Lorraine Williamson
Spain’s Directorate-General for Traffic (DGT) has launched a week-long campaign to enforce seatbelt and child restraint system (SRI) compliance across all road types.
Running until Sunday, 16 March, the initiative will deploy all available human and technical resources, including aerial surveillance and automated monitoring via traffic cameras.
The importance of seatbelts and child restraint systems
Seatbelts and child restraint systems are among the most effective measures for protecting vehicle occupants. Scientific studies confirm their life-saving potential, yet many drivers and passengers still fail to use them correctly. In 2024, 157 people died on interurban roads while travelling in cars or vans without wearing seatbelts, representing 26.8% of all fatalities.
The campaign aligns with RoadPol, the European Roads Policing Network, which promotes seatbelt and SRI usage across EU member states.
Increased monitoring and enforcement
During this enforcement period, officers from the Guardia Civil’s Traffic Division, as well as local and regional police forces, will intensify checks on seatbelt and child restraint use. Surveillance will take place on both urban and interurban roads, with additional monitoring conducted from helicopters and drones. Automated cameras positioned on major highways and conventional roads will also play a role in identifying offenders.
Failure to wear a seatbelt or use a child restraint system correctly carries a fine of €200 and results in a four-point deduction from the driver’s licence, as stipulated by Spain’s Traffic and Road Safety Law.
The role of child restraint systems
Standard seatbelts are not designed for children, whose body proportions and bone structure differ from those of adults. Properly fitted child restraint systems significantly reduce injury severity. Data shows that nine out of ten serious or fatal child injuries could have been prevented with correct SRI use. Proper restraint lowers injury risk by up to 75%.
In Spain, children under 135 cm in height must use an appropriate child restraint system according to their weight and size. The recommendation extends to 150 cm. Children must also be seated in the rear seats unless:
- The vehicle has no rear seats.
- Rear seats are occupied by other children.
- It is not possible to install all necessary restraint systems in the back.
Rear-facing seats are advised until at least age four and required until 15 months. The driver plays a crucial role in ensuring child safety by driving responsibly and adhering to traffic laws.
Previous campaign results
In the last DGT campaign in March 2024, authorities checked 619,172 vehicles across 472 municipalities in 44 provinces. A total of 10,969 penalties were issued for seatbelt and SRI non-compliance.