Lorraine Williamson
Spain’s summer roads are about to enter one of their busiest periods of the year, with the Dirección General de Tráfico expecting more than 104 million long-distance journeys during July and August. The official summer traffic plan in Spain begins as holiday departures, weekend returns, foreign-registered vehicles and major events all add pressure to the country’s road network.
The DGT says 49.7 million journeys are expected in July and 54.5 million in August. That forecast is 3.7% higher than last summer, when Spain exceeded 100 million road journeys for the first time.
First major summer operation starts this Friday
The first special traffic operation will run from 3.00 pm on Friday, July 3, until midnight on Sunday, July 5, with around 4.83 million long-distance journeys expected over the weekend. The DGT says this first operation will combine the start of July holidays with ordinary weekend travel, increasing traffic on routes out of major cities and towards coastal areas, tourist destinations and second homes.
There will be four main summer operations. They are scheduled for July 3–5, July 31–August 2, August 14–16, and the final summer return operation from August 28–31. The DGT also expects heavier traffic on summer weekends and around the beginning and end of each holiday fortnight.
Sunday afternoons and evenings are expected to be particularly busy on return routes into major urban areas. Drivers are being advised to plan journeys in advance, check the latest traffic information before leaving and use the safest route rather than relying only on the fastest one. The DGT will provide real-time updates through its official channels, radio and television bulletins, and the 011 traffic information line.
V-16 warning lights and extra campaigns
This will also be the first summer in which the DGT highlights the obligation to use the V-16 warning device to pre-signal incidents that force a vehicle to stop on the road. The connected light sends alerts not only through its physical beacon but also virtually to vehicle navigation systems, mobile phones and variable message panels.
The DGT says connected V-16 data has significantly increased the number of incidents visible to its traffic systems. In 2025, it recorded an average of around 8,600 incidents on interurban roads; that figure now exceeds 69,000 per month.
During July and August, Tráfico will also reinforce checks linked to some of the main risk factors in serious crashes. These include weekend motorcycle surveillance, speed controls, and alcohol and drug checks. A specific alcohol and drug campaign is planned from July 13 to 19, followed by a speed control campaign from August 17 to 23.
Eclipse traffic also on the radar
This year’s operation includes an unusual extra factor: the total solar eclipse on August 12. The DGT expects the event to generate significant movement towards areas where the eclipse will be fully visible, with higher concentrations of vehicles and people at observation points.
Although the eclipse will be visible across Spain, totality will be seen only along a broad strip that crosses parts of Galicia, Asturias, Cantabria, the Basque Country, Navarra, La Rioja, Castilla y León, Madrid, Castilla-La Mancha, Aragón, Catalonia, the Valencian Community and the Balearic Islands. The DGT says it is preparing a specific traffic plan, with further details to be announced in the coming weeks.
More foreign vehicles on Spanish roads
The summer plan also includes specific arrangements for the Operación Paso del Estrecho, when millions of travellers cross Spain on their way to North Africa. The DGT expects around 3.5 million people and 800,000 vehicles to take part in that movement, with particular attention on the Mediterranean corridor, the central corridor and the Vía de la Plata.
More than 31,500 people will be involved in the wider operation, including security forces, health teams, social assistants, translators and volunteers. The DGT says more than 2,000 cameras and 2,400 variable message panels will help monitor routes and manage traffic flow towards ports and border areas.
A separate operation will also cover traffic heading towards Portugal, with around 270,000 vehicles expected to travel from other parts of Europe towards the neighbouring country through Spanish roads.
Summer driving risks
The DGT says summer traffic has different patterns from the rest of the year. There are more long-distance trips on weekdays and weekends, more night-time travel, more traffic on secondary roads, and more cyclists and pedestrians using parts of the road network.
Drivers should check tyres, fluids, lights and air conditioning before long journeys, carry water, avoid heavy meals before driving, and take breaks before fatigue sets in. The DGT also reminds drivers to stay informed of road conditions and to respect traffic rules, warning that prudence remains the main tool for reducing summer road deaths.
The DGT has also reminded the public that the 018 victim support line is available for people affected directly or indirectly by road crashes in Spain. The service is free, confidential, available in more than 50 languages, and offers psychological, social, legal and medical guidance after a traffic incident. It is not an emergency number.
The first pressure point will come this Friday afternoon, as July holiday traffic begins to build. The busiest moments are likely to be on routes leaving large cities, roads towards coastal and tourist areas, and return routes on Sunday afternoon and evening.