Lorraine Williamson
The Dirección General de Tráfico (DGT) recently conducted a campaign focused on monitoring and controlling traffic in road work zones on interurban roads.
This initiative was carried out by the Traffic Group of the Guardia Civil from June 3 to June 9. Moreover, it resulted in 11,763 drivers being reported for various infractions.
Speeding violations
During the week-long campaign, 187,852 vehicles were checked. Among these, 11,763 drivers were reported for violations. A staggering 85% of these infractions, totaling 10,173 cases, were due to exceeding speed limits in road work zones. Speeding in these areas poses a significant risk to the safety of road workers.
Accident statistics
Provisional data from the National Registry of Traffic Accident Victims indicates that in 2023, there were 131 traffic accidents related to maintenance and conservation work on roads. Of these incidents, 21 involved workers on foot, while 110 involved workers in vehicles.
Other violations
Apart from speeding, other significant violations were observed:
- Failure to respect signals: 275 drivers were reported for not adhering to traffic signals, including those given by traffic officers and various types of road signs.
- Mobile phone use: 193 drivers were sanctioned for using mobile phones while driving through work zones.
- Seatbelt violations: 183 drivers were reported for not wearing seatbelts.
- Driving under influence: 52 drivers were penalised for exceeding the legal alcohol limit. And a further 61 for driving under the influence of drugs.
- Reckless driving: Other concerning behaviours included 161 cases of illegal overtaking, 33 cases of negligent driving, 21 instances of not maintaining a safe distance, and 30 cases of improper lane changes.