weather phenomena such as heavy rain or snowfall occur, in order to facilitate the circulation of emergency services, as is the case in the current events in other European countries such as Germany.
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