Lorraine Williamson
Spain’s General Directorate of Traffic (DGT) has begun a week-long operation aimed at curbing risky behaviour in roadwork areas—a persistent danger on Spanish roads. The campaign, running from 23 to 29 June, will see intensified inspections by the Guardia Civil and regional police forces across the country.
The initiative comes amid growing concern over accident rates in temporary work zones. This is particularly true during the summer, when traffic volumes surge and many road upgrades are scheduled.
Targeting hotspots for accidents
Roadwork zones—where lanes narrow, speed limits drop, and signage changes—are among the most dangerous areas for motorists and workers alike. Last year, 142 accidents were reported in these locations. Of those, 23 involved pedestrians, while 119 were linked to vehicles working on-site.
Authorities say that most incidents stem from three behaviours: speeding, driver distraction, and abrupt lane changes. These remain the main focus of this week’s enforcement efforts.
Speed traps and smart cones
In a bid to improve roadwork zone safety in Spain, mobile speed cameras have been deployed in dozens of sites. Moreover, in some areas, speed limits have been cut to just 30 or 60 kilometres per hour.
The DGT is also rolling out new technology to monitor these zones more efficiently. “Conos conectados”—connected traffic cones fitted with GPS—feed real-time data to traffic control centres and onboard driver alert systems. These tools form part of the DGT’s larger digital upgrade, dubbed DGT 3.0, which aims to give motorists early warnings about temporary hazards and congestion.
Part of a bigger safety strategy
This operation ties into the Spanish Road Safety Strategy 2030, which mirrors wider EU and UN targets: to halve road fatalities by the end of the decade.
Virginia Jerez, regional director of the DGT in Madrid, reminded drivers that ignoring signs in roadwork areas isn’t just a personal risk—“it puts workers’ lives in jeopardy too.”
Know before you go
If you’re driving this week, be extra vigilant around any roadwork. Keep a close eye on detour signs, temporary markings, and sharply reduced speed limits. With mobile radar units on standby and traffic officers out in force, any lapse in concentration could be costly.
Roadwork zones under the spotlight
This campaign reflects a growing trend in Spain’s traffic enforcement: combining tech-driven monitoring with strict, visible policing. Whether it’s cones that talk or cameras that catch you in the act, the message is clear. When it comes to roadwork zone safety in Spain, the margin for error is narrowing fast!
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