DGT has launched a special traffic operation for the long weekend of 15 August, deploying law enforcement, surveillance, and lane adjustments to manage over 7 million expected journeys while highlighting safety amid fire risks
Spain’s summer road safety update is here. Fatality figures, speed in deadly crashes, a drop in urban road deaths, and worrying drug and alcohol driving stats — all in this week’s N332 Driving in Spain podcast.
Driving in Spain after losing all your licence points is a serious road safety offense under Article 384 of the Penal Code. This can lead to severe penalties, including prison sentences of three to six months, fines ranging from 12 to 24 months, or 31 to 90 days of community service. Spain’s points-based system, in place since 2006, allows for licence loss due to accumulated serious infractions, though point recovery courses are available. Common violations leading to point loss include speeding, mobile phone use, not wearing a seatbelt, and alcohol/drug use.
Spain anticipates a record-breaking summer with over 100 million long-distance road trips. The Directorate-General for Traffic (DGT) is implementing special measures and heightened surveillance to ensure safety, with a strong focus on preventing accidents caused by motorcyclists, distracted driving, and alcohol consumption. Plan your journeys wisely and prioritize safety to enjoy your summer travels!
Driving under the influence of alcohol remains a significant road safety issue in Spain, contributing to hundreds of deaths and serious injuries annually. Alcohol impairs crucial driving abilities like coordination, attention, vision, and decision-making, with effects intensifying based on factors such as consumption amount, individual characteristics, and combination with other substances.
Understanding stopping distances is crucial for road safety. This involves thinking time, reaction time, and braking time. The two-second rule is a simple way to maintain a safe following distance on dry roads, which should be doubled in wet conditions and significantly increased on slippery surfaces. At 120 km/h, a car travels over 33 metres per second, meaning even with an optimal one-second reaction, you’ve covered a significant distance before braking. The article highlights how inadequate following distances at speed, especially on motorways, drastically increase the risk of fatal collisions. Factors like driver alertness, vehicle condition, and road conditions all impact these critical distances. If you find a vehicle too close behind you, it’s safer to gently reduce your speed or change lanes, rather than reacting aggressively.