Spain pushes road safety in corporate social responsibility

The Directorate General of Traffic (DGT) used the European Mobility Week to unveil a practical guide and new procurement guidelines designed to bring traffic safety into company sustainability reports and public tenders.

A call to action for companies

Speaking at the “Road Safety in Corporate Social Responsibility” conference, DGT director Pere Navarro and Aicha Belassir, head of Social Economy and Corporate Responsibility at the Spanish government, stressed that protecting workers on the road is not just a legal requirement but an ethical obligation. “Integrating road safety into business strategy is a tangible way to protect employees, reduce risk, and strengthen social responsibility,” Navarro said.

The urgency is clear: in 2023, more than 75,000 work-related traffic accidents were recorded, representing nearly 12% of all workplace incidents requiring sick leave. Almost 30% of fatal work accidents were traffic-related, with most occurring on commutes.

New DGT guide for business and public sector

The DGT’s new manual, Integrating Road Safety into Corporate Social Responsibility, outlines practical steps for companies to include road safety measures in their sustainability strategies and ESG reports. It draws on recommendations from the 2025 World Ministerial Conference on Road Safety and highlights over 30 real-world case studies from firms already leading the way.

Measures range from safe fleet management and advanced vehicle technology to driver training, supplier contracts with safety clauses, and ISO 39001 certification for road safety management systems.

Leading companies share best practices

Executives from Abertis, Acciona, Arval, and Iberdrola joined the conference to showcase initiatives such as in-house awareness campaigns, responsible purchasing policies, and staff training in risk management and safe driving. They emphasised that embedding road safety improves employee wellbeing, enhances corporate reputation, and boosts operational efficiency—benefits that extend beyond compliance.

Public procurement joins the effort

The DGT has also published Instruction ONSV 2025/13 and a companion guide to help public administrations include road safety clauses in contracts for services, supplies, and works. The non-binding document offers model clauses and more than 20 examples of successful tenders that already incorporate safety requirements validated by Spain’s public procurement platform.

These clauses can cover every stage of a contract—from technical specifications to award criteria—and may require bidders to present mobility plans, provide staff training, use vehicles with advanced safety features, or hold ISO 39001 certification.

Towards safer and more sustainable mobility

By linking road safety to corporate social responsibility and public spending, Spain aims to cut workplace accidents while advancing the broader goal of sustainable mobility. With the DGT pledging to apply these standards to its own contracts, the initiative sets a precedent for businesses and institutions across the country to follow.