More Professionals Exceed Driving Times

In the most recent Europe-wide surveillance campaign which focussed on professional drivers, the Guardia Civil controlled 17,727 vehicles, from which 5,076 truck drivers and 131 bus drivers were denounced for not complying with some of the precepts of the regulations relating to professional drivers. In addition, 90 trucks were immobilised for different reasons attributed to the driver or the vehicle and were prevented from continuing due to road traffic safely.

As usual, the most numerous offenses have been those caused by excess driving hours, which now account for more than 13% of the total, compared to 10% in the previous season. Specifically, traffic officers have processed 2,417 complaints for violations related to driving times (2,388 for trucks and 29 for buses) and 314 for issues related to the tachograph (300 trucks and 14 buses).

It should be remembered that not respecting the driving and rest times increases the risk of suffering or causing an accident since it can generate fatigue and distractions and can be classified as a minor, serious, or very serious infraction depending on the percentage of excess in driving times or in the reduction of breaks.

There is also a slight increase in both the number of complaints for speeding, with 160 drivers traveling at speeds higher than the permitted speed, of which 158 were truck drivers, and those relating to documentation, the vehicle, or the driver, which suppose that 992 drivers (924 trucks and 68 buses) circulated with administrative irregularities.

On the contrary, both complaints of excess weight and poor cargo arrangement decreased (604, of which 601 were for trucks and 3 for buses), as well as for infractions related to seat belts and other safety devices (125 trucks and 3 buses).

The number of truck drivers testing positive for drugs (15 in 2021 vs. 17 in 2020) and alcohol (9 vs. 11) has also decreased, while none of the bus drivers tested positive for these substances.